REVIEW: Paul Avgerinos — Ganesha (SINGLE)

Hauntingly beautiful and a reminder that beauty is all around us, the song “Ganesha” is from the multi-talented Paul Avgerinos. Known for his work in the New Age, World Music and even Jazz genres, the producer/composer/singer Avgerinos calls Connecticut home. Just as iconic rock and roll photographers like Lynn Goldsmith, Linda McCartney and Herb Ritts created a different viewpoint and spellbinding images through lens, it’s Avgerinos that creates a gilded and flowered pathway to nirvana-like, exuberant emotional state in “Ganesha”. Guiding the road, and certainly not just a passenger, singer Emma Kiara nearly steals the spotlight.

BANDCAMP: https://paulavgerinos.bandcamp.com/track/ganesha

But there really is no spotlight other than the song as a whole when it comes to Avgerinos. I listened intently to the words — there aren’t many in this chant — and found that when I closed my eyes, my heartbeat felt closer, louder. The rhythm of this auditory dance is a symphony of voices, backed by acoustic instrumentation and some computerized beats. The cadence of the song never lags and in the perpetual rhythm, that euphoric journey feels centered and achievable. I’m no stranger to yoga, and in my sessions, the hardest part can often be letting go, shutting out the outside forces and noises. “Ganesha” is a security blanket and offers a boost to achieving complete focus.

You get to wander around the wonderment for a time, with Kiara’s glorious voice gliding throughout. I would say that Avgerinos is just as dashing, but because of his slight baritone, there’s a bit more carving into the soundscape for him. Together their voices are interesting and magnetic. I wouldn’t say that I was hypnotized by their vocals, but I certainly couldn’t break away from listening. I found myself enamored with the tones and the overall lovely emotions that were coming at me like rapid fire.

The musicality of “Ganesha” is more than meets the eye. Like peeling an onion, the more you listen, the deeper you feel a connection to the lyric(s) and the bells. I have yet to visit India in my travels, yet I felt like this song sort of let me step into that culture. I heard little bits of jazz, though, and maybe just slightly, some Latin tones. The meandering music is juicy — it’s ripe with plump textures and stringed arrangements. The healing music is just what the world needs, especially in the time we’re experiencing. I especially liked that Avgerinos paired his voice with a female artist — I think it gives credence to the yin and yang we face in our daily lives. We all crave balance whether we realize it or not. We are not silos or islands — there are other people out there and with two voices, I think it mirrors life’s journey.

Music fans that enjoy composers and artists like A. R. Rahman, Enya, Chick Gorea and even Yanni will want to check out “Ganesha”. It’s such a privilege to listen to this piece, to enjoy the fruits of Avgerinos’ artistic endeavor. This is a song for the people of the world.

Colin Jordan