Peace Lounge

We decided to do something different this month, something to bring warmth, hope, and peace into the hearts of our community. In times of turbulence, the human spirit longs for connection, creativity, and harmony. So we are bringing two soulful communities together: HeartBeats and The Art of Living Foundation in a special collaboration for peace called Peace Lounge.

What is HeartBeats?

HeartBeats began in April 2024 as an open-mic experience (inspired by the Open Stage at Confest) for humans to connect and express through music, poetry, and performance. Since its origin, it has evolved beyond an open-mic and has become a beating community in Melbourne that holds a range of events and offerings that fosters connection, music, expression, and growth.

This month, we are curating a lineup of artists from the HeartBeats community to offer their music and poetry for Peace Lounge. Performers will be announced 1 week before the show.

Learn more and follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/heartbeatslive/

What is The Art of Living Foundation?

The Art of Living Foundation is a non-profit, educational, and humanitarian organization focused on promoting inner peace and reducing stress to create a more harmonious society. Working in over 180 countries, the foundation's core philosophy is that inner peace is essential for world peace, and it offers various programs, including breathing techniques, meditation, music and yoga, to help individuals and communities achieve this. The foundation works with people from all backgrounds, cultures and traditions, and includes inspiring work in conflict and war-torn areas. 

Learn more here: https://www.artofliving.org/au-en

Peace Lounge is a community gathering of music, expression, and meditation for peace

🕊 What to Expect

• Intention setting to anchor our evening in unity and hope

• A guided meditation for peace (you don't need any prior meditation experience)

• Gentle breathing practices to ground and elevate

• Soulful performances from HeartBeats' guest artists

• Come-as-you-please tea ceremony corner

• Kirtan by the Mantra Lounge crew [Video] What is a Kirtan?

• Herbal chai & sweet treats with LYS hot Indian food will be available for purchase

• The usual HeartBeats community vibe

• A special interview with Katrien Hertog, Head of Peace Programs for the Art of Living and International Association for Human Values (IAHV), sharing profound insights into the organisation’s ongoing peacebuilding work around the world. https://iahv.org.au/, https://iahv-peace.org

Location:

The Happiness Centre

Level 1

48 River St

South Yarra

When:

Sunday July 27th, 2025

5.30 - 8.30pm

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Featuring:

Mantra Lounge: A Kirtan fusion band

Together we will be singing Kirtan/ Sanskrit mantras mashed up with uplifting songs in English. We love to be creative, with beatboxing, unusual instruments and mentoring new talent - we like to dance on the creative edge of Kirtan.

The mantras and songs are designed to take you into deep states of bliss.

Neeraj - Master vocalist, guitarist and Sitar player

Neeraj Krishna is a kirtan singer, sitar player, and meditation teacher with over 15 years of experience sharing the power of devotional music. He combines the sounds of the sitar and guitar with soulful chanting to create a deeply meditative space.

Cam - Harmonium, Voice, Mbira, Beatbox

Cam is a multi-instrumentalist musician with a passion for spiritual practice and service. He grew up with an intensive traditional musical education, and the path of disciplined focus in creative expression has infused all his musical pursuits since then. This includes studying: harmonium, beatbox, vocals, live looping, music production and trumpet. He has also dedicated himself to the Zimbabwean Mbira for many years and has trained with some of the world's foremost masters of that tradition.

Malindi - Vocalist, Yogi, Visionary Artist and Guitarist

Malindi has been dedicated to meditation, breath work and yogic practice for 25 years, and has taught in the UK, Tanzania, South Africa and Australia. She has taught in prisons, in universities, in rural African villages and slums. Malindi has been singing and playing guitar for over 15 years. She loves blending Western and Eastern music together, and finding ways to express from the heart and to encourage others to find their natural expression and voice.

Vinod - Classically trained Vocalist, Guitarist

Vinod is a classically trained vocalist and guitarist, specializing in Carnatic music from South India, known for its intricate melodies and rhythms. Singing since the age of 7 and playing acoustic guitar for the past 5 years, he is also a dedicated mantra chanter, having started chanting Vedic mantras at the age of 5. He is inspired by soft Bollywood music, which he loves blending with traditional kirtans, creating a unique fusion that invites deep inner exploration and connection.

Learn more and follow us on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mantra_lounge.au/

☕ Tea Ceremony Corner, Chai, Snacks & Indian Dinner

Our amazing food and drinks crew will be serving hot drinks and snacks throughout the night, with a yummy Indian hot dinner available after the performance has finished. All will be available for purchase.

🧺 What to Bring to Peace Lounge:

• Water

• Cushions, sheepies, blankets (help us make it extra cosy)

• Your wholesome, wonderful self

* If you can’t afford a ticket, please send us an email with your name and we will organise free entry. heartbeatslive111@gmail.com.

** This is a community project that is constantly evolving and we are open to any feedback or ideas to make it the best it can possibly be. Please email us with any thoughts, ideas, constructive feedback, etc. heartbeatslive111@gmail.com.

*** Please note that this is an alcohol and substance-free event.

**** This is also a leave-no-trace event, so please dispose of any rubbish yourself.

***** Photo and video content will be taken at this event. If you would not like to be captured on the day, please speak to one of the crew, or the content shooters.

All are welcome—come as you are.
Bring a friend.
Bring your voice.
Bring your open heart.

Let’s co-create a night of truth, tenderness, and transcendence.

Let’s make peace a felt experience.

HeartBeats and the Art of Living Foundation acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our events take place. We recognise their continuous connection to culture, community and Country. As our commitment to this acknowledgment, HeartBeats and Art of Living will donate a portion of profits to the First Nations led organisation Community First Development.  This month we will also donate a portion of the profits to the peace work of The International Association for Human Values.