Lisa Reagan and Suzanne Jackson, Shunia
Lisa Reagan and Suzanne Jackson
Shunia is a duo that combines addictive melodies, ancient chants and polycultural rhythms into a sound that feels both new and timeless. Their music captures and conveys deep energies and spirit. The state of "shunia" means stillness, receptivity. A stillness of power, not passivity. Shunia’s members, Lisa Reagan and Suzanne Jackson, combine their influences, inspirations and experiences to form genre-defying music with the power to transform and to connect you to the energy within and around you. It can put you in touch with something as simple as your five senses or as mysterious as the infinite.
Experience the music of Shunia, it will transport you.
Lisa Reagan’s theatrical and classical training led her to performances at The Kennedy Center, The Arena Stage, and to becoming a resident artist of the Washington National Opera. She has shared the stage with great artists, such as Placido Domingo and Renee Fleming.
Performing music has literally taken Lisa around the world, which allowed her to study the cultures of her various destinations. Although she had been recording since she was 16, the untimely passing of her sister triggered feelings that led to a creative outpouring that resulted in her first album of original songs. Altogether, Lisa has released seven previous albums of her own music.
As a teacher of yoga and voice, Suzanne Jackson helps people find their soul voice and personal destiny through music, movement and meditation. She spent 25 years on stage as a resident artist with the Washington National Opera and teaches her method of conscious singing entitled YogaSing™ to artists around the country. As director of The Awakening Arts Studio, her clients have graced the stages of the world’s major opera houses and Broadway.
She has co-produced instructional yoga DVDs including “YogaSing” and “The Essence of Yoga” with Tao Porchan-Lynch. Her inspirational children’s book and musical, Penny the Piano has inspired thousands of children to find their true home within.
I’m so excited for you to connect with Lisa and Suzanne, check out their beautiful music, and follow along as they continue to capture and convey deep energies and spirit.
I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself, what you do, and what you're working on.
I’m Lisa Reagan from Shunia, my group along with Suzanne Jackson. I have been a musician my whole life. I trained as a classical singer and I’m also a composer and have released 8 albums of music since 2001. Shunia just finished our second album, also called Shunia, and it will be released in January 2021.
How did you get started?
Performing music has literally taken me around the world, which allowed me to study the cultures of the places I went. I’ve been recording since I was 16, but the sudden passing of my sister triggered feelings that led to a creative flood that resulted in my first album of original songs. And I kept going from there.
What inspired the work that you're doing?
We both had been practicing yoga and meditation individually for years and were interested in chant as meditation. So, we realized that we both knew the same chant, (Sa Re Sa Sa) and decided to sing it together to share the experience of the chant. That’s when we first experienced the power of the vibration of chant.
What is your biggest passion? Do you feel like you're living your passion and purpose?
One of my big passions is creating beautiful sacred music. Another passion is to share the transformational power of chant with people around the world. As Shunia, our purpose is to create and share this sacred music.
What is your joy blueprint? What lights you up, brings you joy, and makes you feel the most alive?
I think since I have been singing and have been in the world of performance for most of my life, it’s safe to say that singing brings me lots of joy. And sharing that joy with others is the most beautiful gift there is. Like everyone else, we’re looking forward to the time when COVID is finally behind us and we can all be in a room together chanting and dancing and expressing our joy to the Divine creator.
How do you live intentionally? Are there tools/resources/practices that you rely on to help you stay mindful and grounded?
I think right now it’s more important to stay in the moment than it has ever been. The world can be so over whelming, especially all of the gloom and doom that is being spread into the world right now. Having a regular practice can keep you grounded and centered and somewhat insulated from the world. I know we are in the world, but we do not have to be of the world. We can stay in the magic if we keep our eyes on God.
What would your younger self think about what you're doing now?
I have always been a very spiritual person. Maybe having been a musician and a singer opened the channels up for me at a young age. But I have always been drawn to mystery and the transformative power of nature and God. I think my younger self would think what I’m doing now is very natural for me. When I was a teenager, I remember reading about Hildegarde Von Bingen and thinking how wonderful it would have been to have been her. She was a musician and a healer and spent most of her days in prayer to God through her voice.
Do you have a go-to mantra or affirmation?
I would have to say my go to mantra is Ad Guray Nameh. I’m not exactly sure why I love this one so much, but it seems to be the one I chant often throughout the day. It brings me joy.
What is your biggest dream?
That’s an interesting question right now. I think world peace would still have to be at the top of my list. However, this is a teaching planet so I’m not sure when that will happen. But until then, I would love for people to see themselves as the sentient beings that they truly are. I would love for everyone to understand what a precious gift this life can be. As Shunia, I would love to see us chanting with audiences around the world, all sharing our joy of the divine connection. Hopefully the virus will be behind us soon somehow. That will be a true time of joy and gratefulness that the whole world will experience together.
To learn more about Lisa and Suzanne visit their website https://shuniasound.com and on Instagram @shuniasound Facebook @shuniasound on YouTube here and on Spotify here
You can tune into two released tracks in advance of their self-titled album, SHUNIA (album available Jan. 15, 2021):
“Sa Re Sa Sa”
YouTube: https://youtu.be/7VJ0Kqz_Y30
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6wGa86EwJZQgi2wCpPnya9?si=4tMIev5pSai70MfUn5RpEA
“Breeze at Dawn”
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/embed/0_F88VuYObY
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1cpv1ZnsMpsBYtPTQIUdnq
Joy Corner is an interview-style blog series brought to you by Seek The Joy Podcast. Our mission continues to be a desire to share your stories, truths, joys and inspiration in your words. We invite you to join our corner, and share your joys, passions, and moments of inspiration as we continue to seek the joy, together. Join this series here