As Salaam Alaikum, Peace Be With You

Some of you know me as Dhamamama, Amna Ji, Ammi, Aminah Chishti, or Jessica Ripper. I am a woman of many names. The changing of names represents a point of initiation on my journey.

There was a time I felt completely unsatisfied with life. I was finding competition over-riding the fundamental moral values of humanity. My professional soccer career had lost passion.

I began to throw myself into the arms of humanity, humbled by generosity. I began to see a common thread of kindred souls who had been guided towards devotional music. I started to feel a community where music became the foundational way to share and communicate. I felt I had found a way to fit in.

This began to restore my faith in humanity and my desire to give back began to bloom.

Within this time, Devotional Music found me. I felt a space of no judgement. Quite the opposite actually. This is where I found encouragement and ways to encourage others through the expression of praise within music.

I decided to learn the mother of all percussive instruments from Eastern Classical music, the tabla. Raga became an essential part of understanding this vast ocean. Studying in Varanasi, I had access to the rich heritage of legends and teachers. I was immersed in practicing tabla, vocal and lessons daily and nightly. Living in this environment had such a deep effect that I was quickly able to recognize ragas and the measures that compositions were in.

During this time, I was gifted infinite concerts offered by the masters. Participating as an audience member, the awe of keeping time of the lay (rhythm) as others do had an effect of losing the self immediately. I had found my place to absorb the healing atmosphere of these classical styles.

Studying the pulsing, driving rhythms of this traditional sound and understanding the amount of devotion it takes to utter a sound out of the tabla, took me to places I never could have imagined. I quickly learned that this path required serious technical training.

I simplified my life to dedicate 10 hours of practice every day. It was in this practice that I was able to grasp the depth of this sophisticated percussive philosophy and raga theory. It was this practice that I found my life's purpose.

I discovered that if I could play percussion, then there would always be someone to sing or create with. Over time, the ease of vocals and playing at the same time became my signature. Within myself, I was a duet.

Where I once had lost hope and felt I had nothing to offer back, I feel deeply blessed that the discovery of Eastern Classical music had become my strength through discipline therefore being filled to be able to offer. I invite you to join me in this ever unfolding path.