“A "string yogi," Stevin McNamara was born in South Africa but came to America where he has built a career of musical engineering and multi-instrument mastery. Prana Groove shows off his impeccable sound-recording and playing skills, as the sound is beautiful, clean, and spacious, and awesome for headphones. Based around the "Rag Malkauns," a late-night Indian raga on a pentatonic scale and structured in three movements, Prana Groove is an instrumental album of guitar, tamboura, tablas (by Aram Ram), dilruba (a kind of violin–sitar hybrid that's played with a bow), and an array of drum loops and percussion courtesy of Nic Dacelo. Whether listening to this while doing yoga, meditating, working a treadmill or Stairmaster, jogging, driving, meditating, or for long walks around the lake, Prana Groove comes to life, as if McNamara's guitar is breathing for you, a strong and patient guide into the wilderness of the evening. The album opens with the pulsing bluesy-guitar instrumental "Danc”

“Shakti Guitar by Steve McNamara (White Swan Records) takes us on a mystical sound journey through time. As the impeccable touch of McNamara’s guitar opens our senses, we become enveloped by the emotive melodies lilting throughout this beautiful album. I have always loved the sound of the guitar; from that alone I was looking forward to hearing Shakti Guitar. Yet, as I listened, it became clear that I was hearing much more than mere guitar artistry. McNamara’s approach to this instrument is based on the traditional Indian musical form called Raga, which means “that which colors the mind.” It is believed that when this music is played properly at the correct time of day, the musician and the Raga blend to create a new musical being.It is this unique musical being that I heard emanating from McNamara’s touch caressing the guitar. In this song cycle, McNamara moves us through the moods of a 24-hour day.”

“Stevin McNamara has a unique approach to guitar - he pairs the Western based instrument with the raga structure of Indian classical music. The resultant sound falls somewhere between Eastern and Western musical sensibilities, featuring a warm acoustic sound with a decidedly Indian harmonic quality. SHAKTI GUITAR is themed after the cycle of the sun, using raga form to follow the sun's path from its glorious dawning in the morning hours to it's a restful setting at night. McNamara is joined on the album by Christo Pellani, whose drumming rhythms give the music its pace, the enchanting flute twirls of Steve Gorn, the dynamic vocals of Sheela Bringi and Mala Ganguly and Ben Leinbach's expert production and mixing work. The sound that you can expect crosses several borders - it is jazzy at times and bears a tinge of rock at others, while some of the tracks are soft, spiritual and very much Indian in nature. It results in a diverse album that finds unity in the rhythmic guitar of McNamara.”

“Stevin McNamara's latest foray into meditational bliss on Shakti Guitar adds a beautiful serenity to soul-soaked compositions ripe with engaging melodies and soothing rhythms. Stevin's contemplative guitar stylings are accompanied by drums, gongs, bells, bass, Bansuri flute, sarod, tabla, acoustic bass, tamboura, frame drum, and other percussive instruments. The sweeping sounds are very fulfilling and addictive. There are even a few vocals (thanks to Sheela Bringi), but the majority of songs are instrumental. Stevin's nylon guitar strums and plucks project listeners into a trance-induced coma of a higher consciousness. The light sounds are more akin to new age constructions or even film soundtracks. The spacious sounds and heavenly ambiance attract listeners with entrancing elements and shape-shifting progressions that never disappoint. If you want to do yoga, sleep, relax, chill, or think at a higher level, then Stevin McNamara will get your shakti's aligned with this one! ~ Matthew F”

“Stevin McNamara’s seventh solo album, Shakti Guitar, is a mesmerizing 75-minute soundtrack that pairs well with the ebb and flow of a yoga practice. This mystical sonic journey begins with the soothing sounds of nylon-string guitar, bansuri flute and tambora, inspired by the quiet and awakening energies of dawn. We are slowly brought into the fiery aliveness of midday in the fourth track with a faster tempo through the addition of upbeat drums and percussion. The remainder of the CD travels into the nighttime with slower tempos, less instrumentation and the notable addition of beautiful Indian female vocals. While McNamara’s unique personal style is based on the classical music of Northern India, he is quick to point out that his work is not traditional raga music. While this may sound like a detriment, Western ears will resonate more easily with these Western musical influences while still feeling the depth, beauty and mystery of the East.”

“Raga Cycle of "Shakti Guitar" Follows The Sun - Innovative, Indian Raga-Inspired Guitar Artistry From Stevin McNamara -- His New Album SHAKTI GUITAR; A YOGIC JOURNEY FROM RADIANT DAWN TO DEEPEST NIGHT Coming From White Swan Records on September 23rd, 2014”

“PRANA GROOVE (CD) BY STEVIN MCNAMARA White Swan Records In the hustle and bustle of the popular world, it is important we take moments to transform outer day to day stress to a more centered inner calm. Beyond exotic environments, pleasing colors, and tranquil smiles, music is a key ingredient in the medicinal process of linking body, mind, and beyond. Feeling these good ‘vibes’ deeply infuses our psyche, and Prana Groove is founded on this notion. Steven McNamara lets his rhythmic groove flow with primordial energy. Just as our breath moves prana, his fingers are an extension of this dance. This album is essentially 3 “movements” blended together with melodic elements based on Rag Malkauns – a raga to be played late at night based on a penta-tonic scale. The tempo is 108 beats per minute, chosen for its sacred value. A groove can strike you at any time and, prepared or not, you must go where it takes you. If you happen upon Prana Groove, it will take you far out.”

“Organic resonance This is what I want when I listen to music, any kind of music. I want to be able to set my imagination on fire. When I close my eyes and listen, I want to be able to visualize landscapes and places I have never even seen with my own two eyes. I want to be transported and moved out of my own body, yet still want the music to resonate with my very core, on a very organic level. I want to feel good once the music stops. With Stevin’s Prana Groove, this is exactly what you get. I guess now I stand corrected about yoga music. Let’s light a fire under the moonlight, shall we ?”

“Shanti Guitar Stevin McNamara 2012 This album encompasses lots of multi-ethnic flavors for deep listeners: Afro-Cuban rhythms and African plus Middle Eastern percussion, blues guitar meshed with the very traditional raga. Good for meditation, yoga, and dancing, this album delights the senses and brings us deeper into the realm of worldly song. ”

“Lovers (or even Likers!) of Stevin McNamara's music will not be disappointed by his new album, Shanti Guitar. I enjoy how his music can alternate seamlessly between laid-back plucking and melodic journeys of sound. Here a hint of flamenco, there a taste more Arabic, and other tastes scattered throughout but always part of a peaceful, gentle whole. I listen regularly to the only other album I have of his, Prana Groove, and I will certainly do the same with Shanti Guitar. Want a little preview? Click here! Reviewed by, Parzival Sattva”

“Stevin McNamara presents a soulful album that combines the earthy beauty of the acoustic guitar with elements of Indian music to provide a stirring, cross-cultural hybrid. To create SHANTI GUITAR, McNamara started with the basic essence of the raga. Upon that he delved into his own history growing up in South Africa and paired these influences with blues and fingerstyle guitar playing. The resulting album offers up rockin' ragas that contain the essence of East and West. The music flows forth at a smooth, relaxed pace, offering an ideal atmosphere whether chilling out on the couch or performing a session of yoga. Several of the songs were originally released on the album YOGITAR.”