In 2025, Grietje and Vincent decided to join forces: SanghaSang & Swierstra was born. With Grietje (SanghaSang) on the Indian harmonium and Vincent (Swierstra) on the Indian sarangi, they offer a deeply grounding and relaxing mantra meditation, singing and sound bath session.
As part of the Landjuweel Festival they will offer a mantra meditation and singing circle, followed by a sound bath. First you will be invited to hum, chant and sing along with different mantras and melodies, and the session will finish with you lying down and surrendering to the calming sounds of just the sarangi. You will leave the circle feeling deeply relaxed.
There is no need to have any knowledge of (Indian/Sanskrit) mantras, just come with an open mind and a curiosity to explore your own voice and energy, the energy of the group, of the music, and of course the mantras.
Grietje offers mantra meditation sessions and singing circles in Amsterdam under the name SanghaSang. Sangha in Sanskrit means "spiritual community," and "sang" comes from "singing" in Frisian, her native language. With the name SanghaSang, she honours these roots. As a yogini, singer, and teacher, she guides you in the singing and chanting of the mantras, creating a safe space for your voice to be heard and your energy to be shared. Grietje has been singing since she was young, at school, in various choirs, and close harmony groups. Her love of yoga, singing, and music takes her to many kirtans, singing circles, ashrams, concerts, festivals, and other gatherings where connecting through singing together is central.
Vincent Swierstra is one of the few sarangi players in the Netherlands. The sarangi is a rare bowed instrument from India. He plays an amplified sarangi and likes to experiment with effect pedals, creating a new sound with it. Although he is trained in Indian classical music, he also likes to play in many different musical genres. He has studied with Joep Bor in Amsterdam, author of the most important book about the sarangi, and with Grammy winner Dhruba Ghosh in Mumbai. After Dhruba’s death he studied Yuji Nakagawa in Kyoto. In 2021 he released his first EP, The Sarangi Sessions Vol.1, a collaboration with four hip hop producers. In march 2025, he released the sequel, a second Sarangi Sessions EP. This time he worked with techno producers. Also in 2025, Vincent released his first solo track, Impression. In 2024 he finished a master at the UvA in Cultural and Social Anthropology. He has written his thesis about the past, present and future of the sarangi. Vincent has played at Landjuweel Festival before, with artists such as Krien and Isis.