Kirtana was born in Boothbay Harbor, ME. When she was 11 years old she received a guitar from her parents for a Christmas present. She took a few months worth of lessons after that, but mostly taught herself to play by listening to other artists and by putting in a lot of practice. She actually enjoyed the hours she spent playing her guitar all alone in her room and writing songs meant to please no one other than herself. For a while it seemed as if Kirtana would make a life-long career of teaching meditation. But her music was always there -- waiting. After going back to college for a spell, she moved to California. It was there that she recorded her debut album, Healing Rain, in 1990. During that same time, she was playing at folk festivals and clubhouses. Her first full-length solo show happened not long after that debut album was released, when she went to a club to open for another act. The other act didn't make it and Kirtana found herself facing a full audience, an audience waiting for an entire show, when she was only prepared for an opening. She pulled it off like an old pro. In 1993, Kirtana finished working on a excellent sophomore release, Parrish Light. It was followed four years later by The Offering and then in 1999 by This Embrace. Some of the new age-flavored songs showcased on these albums are "Sweet Streams," "Going Going, Gone," "A Brighter Way of Being," "True Light," and "A State of Heart." ~ Charlotte Dillon