Samvara
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SAMVARA is a four piece progressive rock/grunge band based in Brooklyn, NY. Samvara began in the summer of 2007 with members: Ben Curtis (lead vocals/rhythm guitar/harmonica/unstoppable energy), John Reed (bassist extraordinaire), Jay Gillespie (guitar master/sex machine), and Jonathan Crowley (percussive stud).
Sounds Like: A Ferrari on Steroids with a side of Butter and Sex
BIO
In 1999, Lead Singer/Founding Member, Ben Curtis moved from his homeland in Tennessee, to New York City where he attended NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and played in numerous bands in NYC (including The Condition and Bankrupt & The Borrowers). Writing poetry and music since the age of 6, Ben finally got the itch to start and front his own band. However, it wasn't until the summer of 2007, when he meet bassist John Reed, that the project became a reality. John moved to NYC from Northern California to study music. Both looking for a band with integrity, talent, and a penchant for all things creative, they began forming the first sounds of Whale (now SAMVARA). Meanwhile, Ben was on the lookout for a drummer and found him in Jonathan Crowley. With his range of talent, bizarre resemblance to Anthony Kiedis, and love for beating the drums, Whale became a three piece.
Ben Curtis and Jay Gillespie(lead guitarist) first met in 2001 at NYU's prestigious Experimental Theater Program in Amsterdam. While Ben was on his way up after landing the infamous "Dude, You're Getting a Dell" ad campaign, Jay moved to L.A. to pursue acting. After his 3 year stint in Hollywood, Jay returned to New York and reunited with Ben, when the they randomly ran into each other at a bowling alley. It was there that they discovered that they had both decided to dedicate their lives to music. "I needed a sick lead guitarist with a beautiful voice, and Jay was the man". Whale was already taken when the ultimate name, SAMVARA (sanskrit for "union" and a protective deity of the human race and in this case, Rock n' Roll).
SAMVARA has gone on to be played on Rock Stations across America, including some of the greats in Seattle and NYC. Not only that, they have been on Fox News and AOL's Mainpage, beside George W. Bush! Heh. Heh. Heh.
Here's to keeping Rock alive!
Artist Website
Sounds Like: A Ferrari on Steroids with a side of Butter and Sex
BIO
In 1999, Lead Singer/Founding Member, Ben Curtis moved from his homeland in Tennessee, to New York City where he attended NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and played in numerous bands in NYC (including The Condition and Bankrupt & The Borrowers). Writing poetry and music since the age of 6, Ben finally got the itch to start and front his own band. However, it wasn't until the summer of 2007, when he meet bassist John Reed, that the project became a reality. John moved to NYC from Northern California to study music. Both looking for a band with integrity, talent, and a penchant for all things creative, they began forming the first sounds of Whale (now SAMVARA). Meanwhile, Ben was on the lookout for a drummer and found him in Jonathan Crowley. With his range of talent, bizarre resemblance to Anthony Kiedis, and love for beating the drums, Whale became a three piece.
Ben Curtis and Jay Gillespie(lead guitarist) first met in 2001 at NYU's prestigious Experimental Theater Program in Amsterdam. While Ben was on his way up after landing the infamous "Dude, You're Getting a Dell" ad campaign, Jay moved to L.A. to pursue acting. After his 3 year stint in Hollywood, Jay returned to New York and reunited with Ben, when the they randomly ran into each other at a bowling alley. It was there that they discovered that they had both decided to dedicate their lives to music. "I needed a sick lead guitarist with a beautiful voice, and Jay was the man". Whale was already taken when the ultimate name, SAMVARA (sanskrit for "union" and a protective deity of the human race and in this case, Rock n' Roll).
SAMVARA has gone on to be played on Rock Stations across America, including some of the greats in Seattle and NYC. Not only that, they have been on Fox News and AOL's Mainpage, beside George W. Bush! Heh. Heh. Heh.
Here's to keeping Rock alive!