Vajra says: “We made it — after three years, it’s good to be back riding the edge of existence. We’ll be performing songs from ‘Irkalla’ live for the first time ever. Join us on one of these limited dates”.
Weaving a tapestry of melodic rock and dark ambient experimental interludes with a blend of alternative, progressive tinged metal and colorful soundscapes, “Irkalla” was released in January 2021, via Thunder Cult Records. The EP spawned several singles. The first single, “Maya”, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Indicator Most Added Chart and landed #26 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Indicator Chart. The video for “Maya” was a 100% DIY creation by Vajra and won 9 awards: Winner, Cannes International Cinema Festival 2021; Official Selection, Berlin International Art Film Festival 2022; Official Selection, New York Independent Cinema Awards, 2021; Official Selection, Montreal Independent Film Festival 2021; Official Selection, 2021 ARFF Paris; Official Selection, Venice Shorts 2021; Official Selection, Boston Independent Film Awards 2021; Official Selection, Kalakari Film Festival and Official Selection, Chicago Indie Film Awards.
“Crown or Crucify” from the “Irkalla” EP reached the Top 40 on the “Mediabase Active Rock Chart”.
“The inspiration for every aspect of the EP came to me in meditation and communion with particular Goddess/divine feminine energies”, vocalist, Annamaria Pinna says. “Women shouldn’t have to throw an aggressive male lens over their art or replicate aggressive male energy to be present or legitimate in their art. The sensual, subtle body aspects are just as beautiful as the rational, directed aspects. One defines the other, and both are aspects of the one. Balance is key. I can only approach that balance from my perspective, and hope that it resonates”.
Conceptually, “Irkalla” is the first part of a trilogy exploring the various philosophical and esoteric levels of consciousness. The use of the Sumerian word “Irkalla”, which is a mythological Underworld of sorts from which there’s no return, is both metaphorical and literal. “Irkalla” was produced by New York native Daniel “Sahaj” Ticotin (Ra, Mötley Crüe), whom Pinna was introduced to in 2018 after both were on different spiritual missions in India.
Vajra’s are currently in the studio with Sahaj Ticotin recording the follow-up to the “Irkalla” EP. Also, in the spirit of Jane’s Addiction’s “The Gift”, Vajra are creating a 100% DIY short film that is inspired by “The Descent of Inanna”, and incorporates reimagined and twisted versions of music videos from the “Irkalla” EP of 2021, to be released later this year.
US Live Shows 2022:
Thursday, October 20 at Alchemy in Providence, RI
Friday, October 21 at Reverb in Reading, PA
Saturday, October 22 at The Kingsland in Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, October 23 at Wally’s in Hampton Beach, NH (as special guests of The Haxans)
Line-up:
Annamaria Pinna – Vocals, flute, keys
Dave Sussman – Guitars
Jimmy DeMarco – Drums
John Heaney – Bass
Weblinks:
www.vajraofficial.com
www.youtube.com/VajraOfficial
