Andy Desmond


Andy Desmond, also known as Miten, is a British musician and songwriter. He performs primarily within yoga and alternative healing communities.

Background

In the late 1960s, Desmond founded the folk/rock duo "Gothic Horizon" with musical partner Richard Garrett. The band released two albums on UK Argo: The Jason Lodge Poetry Book and Tomorrow's Another Day.
In 1973, Desmond began performing solo. He was part of a group of folk musicians signed by Ray Davies to his record label, Konk Records, which also included Tom Robinson, Claire Hamill and Café Society. Desmond released Living on a Shoestring on Konk in 1975. The album featured members of The Kinks and was produced by Dave Davies and keyboardist John Gosling.
Desmond was subsequently signed to Ariola Records in London. In 1976, Ariola released Andy Desmond, an album of ten self-composed songs produced by Los Angeles producer Bones Howe.
Following its release, Desmond opened for artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Randy Newman, Hall & Oates, The Cate Brothers and The Kinks. He was a guest performer on Fleetwood Mac’s UK Rumours Tour and opened for Ry Cooder on his 1978 European tour.
Desmond then explored meditation and Eastern philosophy. In 1980, he was initiated into sannyasa by the Indian mystic Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and given the Sanskrit name Prabhu Miten, meaning "Friend of God". He spent time at Osho’s ashram in Pune, where he recorded and produced the album In Wonder, described as a tribute to his guru. During this period, Desmond met record producer John Leckie, known at the ashram as "Nagara". They collaborated on projects including the album Blown Away for Prabhu Music. From 1992 onward, the German New Age label Tao Music released three albums featuring Desmond: Heartbeat, Shadow of Light and Tidal Wave.
Desmond tours with his musical partner, Deva Premal, whom he met in India in 1990. Known as Deva Premal & Miten, they perform Indian Sanskrit mantras and Desmond’s songs. They have collaborated with motivational speaker Anthony Robbins, author Eckhart Tolle and singer Cher, who covered their version of the ancient prayer The Gayatri Mantra on her Farewell Tour album in 2002.

Discography

  • The Jason Lodge Poetry Book, UK Argo 1971
  • Tomorrow's Another Day, UK Argo 1972
  • Living On A Shoestring, Konk 1975
  • Andy Desmond, Ariola Records, 1976
  • Global Heart, Native Soul
  • Strength of A Rose
  • Trusting the Silence
  • Blown Away
  • Dance of Life
  • Satsang
  • Songs for the Inner Lover
  • More Than Music
  • Soul In Wonder
  • Download Singles
  • Deva Premal & Miten In Concert
  • Deva Premal & Miten with Manose - A Deeper Light co-produced with Joby Baker and Maneesh de Moor
  • Temple at Midnight

    Producer

  • Deva Premal - The Essence
  • Deva Premal - Love is Space
  • Deva Premal - Embrace
  • Deva Premal - Dakshina
  • Deva Premal - Deva Premal Sings the Moola Mantra
  • Deva Premal - Password
  • Deva Premal & Miten with Manose - A Deeper Light co-produced with Joby Baker and Maneesh de Moor