Kala Farnham is a Connecticut-based, multi-faceted troubadour; with poetic lyrics and ethereal strings like harps and acoustic guitars at her side, this artist is paving a career with effortless-sounding songwriting and seasoned-feeling verse. In her latest release, ‘Ancient Vessel’ she inspires us to take care of our bodies and souls…and reminds us that they are sacred.
‘Ancient Vessel’ features a synergistic combination of a steel slide, a piano, and a touch of acoustic guitar, which is doubled subtly. It swells into cinematic country-folk sound, with the 4-on-the-floor kick drum leading the charge.
Inside Farnham’s single there is a plethora of musical space within which we can breathe. In between the verses, there are short, quaint instrumental breaks, which give us time to ponder what has been said deeply.
But the most impressive facet of her song is her soulful vocal takes. The lead line has an earthen richness, and wisened… whereas her harmonies are light-as-air, and are as pure as that of Allison Kraus’.
As we enter the second stage of the song a gentle shaker makes its cameo. The piano becomes more uplifting, as we reach a new summit, philosophical and elated.
Then, the next stage is marked by the entrance of cinematic cellos.
Throughout ‘Ancient Vessel’ Farnham continues to perform with stunning vocal diction and earnest poeticism. She knows her body and honors its every facet.
As the journey comes to a close, we reach the final part of her. She calls to her spirit. Now, the instrumentation is stripped back to just one guitar. This pared-down section swells up once more as she repeats her lyrics…The more we hear them, the more this feels like a mantra. She calls to her spirit, elated, and awakened.
Yet, the final resolution remains elusive. A single note lingers outside the tonic chord, suggesting an ongoing journey—there are more lessons to learn, and more life to honor and celebrate.
Q&A
If I may be so bold as to ask- What is your relationship with spirituality and religion, and how has it changed over time?
Music and spirituality have always been deeply intertwined for me. Some of my earliest memories are of my mom playing guitar and singing during Sunday morning church services. My family has Irish roots, and I was raised with an appreciation for both the faith tradition of today and the ancient pagan spirituality of our ancestors.
Over the years, my understanding of music as a spiritual practice has evolved, especially through my study of India’s ancient tradition of Nada Yoga (“union through sound”). Sound-based meditation deepened my appreciation of music as a bridge to something greater. The chant-like refrains and droning accompaniment of my song “Ancient Vessel” are inspired by mantra-based meditation practices, in which music is structured in a way that invites us to create a space for deeper awareness.
Was there a specific life event that inspired ‘Ancient Vessel’?
Absolutely. The song was born out of a powerful meditation practice I learned while on a weekend retreat, coupled with my study of India’s ancient tradition of Nada Yoga (“union through sound”). At the retreat, we were asked to envision a conversation with our wiser selves. The lyrics were scribbled down in one sitting, capturing the experience in words.
Musically, the song’s structure—with its chant-like refrains and grounding drone—reflects the sound-based mantra practices of Nada Yoga. At its core, “Ancient Vessel” is a call to honor the wisdom that lives within us, a wisdom that begins with our ancestors and carries on through the generations. It’s an invitation to step into the resilience of our own body, mind, and spirit—so we might create a legacy that shapes a better future for generations to come.
What was your first instrument?
I was born to a husband-and-wife folk music duo who had instruments of all kinds strewn about our living room—music was just part of the landscape. The first instrument I gravitated towards was a miniature toy piano, on which my parents taught me to plunk out the theme song of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
That moment sparked something in me, and I started formal piano lessons at age three. The piano became my foundation—it carried me through years of studying music, led to work as a theater accompanist, music director, session player, and bar pianist, and was the instrument that first supported my songwriting.
How do you approach vocal practice in order to get this sort of effortless, soulful sound?
First off, thank you! Finding my voice has been a journey of both technical training and deep inner work. Growing up I studied an array of vocal techniques, from classical to jazz to musical theater, and learned a lot about vocal anatomy and care. One experience that transformed my relationship with singing was working with an incredible holistic music consultant, Keri Estrin. She helped me move past creative roadblocks and embrace my art and my voice as a powerful, expressive instrument through which to connect with my audience—rather than chase that ever-elusive feeling of “perfection”.
With her guidance, coupled with my study of Nada Yoga, I began to see singing as more than just a technical exercise— it became a deeper expression of our life energy, something to awaken to and release rather than control. Those experiences have helped me to wash away a perfectionistic mindset, and open the door to singing as an embodied expression of the heart.
What artists or songs inspire you, and do you hear threads of your inspirations inside your newest single? If so, which ones?
My influences have evolved over the years, spanning from my childhood foundations of classical piano and my parent’s folk record collection, to my years working in music theater. These days, I’m especially drawn to intimate, emotionally honest storytelling—Lori McKenna (“Humble and Kind”, “Girl Crush”) is a huge inspiration. When I was a teen, I used to waitress at a folk café where she performed, and I remember watching her announce that Faith Hill had just picked up her song “Fireflies.”
Seeing that moment unfold in real time left a big impression on me, and I’ve followed her career ever since. Lori’s ability to tell deeply personal stories that resonate universally is something I strive for in my writing. “Ancient Vessel” comes from such an intimate place—a meditation experience—but at the same time, it speaks to something bigger.
Another artist’s influence I see in this song is Snatam Kaur, a Kirtan singer whose work bridges traditional Sanskrit devotional music with Western influences. “Ancient Vessel” similarly blends the musical culture I grew up in with the Eastern music practices I’ve immersed myself in more recently.
In your Live On Deck Sound Studio performance of this song, you seem genuinely happy. How does the stage make you feel in the moment?
For me, music is a bridge—it connects us in ways nothing else can. My relationship with music started as a deeply personal, introspective practice, a way for me to make sense of the world. At first, I wasn’t drawn to performing, but when I was about 15, I had a moment that changed everything. I witnessed firsthand how music could bring people together, and how it could heal, and I realized that if my songs could make a difference to even one person, then sharing them was worth it. I deeply believe that art is meant to be shared, not kept in the dark. You never know what might resonate with another soul, or change someone’s life for the better.
Now, when I step on stage, I don’t think of it as a performance—it’s more like an offering. I’m not there to impress anyone; I’m there to create a space where people can feel, connect, and be present. When I’m on stage, I focus on the people in front of me, inviting them to experience the messy, beautiful human experience with me, celebrating the joy of music in the community. And when I see that connection happening—when I see someone’s face light up, or tears well up in their eyes—when a song offers hope or helps someone feel a little less alone—that’s when I know this wild creative journey is worth it.
About Kala Farnham
Farnham’s musical journey began in a quaint countryside farmhouse, born to a husband-and-wife folk duo and raised amidst the records and songbooks of Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. She began studying classical piano at the young age of three and was gracing stages playing Mozart concertos and Chopin nocturnes by second grade. It was a moment of kismet that cemented Farnham’s artistic purpose. One morning during her sophomore year of high school, she sat alone in the music room, playing and singing an original song written for a childhood friend facing hard times. Unbeknownst to her, the school’s choral director overheard and invited her to perform at the school cabaret. After the performance, a listener’s heartfelt gratitude inspired Farnham to transform her deeply personal healing practice into a craft that could uplift others.
From that moment, she embraced the transformative power of music, deepening her understanding through the study of songwriting, and sound meditation, and earning a degree in Human Services and Mental Health, while also working as a Crisis Counselor and teacher. Her unique blend of narrative storytelling and therapeutic practice has since inspired audiences across the East Coast, reaching folk clubs, schools, community centers, recovery homes, assisted-living facilities, and at-risk youth.
Farnham’s new single, ‘Ancient Vessel’, is her deepest exploration yet of the intersection between sound-based meditation and songwriting. Inspired by a transformative retreat and India’s ancient tradition of Nada Yoga, the track weaves mantra-like refrains with introspective lyricism, encouraging listeners to reflect on the resilience of body, mind, and spirit. Released for Women’s History Month, the song honors ancestral echoes and the generational wisdom that shapes us.
The lyrics emerged in a single sitting following a visualization experience that invited dialogue with the inner divine, while the chant-like refrains draw from yogic mantra traditions. Recorded primarily in the quiet of Farnham’s countryside home studio, the track also features Stephen Peter Rodgers’ haunting pedal steel and strings (captured at Tiny Bunker Studio, Hamden, CT) and Jimmy Nutt’s primal, rhythmic drum (tracked at NuttHouse Recording Studio, Muscle Shoals, AL). Ultimately, Ancient Vessel is an invitation for us all to embrace our inner strength and create a legacy that paves the way for a brighter future.
Kala Farnham’s accolades are as impressive as they are numerous. She has won the Rose Garden and RISA Performing Songwriter Contests, been named a Falcon Ridge Festival Emerging Artist, and twice reached the finals of the Great American Song Contest. An alumna of the prestigious Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project, she has also shared the stage with legends such as Don McLean, Tower of Power, and Steve Katz of Blood, Sweat, and Tears. Beyond her acclaimed songwriting and performances, Farnham’s influence extends through her role as Connecticut’s 18th State Troubadour.
More than an honorary title, this position is a commitment to fostering cultural literacy, creative arts, and community wellness through music. As a musical ambassador and educator, Farnham has embraced a larger mission—one that blends music, education, and community engagement to foster vibrant artistic communities and creative empowerment.
During her tenure, she has led songwriting and sound meditation workshops and gatherings, delivered public talks advocating for social justice in the arts, presented historical musical programs, founded her music education studio, and co-founded Bigger Beast Records—a grassroots label dedicated to supporting performing songwriters through community collaboration. Looking ahead, Farnham is drawing inspiration from her community work to embark on her most ambitious recording project in five years: an album that explores the resilience of the human spirit in uncertain times.
Through themes of empowerment and compassion, stories of cultural trailblazers, and healing mantras set to song, the project offers a musical reflection on the perseverance and hope that carry us through times of transformation. In an ever-changing world, Kala Farnham’s music aims to provide a sense of grounding, unity, and renewal—offering an invitation for listeners to find solace and strength in our shared humanity.
LINKS:
https://www.instagram.com/kalafarnham
https://www.facebook.com/kalafarnhammusic
https://youtube.com/kalafarnham
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0YUyfnVlACYjzPD2wDovQf
https://www.kalafarnham.com/
