The powerful Shiva Mantra was chosen to be the first collaboration between India Trap and S. J. Jananiy. The lyric “Om Namah Shivaya” is the Shiva Panchakshari mantra for destroying ignorance, violence, unhealthy habits, and negative karma. Repeated in song, it releases our inner potential and invigorates us with positivity.

Indian Trap (aka Jay) co-wrote this astonishing power packed track with award-winning South Indian artist S. J. Jananiy (aka S. J.). The renowned L.A. producer collaborated with the award-winning composer and singer S. J. to create a new sound that combines ancient Sanskrit mantras with classical Indian vocal techniques and contemporary Trap Music, pushing the envelope as S. J. delivers a sublime vocal performance over a hypnotic beat and melodic synths, Indian temple bells, flutes and 808 basses.

Indian Trap is an amalgamation of diverse musical influences and draws inspiration from Traditional Indian, Latin, Afrobeat, World Rhythms, and Bollywood Punjabi sounds. He infuses different genres and styles, like Reggaeton, Denbow with Punjabi Bhangra sounds that he calls ‘Punjabi Denbow’, and Latin with Indian Trap and hip hop elements that he’s calling Latin Indian Trap.

Mantras are Sanskrit prayers that millions of people have used daily for over three thousand years, and the popularity of mantras continues to expand worldwide. The Shaivite Hindu tradition, which follows Lord Shiva (the subject of this new track) holds that everything we do involves energy, and that energy is nothing other than vibration. Our words, actions, and emotions contribute to a larger energetic field known as prana, or life force. We emit a wave of energy into the world whenever we think or do something. When we repeat a mantra, we direct our energy inward, allowing us to connect with our deeper selves and gain greater control over our minds. It has helped millions of people improve their lives and effect positive change.

The Shiva-related tradition is a major part of Hinduism, the figure of Shiva today is a combination of various older deities into a single figure. Shiva is often pictured with a serpent around his neck, beneath the adorning crescent moon, the holy river Ganga flows from his matted hair, and the third eye on his forehead is the eye that turns everything in front of it into ashes when opened. The trishula or trident is his physical weapon, and he often holds the damaru drum, which is used in meditation practices.

“As a musician, my material is sound,” says Indian Trap. “I’ve always considered myself a sound designer. When I learned that the Shaivite Hindu tradition believes that matter is vibration and the cosmos is sound, it got me thinking! We talk about someone having great vibes, don’t we? Don’t we say that some people vibe well together? These seemingly trivial words have a profound meaning! Mantras are prayers that ‘vibe’ with the universe. What better lyrics can a composer ask for? Jananiy brought the mantras, and I brought my music! Three thousand years old mantras that go right to the heart of matter and contemporary music that has emerged from the streets, from ordinary people… we’re talking about roots! Music is the medicine for the soul, Plato said. At its best, music is a cosmic energy that removes negativity and obstacles, bringing peace, focus, and satisfaction to all who listen. Ever heard of Bach? The journey may be long, but we are on the right track.”

Jay Singh, aka J2 or Jay, is the successful record producer and composer behind Indian Trap. Jay rose to prominence after winning the prestigious Ministry of Sound DJ Idol Competition in 2002. He has since produced and remixed songs for various artists, including LL Cool J, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, and Madonna. He burst on the pop music scene as J2 with the release of the smash hit “Dare La La La,” which he co-wrote and produced for Shakira’s 10th studio album; the track debuted in the Top 10 of most international charts. A reworked version titled “La La La” Brazil” was the official theme song for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and is featured on the One Love, One Rhythm World Cup album. The song was also used in a T-Mobile commercial and Shakira’s Activia commercial, which became the most shared advertisement of 2014 and has over 2 billion streams to date. J2’s compositions have appeared in over 100 films, trailers, video games, television shows, and advertisements. They gathered over 250 million streams across YouTube and other major DSPs.

Coming from a musical family, Jay was first introduced to music at the age of just seven. His father was one of the first pioneers of Bhangra music in the United Kingdom and both his grandfather and great-grandfather were celebrated Tabla players. Jay first burst into the scene when he won the prestigious Ministry of Sound DJ Idol Competition in 2002.

Weighing in from her studio in Chennai, India, S. J. adds, “Working along with Jay for this very special single was highly explorative by fusing the Vedic Mantras, his Indian Trap music, and the many vocalizations. It got me thinking about how these Mantras, encased in Trap music and Indian raga-based music, could be performed live, and that got me curious about those possibilities. This song has at least 32 different vocal layers, along with a unique collage of Taans, Aalaaps, Swaras, and improvisations that blend beautifully with harmonies for Jay’s track!”

A quote from Sanskrit says, “Yatra naryastu pujyante, ramante tatra devata” from Vedas, which means where women are respected and worshiped, God resides there.

Subramanian Jaya Jananiy, known all over the world as S. J. Jananiy, is a Multi Global Award-Winning versatile musician, composer (Indian Classical and Western Classical), Playback Singer, Performer, Songwriter, Music Director, Music Producer, Record Producer, Keyboardist, Independent Artist and Research Scholar. She is also a Musical Ambassador and Advisory Board Outreach Ambassador at Project-Peace on Earth.

As a youngster, keenly watching her uncle playing keyboard and guitar, she started to play the keyboard whenever she sang. She started acquiring knowledge in music through her uncle’s guidance and support. After her school time, she simply loved to sing along with karaoke and grew up listening to A.R.Rahman’s soundtracks, where she got familiar with chord progressions which she learned to play on the keyboard. She has given around 1000 stage shows and concerts. She has given around 100 Carnatic classical keyboard concerts.

S. J. and her uncle designed the concept-series Classic Waves – Kannan songs in Tamil in 2007, including traditional songs for which Jananiy conducted, arranged and produced music that is the Fusion album series. This concept fetched them good recognition and became a popular number. Next they presented Classic Waves 2 – Silambosai (2010), Classic Waves 3 – Hit songs on Lord Shiva (Label:JSJ Audio- 2011), Classic Marvel (1, 2, 3, 4 concept-series). With respect to Carnatic classical, Classic Hits in Keyboard, Pancharatna Krithis in Keyboard, Kannan songs in Keyboard, and Chants are some of her other albums.

She has composed music for the Tamil Movie Prabha and the audio was launched during August 2015. She continues to compose music and she sings for a number of private albums, short films and advertisements. S. J. now has her own rapidly growing music business, she has so far released around 69 Music Albums under her JSJ Audio label, including such specialties as Carnatic Classical Vocal, Carnatic Classical Keyboard, Devotional, Fusion, New age, Indian Pop, Electronic Pop and Contemporary music.

She is the disciple of Guruji Padma Vibhushan, Sangita Kalanidhi, Chevalier Late Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna. She formerly was trained under Guru Shri Neyveli Santhanagopalan, Guru Shri Injikudi Ganesan and Guru Smt. Dr. Rukmini Ramani and Guru Shri Chidambaram Shanmukham. She received her earliest training under Guru Smt. Geetha Srinivasan and Guru Smt. Lakshmi.

She received the prestigious global honor Peace Song Awards Winner 2018 in Public Voting and Social Media for the Song “Pudhiya Ulagam Malarattumae,” the only song from India, (World Music Category), in Los Angeles, California. In 2019 Jananiy’s International debut “Believe in You” – Electronic/Pop Single, won the Bronze Medal for Emerging Artist and Song honored by Global Music Awards, in La Jolla, California. Most recently, in 2022, Sneham Ezhuga,” the Tamil version of “Maithreem Bhajatha,” won two Bronze Medals for “World Music” and “Music Video” by Global Music Awards, La Jolla, California.

“Shiva Mantra” is the first single in a series leading up to a collaborative album to be released later in 2023. It is supported with a full length lyric video and a wide range of artistic and psychedelically appealing content in the form of shorts, reels and stories. Watch for more coming soon!

LINKS

Shiva Mantra Smartlink: https://ffm.to/bjb29r2

Indian Trap Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indiantrap/

S. J. Jananiy Smartlink: https://www.flowcode.com/page/jananiysj