Beth Martens Was Born To Sing And To Serve

Born to sing, join many voices together and explore the depths of consciousness, her life thrives on it.

Raised in Winnipeg, Canada, singer/songwriter, yoga teacher and community builder Beth Martens, grew up on a diet of international musical influences and then tripped on India in the last year of her undergrad year in anthropology.

Nearly to the day she began a daily meditation practice, Beth took up guitar and began to write, perform and record her own world music. Her taste for cross-culture, art and mysticism combined led her to become a kirtan singing yogi, “taking to the streets” with ancient Sanskrit mantras.

Eight trips to India in her 20′s filled her basket with a wealth of creative material and training, and following a three year battle with cancer, in 2002 took up music and teaching yoga full time, realizing that in order to live on earth she must not only sing and study, but get the world around her to enjoy these birthrights as well.

“These threads keeps me going, challenge me to make every situation meaningful, and find something to appreciate under all circumstances,” says Beth, no matter how devastating or difficult.

Among her accomplishments highlights in the music world are recording three original CDs, winning second place in Winnipeg radio, Q-94 FM’s songwriting contest for her original music to “Om Poornam”; opening for nearly 2,000 people at Winnipeg’s Centennial Concert Hall for speakers Deepak Chopra and peace activist/widow, Jehan Sadat; and doing the “mantra” of independently conducting regular yoga classes, which include her live music.

The CD’s:

“Vijaya: Living Knowledge,” (1999) recorded in India, is a gathering of cooling mantras, drink-of-water melodies and a kirtan voice that will call you to sing. Call all and responding Yogis. Sanskrit selections from Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads are there interlaced with cosmic poetic reflections.

“Where There’s Beauty” (2003) was a rising out of the phoenix record of Beth’s songs, a full production rendition of emotionally full and dynamic orchestrations with producer/musician Dan Donahue. Richly textured landscapes, in the traditions of the likes of Annie Lennox, Peter Gabriel, Joni Mitchell and the Beatles. create music that crosses wide lines of style and mood, and appeals to a large adult contemporary world.

“The Yoga Lullabies” (2007), recorded while eight months pregnant with her son, is a naked, back-to-the-roots collection of mantras that carried her through many of her life experiences with their deeply embedded Sanskrit grooves to speak for themselves. This 87 minute CD is perfect for a yoga or meditation practice, or for keeping one’s head above water during politically weird and spiritually interesting times.