Shantala

Benjy and Heather Wertheimer have been leading kirtan together since 2001 under the name Shantala — a duo that sits somewhere between the devotional intensity of the North American kirtan revival and a quieter, more melodically patient approach than some of their contemporaries. They draw on instruments from both Indian and Western traditions, and the combination of their two voices is the center of gravity in everything they do.

Since 2003, Shantala has released six albums of Sanskrit chant and devotional music: *Sri*, *Jaya*, *Living Waters*, *The Love Window*, *LIVE in love*, and *LIVE2love*. They've shared stages and studio time with Krishna Das, Deva Premal and Miten, and Jai Uttal — figures who, alongside Shantala, helped establish kirtan as a genuinely popular form in the West rather than a niche practice tied to specific yoga studios or lineages. With over 73,000 followers on Spotify, their reach extends well beyond the workshop circuit.

What distinguishes Shantala from the busier end of the kirtan world is a certain restraint — the music tends toward openness rather than crescendo, inviting participation without demanding it.