Upon hearing the sacred qualities in Zen Breakfast, it comes as no surprise that Karunesh's natural talent for musical expression was initially nurtured in a spiritual environment. The music of Zen Breakfast draws upon sounds from ancient spiritual and religious traditions in ways that speak to the deep-felt longing in each of us for spiritual connection.

It was during five years that Karunesh lived in an ashram in Germany that he had the opportunity to learn from and play together with musicians from cultures around the world. Music was a vital part of the mystical experience being pursued and where Karunesh (Sanskrit for "compassion") says he developed the ability to weave different styles and feelings together into a living symbiosis - a symbiosis carried by his own very unique and personal "melodies from the heart."

Karunesh was born in 1956 in Cologne, Germany. Although he had been drawn to music as a child and played in bands as a teen, he chose to study graphic design as a career. After attaining his degree, the path did not feel right for him and as sometimes happens to prompt us of a critical need for a change in direction, Karunesh was involved in a serious motorcycle accident. For two weeks, he was suspended between life and death, and this experience sparked the beginning of his spiritual path. In 1979 he made his first journey to India and began to follow his heart.

In 1984 Karunesh released his first album "Sounds of the Heart," an album that quickly became a classic in the new age genre. More albums followed. With 450,000 albums sold to date, Karunesh has become established as one of the best-known artists in the genre.

Karunesh has lived in Maui, Hawaii, since 1992, bathed in the healing warmth and fragrances of the tropics. From this island's feminine embrace, he creates music that holds a beautiful, sacred and healing resonance for those who listen.

It was over breakfast one morning in Maui that company president Terence Yallop, with his background of Taoist philosophy and t'ai chi, and Karunesh, musician, sat down to talk about their hopes and dreams. From this meeting their creative collaboration was formed and Zen Breakfast conceived. Nirvana Café, Karunesh's second album for Real Music and another tasty sonic treat, released in 2002. Both albums have achieved positions on Billboard's New Age Chart.

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Although intensely spiritual in nature, "Nirvana Cafe" conveys more of a zest for life than many recordings of this type. Some of the tracks are quiet meditations, but others bring in strong bass and percussion, just begging to have the volume cranked up a few notches! Govi contributes outstanding guitar work on four tracks, and the rest of the varied sounds are multi-instrumentalist Karunesh working his musical wizardry.
Kathy Parsons, Solo Piano Publications

Zen Breakfast - Reviews: " Like shimmering silver light reflecting off moonlit minarets of the soul, the soaring passages of Zen Breakfast find each note carefully conceived and each instrument reaching for the heavens above. Karunesh makes unabashedly romantic music -- with his plaintive flutes, stirring piano motifs and delicate guitars all beautifully at play, with angelic, choral voices floating on high. Delicate, crystal clear bells chime to signal anew waking moments on each composition rising form the abundantly dreamy themes that are carefully shaped to take form in patient manner through these extravagant excursions. Weaving exotic voices and cross-cultural elements through his sparkling tapestry, Karunesh finds that perfect balance point where classical, world and healing music join, carefully coaxing love’s caress from every note. Zen Breakfast, not unlike the similarly named pioneering predecessor of fifteen years ago, Deep Breakfast by Ray Lynch, is sacred music from far off visionary places that touch the heart ever so close to home. And it is destined to become every bit as much a classic release, withstanding the test of time like the purest musical treasures of our generation."
Lloyd Barde, Backroads Music, home of the Heartbeats Catalog

Nirvana Cafe - Reviews: Nirvana Cafe is Karunesh’s second release for the Real Music label. More adventurous than the earlier Zen Breakfast, I really like the variety of sounds and moods on this album. Although intensely spiritual in nature, Nirvana Cafe conveys more of a zest for life than many recordings of this type. Some of the tracks are quiet meditations, but others bring in strong bass and percussion, just begging to have the volume cranked up a few notches! Govi contributes outstanding guitar work on four tracks, and the rest of the varied sounds are multi-instrumentalist Karunesh working his musical wizardry. I love Revelry, a rhythmic confection with pan flutes playing a simple but compelling melody. Other instruments are introduced as the song goes on. I hit the “replay” button on my CD player for this one all the time. Keeper of Mystery is more ambient, but also has a strong rhythm. It is dream-like but also catchy. Chuang Tzu’s Dream tells the story of the Taoist sage’s dream that he was a butterfly. Upon waking, he couldn’t tell if he was a man dreaming he was a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming he was himself. Very beautiful, soothing, and intriguing with Asian influences and lovely flute work. Sapphire is another beauty with lots of open space to float around in. Actually, all of the tracks are really good - those mentioned are favorites, but there really are no weak spots. Very highly recommended!
- Kathy Parsons
Solo Piano Publications