In her acceptance speech for the 2004 Just Plain Folks International Songwriting Award in the spoken word category, arjuna enthused, "I am so honored, and so joyous... the fact that my queer-happy, anti-establishment, freakazoid, punk-ass manifesta passed the muster of my peers to win an award lets me know, in an official way, that messages of peace, and change, and hope, and non-violent revolution are both wanted and needed in this world... we just need to keep getting louder."
A performer since before she can remember, arjuna spent her formative years singing in choirs and at open mics before graduating to professional gigs during college. In 2000, arjuna answered fan demand for an album with a six song demo CD, "some chick sings," which she supported with her first nationwide tour in 2001. She continued to expand her performance horizons, singing solo as well as sharing the stage with such lovely folk as Pamela Means, Edie Carey, Trina Hamlin, and Adrianne.
arjuna moved to Northampton, MA in 2002, and has played at area performance spaces including The Elevens, The Ironhorse, Diva's Nightclub, P.A.C.E., The Flywheel, The Open Square, The Java Hut, and Earthdance. She has been a featured performer at area college events, including various benefits, Queerfest 2003, Something Every Friday at Mt. Holyoke, and rallies for National Coming Out Day. arjuna has also appeared regularly at feminist poetry happening Sister Spit Northampton, and her song freebird was chosen for the 2002 Northampton Music Festival CD.
The Springfield Journal featured arjuna as their cover story in October of 2002, citing her as "one of the up-and-coming politically charged folk musicians in the valley." The collection of folks she has shared the stage with has been growing happily, and now includes Ember Swift, Lyndell Montgomery, Erin Smith Band, Meg Hutchinson, James O'Brien, Chris Pureka, Laura Love, Aisha Ayers, God-des, Tribe 8, Shelly Doty, CommonbonD, Juha, Ferron, and Michelle Tea. arjuna joined forces in 2002 with gooselove, Lenelle Moise, and Chris O'Carroll to form The People's Poetry Theater, a spoken-word troupe presenting what is best described as "the Vagina Monologues of social justice poetry." They can be found performing in theaters, presenting programs in schools, and sharing the stage with poetic luminaries such as Saul Williams.
Getting louder every year, arjuna has been criss-crossing the continent to bring her deeply personal music and poetry to appreciative audiences at women's festivals, pride events, colleges, coffee houses, and living rooms from Southern California to Toronto. 'odd numbers,' arjuna's 2003 release, has garnered accolades from fans and media alike, as well as airplay on college, community, and internet radio in the U.S. and abroad. She rounded out her 2005 schedule with several dates in the Northwest as part of the "Grrls Rock" tour, and has continued to rock stages throughout the country ever since. arjuna is taking some time off regular touring to write and record a new album, and to secure a booking agent, but she is always up for coming to your school, festival, coffee house, or living room!
