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email: dasharay(at)hotmail(dot)com

Booking Info:
Bradford Smith 314-272-0682
Kelly Mead 314-457-9170

Electro, Acoustical, Native, Folk, Music

Dasha Ray, a rich amalgamation of world music, new age and American pop, is creating a new musical style featuring Native American flute, vocals, and hypnotic grooves. The core of Däsha Ray consists of Bradford Smith (Native American flute, woodwinds, and keyboards), Tim Mead (vocals and guitar), and Don Hensley (percussion). The group focuses on blending new and interesting harmonic textures from each of the members' unique backgrounds. Utilizing world percussion and synthesized drum patterns, the band layers ethereal Native American flute, keyboards and acoustic guitar with vocals reminiscent of Peter Gabriel and Cat Stevens.

Their CD Hearts Desire is Däsha Ray's first release. Their message is of self-discovery and following personal inner truth. The title track "Hearts Desire" asks you to "Listen to your heart, To the Peace within, The Expression of the whole, Living as the One". Their song "Expansion" empowers with "You can have all you imagine, All freedom joy and peace." "Beyond the Moon" portrays emotional enrichment through "I see I am now one inside" after the realization "I saw how I learned all of my fears." Ultimately, Däsha Ray's instrumental proficiency and layered compositions are complimented by their subdued, spiritually optimistic lyrics, which gives the music an uplifting character.

The name of the band has no particular meaning, but instead conveys a feeling just by its sound. Bradford explains that, "while washing the dishes one day I started making up words. I knew I wanted a name that had a flowing, lifting rhythm and some how the sound 'däsha ray' came to me. At the time we were working on the title track of Hearts Desire and it just melted into the energy of the project."

Däsha Ray formed after a chance meeting in church during the summer of 2000. Tim and Bradford recognized a unique song writing chemistry. They immediately started working together on creating their heart's desire of creating empowering music. Working in their home studios they crafted and recorded Heart's Desire in the summer and fall of 2000. Tim, a veteran of the St. Louis music scene, has been performing music in St. Louis since the late 70's. Tim has recorded two new CD's since Däsha Ray with groups One Kindred Soul and Common Ground. Bradford is originally from Virginia Beach where he played in various bands until arriving in St. Louis in '92. He has since recorded four CD's featuring his Native American Flute playing. Percussionist Don Hensley, a guru of Eastern and African rhythms and longtime friend of Tim, joined with Däsha Ray in January of 2001.

Däsha Ray has performed at events with authors such as: Neale Donald Walsh, Wayne Dyer, Alan Cohen, Lee Carroll, Judy Goodman and Phylis Clay Sparks. Däsha Ray is performing and sharing their musical journey at various events, churches, festivals, and through their recordings.