Much of life in New York City is spent waiting. Waiting for the train, waiting for a table, or waiting in some sort of line. Last night was no different. Even though I was on the guest list for Lokah‘s The Ivy Ceiling CD Launch Party, I had to wait. And wait. And wait! But once inside, it was well worth it.

Held at the ultra-chic Bruno Jamais Restaurant Club, guests were treated to hors d’oeuvres and champagne, while mingling and listening to the laid-back sounds of Lokah. VIP’s included everyone from Russell Simmons and Sting, (and moi), and of course, the guests of honor. Lokah is the collective creation of two artists– Sri Michael Shlofmitz and Uma Nanda Saraswati. The duo’s debut release, The Ivy Ceiling, fuses Indian Kirtan with modern music, resulting in smooth yet heavily textured beats and sounds. The album features the vocals of Sting on the track, “Ma Durga”, and a spoken word introduction by Russell Simmons. Also on the album are Roderick and Anisa Romero of the Seattle based underground band, Sky Cries Mary, are featured on backing vocals.

For sample tracks of The Ivy Ceiling, or to learn more about Lokah, visit LokahMusic.com and to purchase The Ivy Ceiling click here.

Wireimage/Mark Von Holden