TLDR: Simrit performs "Lion," a devotional kirtan from the album Become (featuring Dub Creative), recorded live in 2025. The piece explores the metaphor of the lion as a symbol of inner strength, fearlessness, and authentic presence. Through the repetitive, meditative structure of kirtan chanting, Simrit invites listeners to embody these qualities and access a state of grounded power and courage within themselves.
What is the Lion metaphor in kirtan practice?
In yogic and devotional traditions, the lion represents more than physical strength—it embodies a state of unshakeable presence and fearless authenticity. The lion does not second-guess itself; it moves through the world with clarity and purpose. In kirtan, this metaphor becomes a vehicle for inner transformation. By chanting and singing the qualities of the lion, practitioners are invited to recognize and activate these same qualities within themselves. Simrit's approach uses the lion as a mirror for the listener's own capacity for courage, dignity, and conscious power.
How does kirtan use repetition to deepen experience?
Kirtan is built on the principle of repetition—the same phrases, melodies, and sacred names are sung over and over. This is not meant to be hypnotic in a passive sense; rather, it creates a container in which the mind can settle and the heart can open. As the intellect relaxes into the familiar structure, deeper layers of consciousness become accessible. The repetition allows the body, breath, and nervous system to synchronize with the intention being voiced. In "Lion," this would mean that as you sing the qualities of the lion—strength, presence, clarity—your whole being begins to embody and remember these states rather than merely thinking about them.
What does "Become" signify as an album title?
The title Become points to a fundamental principle in spiritual practice: that we do not acquire new qualities so much as uncover and activate those that already exist within us. Rather than striving to become someone else, the invitation is to become more fully ourselves—to shed the layers of doubt, fear, and conditioning that obscure our true nature. Each piece on the album, including "Lion," offers a different facet of this process. "Lion" specifically addresses the becoming of power, presence, and fearlessness—not as distant ideals, but as accessible states we can access through devotional practice.
Why use animal archetypes in spiritual music?
Animals in spiritual traditions serve as concentrated embodiments of specific qualities. The lion's characteristics—dignity, strength, presence, confidence, and fearlessness—are universal human potentials that exist in all of us. By invoking the lion through chant and song, the tradition is using what might be called symbolic psychology: directing attention toward and activating these archetypal qualities in the listener's own being. Unlike purely abstract teachings, the animal archetype creates an immediate, visceral connection. When you imagine or feel into the presence of a lion—grounded, powerful, unafraid—your body and nervous system respond directly, without the filter of intellectual analysis.
How does live performance shape the kirtan experience?
Simrit's 2025 live performance brings a particular energy to "Lion" that differs from a studio recording. In live kirtan, there is direct transmission between the singer and the listeners. The energy in the room—the collective breath, the shared intention, the spontaneous responsiveness of both performer and audience—creates a field that amplifies the transformative potential of the chant. A live performance is also unrepeatable; it unfolds in real time, with variations and improvisations that make each session unique. The presence of the artist and the gathering of people create what some traditions call a "sacred container," where deeper states of consciousness become more accessible than they might be in solitude.
What role does Dub Creative play in this composition?
The collaboration with Dub Creative adds an electronic, contemporary sonic layer to the traditional form of kirtan. Dub, a genre born from reggae production and characterized by spatial effects, reverb, and rhythmic innovation, can amplify the meditative and trance-like qualities of chanting. By weaving dub production techniques into the kirtan form, Simrit and Dub Creative create a bridge between ancient devotional practice and modern sound design. This approach makes the music accessible to listeners who might not have a background in traditional Sanskrit or kirtan conventions, while deepening the experience for those already familiar with the form. The electronic elements can also serve to isolate and focus the listener's attention on the essential sound and intention.
How can listeners work with "Lion" in personal practice?
While the live performance itself is a complete experience, "Lion" can also be used as a tool for personal spiritual work. Listening repeatedly—particularly during meditation or yoga practice—allows the vibration and intention of the chant to work on subtle levels of the psyche and energy body. Some practitioners use kirtan recordings as background for breathwork, visualizations, or journaling, allowing the sound to guide and support their own inquiry. The key is not to treat the recording as passive background music, but as an active participant in your practice. Set an intention before listening: What aspect of the lion's presence do I need to activate in my own being right now? Then allow the sound and the artist's voice to work with that intention.
Where to go from here
To deepen engagement with this work, listen to "Lion" in full on Spotify or Apple Music, and explore other pieces from the Become album to understand the arc of the collection. If you have access to live kirtan events, attend one in your area—the collective experience of group chanting creates a distinct resonance that home listening, while valuable, cannot fully replicate. Consider learning more about the archetypes and qualities that resonate most deeply for you, and how devotional sound can activate those qualities in your own practice. Finally, investigate other works by Simrit to understand her unique approach to bridging contemporary production with traditional spiritual forms.
