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We’re very excited to have some time today with acclaimed mantra artist and meditation guide Rina Rain; greetings and salutations Rina and thanks for carving time from a busy schedule to speak with us here at Vents Magazine! Before we dive down the Q&A music-lined rabbit hole, how are the final days of 2025 finding you and yours?
Hi Vents Magazine team and fans! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat and dive into some juicy topics. The final days of 2025 are very busy, yet filled with excitement, joy, and precious time with family and friends.
Major kudos and accolades on your stunner of a new track Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu which is lighting up hearts (and record charts!) across the ever-loving globe even as we speak! Starting at the tip-top, can you talk about what inspired this head-spinner of a Mantra?
Thank you so much for your kind words — I love that your audience connects so deeply with the heart of this mantra.
This is one of the most widely shared mantras in the modern world because of its sincere prayer: that all beings everywhere be free from suffering. When you sit with that wish deeply, you realize how profoundly different our world would be if it truly came to life.
Less than a year earlier, I began chanting as refuge during a difficult period in my life. When choosing the final mantra for the album, I wasn’t sure I was ready for ‘Lokah’ — it resonated deeply with my sensitivity to both collective and personal suffering. But when I arrived at the studio, I knew immediately: this was the one.
The lyrics and music unfolded almost magically. During the recording, I felt my heart opening with compassion while also contracting from the pain we all carry. Tears flowed as I chanted. Even months later, I couldn’t listen to the recording without crying. It reminded me that suffering is part of the human condition — but so is our capacity to evolve together.
Who handled the producing honors on Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu and what did the in-studio collaboration between artist and producer look like while fashioning and shaping this new gem of a track?
The music composer and primary producer for this track — and for the entire album Whispers of Rain — is Alvydas Mačiulskas, a remarkably accomplished musician and producer.
None of the vocals or music were scripted or rehearsed. Everything was born in the moment.
When I first arrived at Alvydas’ studio, I asked if I could try recording a few mantras — without any plan or formal musical training. I imagine my request felt unusual, and I remain endlessly grateful that he trusted the process and allowed whatever needed to emerge.
“Lokah” was the final mantra we recorded, and by then we were completely comfortable with one another — no pressure, no expectations. I could move freely: lighting candles, burning incense, sitting on the floor, standing barefoot — whatever helped me enter the space. Alvydas gently coached me on how to use my voice and interact with the music intuitively. We began every session with a short meditation so we could arrive fully together.
The first take became the core of the track. After two vocal overlays, I felt completely empty and still — I truly believed we were finished. Then a wave of compassion and sadness surged through me, tears streaming down my face. I placed my headphones back on. Alvydas simply looked at me and nodded. Without a word, we began recording the third and final vocal layer.
Later, the track was co-produced in post-production by Ben Leinbach, a highly respected figure in the mantra and ambient world. I was deeply touched by how Ben preserved the track’s simplicity and helped shape it into an inner journey — beginning gently, opening into harmonium, and closing with the softest whisper of the mantra. It was incredibly enriching to spend hours in Ben’s studio adding the final touches to the track.
The original version was about eleven minutes long and included more spoken word. We shortened it for accessibility, though I hope one day to release the full version, including its spoken passages.
In your humble opinion, what differentiates Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu from the Distinguished Competition on the current day mantra music landscape?
I truly believe that every version of “Lokah Samastah” is unique in its own way, because each one shines through the light of the artist who carries it. I have heard this mantra for decades in temples, yoga studios, and music halls, and I cherish many beautiful interpretations of it.
I wasn’t trying to replicate traditional forms. While preserving ancient traditions is essential, I also believe something beautiful happens when we allow direct experience to guide the expression. My work, and this mantra in particular, bridges ancient wisdom with modern soundscapes, allowing the profound to be felt in a way that feels intimate, current, and accessible.
Word ‘round industry campfire has it that Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu is but the opener for what will ultimately be a bonafide and full-fledged album release from you entitled Whispers of Rain; congratulations again! Can you give audiophiles a hint or three as to what they can expect and look forward to from this eagerly-anticipated LP?
My debut album features seven mantras, each with its own unique purpose and intention. No mantra is ever the same — even hearing the same one repeatedly reveals new layers when the heart is open. The shared message across all of them is love, compassion, healing, and self-exploration beyond the ordinary.
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya — devotion, belonging, inner peace.
Om Mani Padme Hum — compassion, wisdom, harmony of heart and mind.
Ek Ong Kaar Sat Gur Prasaad — clearing obstacles, awakening grace.
Teyata Om Bekanze Bekanze Maha Bekanze Radza Samudgate Soha — healing and purification.
Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha — protection, courage, transformation.
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu — universal compassion and relief from suffering.
Om Muni Muni Maha Muniye Soha — awakening inner wisdom and peace.
My hope is that each mantra touches the listener in a unique way and connects them with a deeper sense of calm and fulfilment. Sonically, each track carries a modern lightness, regardless of the deep inner work it may inspire. Listeners can expect unusual instrumental choices, simple yet sophisticated soundscapes, and gentle melodies — an invitation to return within.
In the wake of the release of Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu can fans look forward to catching you on the performing/touring circuit?
Thank you for such a beautiful question — I would truly love that. Since I am new to the performing arts, I am taking time to thoughtfully explore how I can offer live experiences in a way that feels authentic and meaningful for those who are ready to go deeper.
One of the ideas I am most excited about is creating a live retreat where silent meditation, guided journeys, and mantras come together as a shared experience. More details will be available on my website www.rinarain.com, which launches in February 2026.
You’re based out of the beautiful Bay area! How does that specific locale in California which my own wife hails from inform you as both an artist and as a person?
California has become home over the past ten years. The land, the ocean, the wide blue sky, and the ever-blooming flowers ground me deeply and remind me to stay connected to the earth and to the present moment. I love how accessible nature is here — even a short walk or simply stepping outside becomes a quiet return to beauty.
Living in Silicon Valley, surrounded by such relentless speed and ambition, has shaped me in a different way. It inspired me to pursue my artistic path with greater intention and to offer mantras as a form of refuge. This work feels especially needed here, where the pace of life can easily pull people away from stillness and presence. At the same time, the region’s creativity, innovation, and vibrant arts community continue to nourish me as an artist.
Who are some of the people in this great wide world who have served as North Stars for your own dreams and aspirations?
I would attribute many of my dreams coming true to the incredible teachers and mentors I was fortunate to learn from throughout my life. My strength, relentless pursuit, and groundedness come from having a deeply supportive family — especially my husband and children.
Above all, my true North Star is my mother. She is my role model and greatest inspiration. She has witnessed every rise and fall in my journey and has always encouraged me to get up and keep moving forward, even when it felt impossible. I feel truly blessed and deeply grateful to have this kind of love and guidance in my life.
You’re also a well-respected meditation trainer with over twenty years of experience in mindfulness, career, and personal development! How did you land upon that specific Pathway?
I often say that we rarely choose the path — the path chooses us.
When I moved to New York City in 2003, I found myself at a crossroads. After completing my engineering degree, I realized that my deeper calling was to work with people and understand the human experience. I began training in life coaching, and through my own life challenges and growth, meditation became essential for maintaining clarity, emotional balance, and inner stability.
As I experienced how profoundly the practice supported my own well-being, I naturally began sharing it with others, guiding both individuals and groups. What started as a personal journey gradually became my life’s work. Looking back now, every step led me here — into the role I hold today as Rina Rain: mantra artist, meditation teacher, and guide for those walking their own paths of awakening, healing, and self-discovery.
At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving many-a-listen to your beautiful new track Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu?
More than anything, I hope listeners leave the experience feeling softer and lighter inside.
I hope they feel calmer, more grounded, and more connected to the present moment. I hope something within them exhales – a quiet recognition that, in this moment, it is okay to pause and simply be. And I hope the mantra opens the heart to trust, compassion, and a deep remembrance of our shared humanity.
