Lost At Last is a hypnotic mixture of tribal world music blended with the ancient wisdom of the Sufi, Vedic, Native American, Indian, Afro-Mediterranean and Gypsy, combined with various world music styles, pop, rock, trance, house, and folk. They are at the forefront of a genre of music that embraces cultural integration known as, Tribal-Trance-Dance music. This is dance music, with live percussion and drumming a band priority.
Their universal appeal is linked to their trailblazing accomplishment by combining ethnic and electronic music. It's music that ventures into both high-energy dance and ambient realms while reflecting the current global changes, the reality of disappearing boundaries, the cross-pollenization of ideas, and the almost instant access to information. Their music is 'borderless' in every sense making them an international band.
Lost At Last was conceived in 1996 in the sensual garden beauty of Maui, where there popularity grew so rapidly that they were inspired to move to the San Francisco Bay area in 1998 to bring their transformational music to a wider audience. Since then Lost At Last has developed an ever growing and devoted following.
Om, the band's programmer and keyboardist was born and raised in South Africa. Through his past incarnations as a techno DJ and composer (with a successful 1990 release "Earth Awakening"), Om brings an awesome digital shamanic talent to the group. "Our music, which embodies both the ancient and the future, is alchemical in nature," he says. "It is designed to integrate mind, body and spirit."
Deva Priyo, a native of Sicily, is a musical master, with a passionate gift for expression. A virtuoso on an impressive array of stringed instruments, including Gypsy and electric and 12-string guitars, the sarod from India, birimbau from Africa, and banjo; he's also known for his incredible precision as a percussionist. He has spent 25 years traveling the world playing music, and his band Gypsy Moon is well known and loved in Australia and Hawaii. Priyo brings an eclectic characteristic to the Lost At Last sound. "What we offer here is really a journey, an experience. We try to create a space for the listeners where transformation can truly occur."
From her years of living in the forests of the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii, lead singer Jaya Lakshmi, brings grounding and unifying balance to Lost At Last. A talented songwriter and musician, with an independently released CD Ocean of Mercy, (2000) she also plays keyboards, harmonium and 12-string guitar in the band. Jaya has a beautiful voice infused with spiritual energy, a diversity of singing styles, and a mystical presence on stage. "The human voice is a spiritual instrument," says Lakshmi. "These chants and songs I sing are designed to open the heart and help us relate to the Divine in joyful celebration."
The bands' rhythm section revolves around Tabla master Daniel Paul, (solo album Rhythms of Paradise on Soundings of the Planet
), Noah Mosgofian (in his second year in the San Francisco Production of STOMP), Brazil's Bene DaSilva (Shakira, Destiny¹s Child), Alberto Lopez from Columbia, on congas, timbales, and djembe, and Timi Marshall from Guyana on bass, Peter Van Gorder from Sebastopol, CA.
Lost At Last is live performance art, backed by incredible musicianship. They are the cutting edge. Since their formation the band has been in high demand headlining a number of significant venues and events including Burning Man, Health & Harmony Festival and sell-out shows at San Francisco's historic Great American Music Hall and Maritime Hall, and Palookaville in the band's other hometown Santa Cruz.
The year 2000 included performing with the Grateful Dead's Phil Lesh sitting in on "Peyote" and 3 "Lostasized" Dead songs, and ended in Portland with the String Cheese Incident/Peak Experience and New Year's Eve with the prestigious Anon Salon in San Francisco.
In 2001 they headlined the world music night at the legendary Reggae On The River in Humboldt County, California and the Old Filmore. They also played a 'grand slam' of Labor Day weekend festivals by performing at Nevada¹s Burning Man, Northern California¹s Hog Farm Pignic, and Seattle¹s Bumbershoot. At their last outdoor show of the year, EarthDance, Vince Welnick (the Tubes, Grateful Dead) joined them on stage.
And in 2002 they had the honor of playing five shows in Salt Lake City and Park City during the Winter Olympics.
Lost At Last has successfully united a wide variety of cultures, ages, and musical tastes, with all experiencing something significant in the music. Join Lost At Last as the journey continues...
