If there’s such a thing as a rock ‘n roll star presiding over the music category of kirtan — the 500-year-old tradition of chanting Indian mantras — the honor belongs to Krishna Das. A self-proclaimed “white Jewish kid from Long Island,” he rocked out to Blue Oyster Cult and Jimi Hendrix growing up until he found his life’s work singing kirtan on his inaugural journey to India in his early twenties. Almost 40 years later, Krishna Das and his merry band of talented musicians tour with a feverish pitch, sharing his celebratory music with legions of fans who tap, clap, dance and, of course, sing along with this kindred spirit.

Today marks the release of Krishna Das’s first studio album in 10 years, Heart As Wide As The World, which you can listen to in its entirety here. KD (as his loyal fans call him) and I recently sat in the balcony of the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew in New York before a performance to discuss his mission as an artist, the power of music with a message, and the best coping methods for traffic jams.

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At Coachella a few years back, the ever-feisty M.I.A. asked a packed house of sweat-soaked admirers, “Where my leaders at?!” Good question. Surprisingly few artists today have stepped up with the decisive political or spiritual message that M.I.A. was asking for.

Recently, 27-year-old Nigerian tour de force Nneka — who already has a loyal following in Africa and Europe — made her US debut at Joe’s Pub in NYC, which she followed with a few shows with the Roots. And while it’s still too early to compare her to political/musical messengers like countryman Fela Kuti or Bob Marley, she’s becoming a formidable figure in global music. She calmly rocked the room with her soul-filled voice, championing a strong message of love, unity and political justice from her forthcoming album Concrete Jungle.

As soon as the lights came up, I wanted an interview — even though I’ve only done three in the nine years since I co-founded Flavorpill. A few days later, I sat down with Nneka, a captivating figure who shared some lessons on music, life, spirituality, meditation, and love.

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