Prem Joshua

Prem Joshua is a German musician, active since 1969.
Born in the south of Germany in 1958, Joshua learned to play the flute at the age of five and played this instrument and the saxophone since the age of 12 in various local bands. At the age of 18, he traveled overland to India studying the indigenous folk music of countries along the way. Joshua was the name his parents gave him, he later was given the prefix "Prem" from his spiritual master Osho, dropping the family name, to remind him of the essence of Love (Prem means "Love" in Hindi).
Prem Joshua cites sitarist Ravi Shankar as an early musical influence. On reaching India, Joshua learned to play the sitar with Ustad Usman Khan as well as the Indian Bansoori (Indian bamboo flute).
Osho inspired him and his music. His website states that "In the presence of this man with a long white beard, eyes as deep as the ocean and a strong sense of humor, he came in touch with the art of the “inner music” - Silence. This was really coming home!"
Throughout his career, he has experimented with various forms of music, creating a blend of the East and the West. He has also worked extensively with other producers, making remixes of his own songs and infusing traditional Hindustani acoustic instruments with lounge and trance beats. His music has immensely contributed to the Asian Underground and fusion scene.
In 1991, Prem Joshua, Kora player, British Ravi, and Sarod player, Chinmaya Dunster launched their project “Terra Incognita”. They released two albums, "No Goal But The Path" and "Tribal Gathering". He subsequently released four solo albums and co-founded the band, “Hamsafar”, with which he released the album - "Lifeprints" in 1998.
HAMSAFAR split up in 2000, after the band had reached quite a peak in their career, playing extensive concerts in Germany, France, Holland, Denmark and Italy and a well received concert at the "Shantipi"-festival in Israel in front of 10.000 people.
After the split, Prem Joshua played in smaller formations with Manish Vyas and dancer Hina Sarojini. Until he formed "Prem Joshua & Band" in 2007 and started touring in Europe and even more in India, where he gained quite a reputation in fusing classical Indian music with western contemporary styles. In his records, Prem Joshua had begun to experiment with genres like drum and bass, lounge, and trance, while still focusing on classical Indian music.
Terra Incognita band members
Prem Joshua: Sitar, Bansoori, Saxophone, Vocals
Ravi: Kora, Guitars, Keyboards, Percussions, Vocals
Chinmaya Dunster: Sarod
other members:
Rishi Vlote: Drums, Percussions
Kamal: Bass, Keyboards, Vocals
Hamsafar band members
Prem Joshua: Sitar, Bansoori, Saxophone, Vocals, 1994 - 2000
Chintan Schmidt-Relenberg: Bass, Percussions, 1994 - 2000
Nadama Novak: Keyboards, Percussions, 1994 - 1999
Jo Shiro Shunyam Körber: Guitars, Vocals, Percussions 1994 - 1998
Rishi Vlote: Drums, Percussions, Samples, 1994 - 2000
Other Members:
Manish Vyas: Tabla, Vocals, Keyboards, Percussions 1997 - 2000
Bhakta: Guitars, Groovebox 1998
Dhinesh Allan Mattuck: Guitars, Keyboards, Percussions: 1999-2000
Prem Joshua & Band members
Prem Joshua: Sitar, Bansoori, Saxophone, Vocals, Percussions
Chintan Schmidt-Relenberg: Keyboards, Loops, Percussions, Vocals
Raul Sengupta: Tabla, Percussions, Vocals
Satgyan Fukuda: Bass, Vocals, Percussions
Discography
Terra Incognita - No Goal But The Path - New Earth Records, 1991
Terra Incognita - Tribal Gathering - New Earth Records, 1992
Prem Joshua - Tales of a Dancing River - New Earth Records, 1993
Prem Joshua - Hamsafar - New Earth Records, 1994
Hamsafar - Lifeprints - Renudo, 1998
Prem Joshua - Desert Visions - New Earth Records, 1995
Prem Joshua - Secret of the Wind - New Earth Records, 1996
Prem Joshua - Mudra - White Swan Records, 1998
Prem Joshua - Sky Kisses Earth - White Swan Records, 1999
Prem Joshua - Dance of Shakti - White Swan Records, 2001
Prem Joshua - with Manish Vyas - Water Down The Ganges, Medial Music, 2001
Prem Joshua - Shiva Moon - Remixed by Maneesh de Moor - Medial Music, 2003
Prem Joshua - Dakini Lounge - Prem Joshua Remixed - White Swan Records, 2003
Prem Joshua - Yatri - Medial Music, 2004
Prem Joshua & Chintan - Ahir, Medial Music, 2006
Prem Joshua - Taranga - White Swan Records, 2006
Prem Joshua & Band - In Concert, 2008
Prem Joshua & Band - Luminous Secrets - Link to Album on Official Website, 2010
Prem Joshua & Chintan - Kashi: Songs from the India Within", 2014
Prem Joshua - Breath of Voavah, 2017
Prem Joshua - Winds of Grace - Link to Album on www.spotify.com, 2020
Prem Joshua - Soma, 2021
Sources
Prem Joshua - Albums
White Swan Records - Featured Artists - Prem Joshua
[ Allmusic]
References
External links
Prem Joshua - Official Website
New Earth Records - Official Website
White Swan Records - Official Website
Trident Entertainment - Official Website
Prem Joshua's LastFM Site
German male musicians
Sitar players
Living people
Rajneesh movement
Year of birth missing (living people)