Inspired by the deep devotional mood of Indian singing and music, Jaya Lakshmi began leading kirtan with harmonium and 12 string guitar and writing her own devotional songs in the early 1990's on the island of Hawaii, shortly after receiving harinam initiation from Srila Govinda Maharaj, a great Vaisnava saint from West Bengal, India, who graciously bestowed on her the name "Jaya Lakshmi", which means "victory to the goddess Lakshmi", the Hindu goddess of fortune and spiritual wealth.
Her ecstatic singing and kirtan leading, often accompanied by master musician Deva Priyo on sarod and Spanish guitar, and other talented artists, has had a powerful effect amongst various communities in the islands of Hawaii, the West Coast, and Europe, always creating a deep sense of intimacy with the divine. She has a unique style that blends beauty, power and purity to create a truly transcendental sound driven by her deep connection with spirit. Singing mostly original and some traditional Vaisnava chants and songs in Sanskrit in the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition of ‘harinam sankirtan’ (call and response congregational chanting of the Holy Names), she often includes chants from other Vedic traditions in her kirtans as well. She also performs many original songs in which Sanskrit is woven in with English lyrics. Because of her pure mood, deep sincerity, passion for God and remarkable musical talent, Jaya Lakshmi is rapidly becoming well known and loved as one of the few touring female kirtan leaders in the West.
Jaya Lakshmi is also well known as the lead singer and songwriter for the band 'Lost at Last' (renamed 'One at Last' in 2004) a popular high energy tribal trance experience that toured extensively in the western US from 1997- 2005. In One at Last, Jaya Lakshmi expresses many singing styles and honors diverse spiritual traditions, singing prayers in several languages, including Native American, Arabic, and Sanskrit. Under the name Lost at Last, the band created 2 CDs: "Lost at Last 1" (1997, independent ) and "Lost at Last 2" (2001, RCA Windham Hill). In September 2006, One at Last released "Are You Dreaming?" on Sounds True Records. One at Last is currently no longer performing, as the members have become more dedicated to their solo careers.
Her four solo studio albums Ocean of Mercy (2003), Jewel of Hari (2004) Sublime (2008) and Radiance (2009) are available on Sequoia Records, magnificently embellished by the fine guitar and sarod work of Deva Priyo and tabla master Daniel Paul. On 'Sublime' also featured are bansuri flute player Manose, Ananta on violin, Yoko Silk ..o and Luna Marcus on support vocals. 'Sublime' is an enhanced CD, with 2 videos and 2 bonus tracks. All CDs are also available on her website, www.jayalakshmi.net As a vocal artist she is featured on Steve Gordons Drum Prayer (2002, Sequoia Records) and William Ackerman's "Hearing Voices" (2001, RCA/Windham Hill records).
At present she is working on her fifth studio CD which is due for release February 2010, and continuing to explore her vision of uniting the devotional mood with electronic dance music. Jaya Lakshmi lives in Eugene, Oregon with her two daughters.