Sarah Hawker

Sarah Hawker and Debra Clifford have been playing unique, traditionally-based mountain music as "The Lonesome Sisters" since 2002, producing 4 CD's and touring the country. In 2006 they were voted Best Acoustic Duo by Gibson Guitars. In 2009, Sarah was introduced to Kundalini Yoga chants and mantras and felt an immediate connection between the Primitive Baptist tradition of her family and the yogi's use of sound as a vehicle for opening unique, healing spaces for both the chanters and listeners. This inspired her to take teacher training, where she developed a yogic practice founded on the notion that sound can transform. Her mantra recordings with Debra Clifford draw on their background in traditional American Roots music, using sparse, acoustic instrumentation and intensive, bare vocal harmonies to open meditative spaces. Sarah Hawker is a KRI certified Kundalini Yoga instructor and an award-winning musician. She comes from a long line of traditional Southern musicians, including her aunt Ginny Hawker, uncle Tracy Schwarz, and grandfather Benson Hawker, from whom she learned about the beauty, simplicity and healing power of spiritual music, through the Primitive Baptist tradition. She plays guitar, clawhammer banjo and harmonium and sings lead. Debra Clifford plays guitar, mandolin, clawhammer banjo, tenor guitar and sings harmony. She brings her love of harmony singing and early American spiritual music to the mantras.