Bio
Heart-centered yogis who love contemporary folk & Americana music have been flocking to Katie Wise & Bhakti Explosion’s live kirtans across the US and at the biggest sacred music and folk festivals in the world:
Bhakti Fest, Rocky Mountain Folks Fest, Hanuman Festival, Holistic Manchester, Arise, Festival of Colors, Mammoth Yoga Festival, Shakti Fest, Bhakti Love Reunion, Lovelight, Relaxspansion, and Stonehenge Music Festival.
Based in Boulder, CO, USA, this mantra-infused powerhouse band pulses with rootsy world soul, and features layered harmonies that soar over emotionally crafted songs reminiscent of Sarah McLachlan and Alanis Morissette. Bhakti Explosion includes Katie Wise on guitar and keyboards, John Hoelle on bass and vocals (Pro Audio), drummer JJ Jones (Girlyman), and lead guitarist Yoshi Aono (Acoustic Junction).
Katie’s debut album, Lovolution, produced by Grammy-nominee Ben Leinbach, with guest vocals by Jai Uttal, received critical acclaim in the US (Yoga Journal, Yoga International), the UK (Kindred Spirit, Yoga Magazine) and Australia (Soul Traveller Radio, Australian Yoga Life), and was praised by Grammy-nominated kirtan musician and producer Dave Stringer as combining “beautifully nuanced country and Americana influences, inflected with just the right amount of Eastern mysticism.”
Bhakti Explosion has additionally released two live albums: Live at the Starhouse (2019), and Live at eTown (2021), and a second studio album, Akashic Rock, was released in 2023 on the conscious-music label White Swan Records.
Katie and the band have toured and recorded with sacred mantra artist David Newman who calls her "a force and presence for those who look to their music for peace, heart, groove, and spiritual inspiration.” Australian Yoga Life magazine writes: "Wise's soulful, earthy voice embodies vulnerability in a way that turns emotion into art."
Katie has shared the stage with leading chant artists: Donna DeLory, Deva Premal and Miten, David Newman, Girish, Brenda McMorrow, Wah, and Sean Johnson, among many others.
Bhakti Explosion is pioneering their own genre of spiritual music: mantra-folk. They believe it has the power to heal and inspire the world. More at BhaktiExplosion.com.
Online
Artist Information
Genre: Contemporary Folk / Kirtan / Acoustic Rock
Hometown: Boulder, CO
Influences: Trevor Hall, Jai Uttal, Deva Premal
Sounds Like: Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette, Natalie Merchant
Event Descriptions
Videos
Katie Wise & Bhakti Explosion Sampler Reel
Katie Wise & Bhakti Explosion Sampler Reel
Kali Kayeh (live at eTown)
Hey Ma Durga (radio edit) - Katie Wise & Bhakti Explosion
Katie Wise & Bhakti Explosion - Sweet Music
Downloads
Streaming
Press coverage
Yoga Magazine printed Katie's article on how kirtan curbed her life-long anxiety, in the April 2018 issue, page 24.
"The Bay Area's Magazine for Conscious Community since 1974" reviewed the album in the October 2017 issue page 40).
Australian Yoga Life
"Australia's longest running yoga magazine" reviewed the album in the summer 2017 issue.
Whole Life Times
Review in Whole Life Times, published in Apr/May 2017 issue.
Yoga Magzaine (UK)
Yoga Magazine (UK) reviewed the album in May 2017 issue.
Soul Traveller Radio
Played "Mystic Krishna" (radio edit) on Episode 12, Mar. 26, 2017.
Integral Yoga Magazine
Shared free song download in the Integral Yoga Newsletter, Issue No. 26, Mar. 11th.
Yoga International
Looking For Music For Your Yoga Class? This Playlist Is For You, published on Mar. 6, 2017. It features a writeup about “Ra Ma Da Sa / Hallelujah” and the song is featured in White Swan’s “Best Yoga Music of 2016” Spotify playlist, which is embedded in the article.
Yoga Journal
10 Best Pop Music Covers by Yoga Rock Stars, published on Nov. 2, 2016 featuring a writeup about "Lokha Love" from Lovolution.
Yoga Chat with the Accidental Yogist
Episode 255: Happy International Yoga—And Music—Day! Interview with lead singer Katie Wise + 2 featured songs from Lovolution: "Lokha Love" and "Om Mata Kali." Show aired on June 21, 2016.
In the Spirit radio show
Radio show host Gary Goldberg featured Lovolution on Gary's Music Show in 2016; he has featured Katie on the show several previous times. (3/2)
Praise for Katie's debut album "Lovolution"
“Beautifully nuanced country and Americana influences, inflected with just the right amount of Eastern mysticism. Katie's vocals are exquisitely textured —simultaneously vulnerable and powerful.”
Dave Stringer
Grammy-nominated producer and international kirtan artist
“Wise’s soulful, earthy voice embodies vulnerability in a way that turns emotion into art.”
Australian Yoga Life
“A modern offering [that] mixes ancient spiritual vocals with mantra-and-pop-music mash-ups to provide a refreshingly hip spiritual and musical journey.”
Yoga Magazine UK
“A force and presence for those who look to their music for peace, heart, groove, and spiritual inspiration.”
David Newman
Sacred chant artist and inspirational teacher
“Deftly weaves a rich array of contemporary grooves, world music flavors, and lush vocal arrangements while keeping the sacred heart of devotion alive through every song. Fans of both traditional and modern Kirtan music will find lots to enjoy here.”
Girish
Celebrated yogi-musician and author of Music and Mantras
“One of the best sacred chant albums I've had the pleasure to hear in 18 years of doing radio. For those who truly wish to experience devotional heart music, this is the one.”
Gary Goldberg
Host of WRPI’s “In The Spirit” radio show and “Gary’s Music Show”