The first song from Life + Death is “I Am Dying”
It came to me in a dream at 3am, the chorus and melody already fully formed, singing itself to me. Outside, a sound bath of coqui frogs; a few rainy nights later I recorded them, so they’re on the track exactly as they were that first night. It’s a nine-minute, first-person meditation on the great letting go, the journey we all will take one day — on everything we release before we leave.
Life + Death is my fourth solo sacred chant record — and among the most personal I’ve made. It was written and recorded between 2023 and 2025, across India and the USA: three songs born on a Panchakarma retreat in South India, and a closing song, in English, that arrived in a dream at 3am, weeks after I sat bedside with one of my oldest friends as he prepared to leave his body.
I was inspired to record this Hanuman Chalisa melody by my friend Japna Tulsi in India, who at the time was working on a documentary film, Moved by Grace, about the great Indian saint, Neem Karoli Baba.
As you can see from the song video (add YouTube link here), I recorded it solo, in one take, in the darkening sunset gloaming in my backyard in Western Massachusetts.
You can download it here, or listen to it wherever you stream or listen to music.
The simplicity of the arrangement and presentation is a bit of a contrast to my more intricate studio production projects. I hope you enjoy it.
Jai Hanuman!
Adam Bauer’s latest album, Return to the Sacred, was recorded early 2020 in India and the USA, and released in October 2020. Produced by Adam Bauer and Ben Leinbach.
Featuring all original compositions in both English and Sanskrit, played by incredible musicians in India and America, including Mohan Shyam Sharma on pakhawaj, Noah Hoffeld on cello, Visvambhar Sheth on mrdangam, Kailash Sharma on bansuri, Rajeev Janardan on surbahar, and more.
Purchase the CD or download here, and follow and listen on all your favorite streaming sites (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, etc.). Enjoy!
Wonderville, released in 2017, is Adam Bauer’s second critically-acclaimed solo kirtan album. Produced by Ben Leinbach and Adam Bauer. Released on Mantralogy Records.
His first collaboration with award-winning producer (and former high school classmate) Ben Leinbach, Adam co-produced this album of all-new chants (and one cover, Angel Wash), recorded in India and the USA.
The India tracks were recorded during a solar eclipse in the ancient and music-rich devotional city of Benares, with Balram Mishra, Anand Kumar Mishra, and Ankit Parikh under the guidance of Panditji Santosh Kumar Mishra. The cast of stellar Western musicians includes Steve Gorn, Hans Christian, Gawain Mathews, Chris Gartner, John McDowell, and others.
Purchase the CD or download here, and follow and listen on all your favorite streaming sites (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, etc.). Enjoy!
2014’s Shyam Lila is Adam Bauer’s first solo kirtan album, a personal tribute to renowned singer and Bhakti Yoga teacher Shyamdas, featuring contributions from many of Shyamdas’ friends and collaborators, including Gaura Vani, John McDowell, Steve Gorn and many others.
Produced by Gaura Vani. Released on Mantralogy Records.
A deeply intimate expression of devotion, the album showcases Bauer’s vocals, harmonium and signature electric bass, augmented by a lush tapestry of additional vocalists and instruments including tabla, organ, sitar, guitar, piano and bansuri flute.
Purchase the CD or download here, and follow and listen on all your favorite streaming sites (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, etc.). Enjoy!
