Freyja Wild
Freyja Wild is a passionate singer and composer whose artistry merges classical finesse with the soul of rock and the ethereal spirit of Celtic folk. Classically trained yet creatively unbound, Freyja brings a fearless edge to every performance, blending genres and infusing each song with a raw, emotive power.
Known for her dynamic stage presence and powerful vocal range, Freyja captivates audiences, drawing them into a deeply immersive musical experience. Whether through delicate, heartfelt ballads or soaring anthems, Freyja’s voice resonates with authenticity, making each performance unforgettable.
Juan Contreras – Flutes
Juan was born and grew up in Chile. He was a founding member of the 1970s Chilean Folk Rock band, Los Blops, playing flute and keyboards. The group recorded three albums and was regarded as one of the foremost bands in the country.
Juan has since played with musicians from all over the world and has ventured into Irish, Arabic and Spanish flamenco music.
Juan plays a variety of flutes including the standard concert flute in C, alto and bass flutes and ethnic South American flutes. He is also adept at keyboard and percussion. He graces our band with beautiful, soaring flute solos colored by his vast multicultural experience.
Cheyenne Dane – Cross Strung Harp
Cheyenne Dane is a powerhouse of energy and creativity, playing a rare type of harp called a 6/6 cross strung harp, a fully chromatic harp without the use of levers or mechanisms.
Completely self-taught, she has been playing since she was seventeen. Her unique, unconventional style is flavored with dynamic colors, edgy textures, and adds a layer of ethereal magic to our sound.
She is well sought out by fellow musicians and has played with many local artists including David Coile, Sean Bennight and Leah Casper to name a few.
Cheyenne also plays tonguepan drums, sings, and is a gorgeous songwriter.
Deano Bartos – Guitar
Deano Bartos is a well-spring of heart. He grew up in the mountains outside of Boulder, Colorado, riding horses and exploring the back-country. Since his youth he has found his peace and solace in the natural world.
A late-comer to music, he will tell you that his choice to become a musician came from “inspiration from above." He feels that music has brought his life into focus and put him on the right path.
He has studied guitar and performed with Bob Story and Christopher Macor, and studied voice and songwriting with Rebecca Folsom. He is dedicated to music that lifts the spirits, has a positive message of hope, tells a good story, and reflects connection with Nature and spirit.
Pete Jacobs – Bass
Raised in New Jersey, Pete has been playing bass since the 7th grade. In the 1980’s and 90’s he became well known in the Denver area playing bass for jazz and rock bands in local clubs.
Pete fell in love with Middle Eastern music in the 1990's and began playing bass in the Saltanah Ensemble. He picked up the oud (a middle eastern lute) in 2003 and became a regular at the Mendocino Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp, where he studied under many great musicians including Souhail Kaspar, Naser Musa, Yair Dalal and Souren Baronian.
He has performed with Yuval Ron, Rachid Halihal, the Zevk Ensemble, Zuruna, Sherefe, Lefthand Canyon Singers and Menage a Trois to name a few.
He brings a unique Middle Eastern and Jazz approach to our sound, creating a hypnotic, danceable foundation to the music.
James Messerich – Percussion
James Messerich has been playing hand drums for 40 years. His main instrument is the darbuka–the middle eastern goblet drum, but also plays the Riqq, frame drum and Bodhran. He is well-versed in Turkish, Arabic, Balkan, North African, and Israeli music, as well as American and Celtic folk.
James has played with numerous middle eastern and balkan ensembles such as Sherefe and the Habibis, Zuruna, Rachid Halihal ensemble al-Zuhour, Mona Eye-yoob & Les Américains and Celtic bands Skean Dubh and Abbey Rogues.
His expertise in world rhythms brings a rare, exotic quality to the music and provides ensemble rhythmic cohesion.
Testimonials
“Soul Touching!”
“That was so BEAUTIFUL, Freyja Wild! I loved your performance! It was an incredible afternoon!”
“MESMERIZING! Truly MESMERIZING! You and your band were beyond eloquent with a powerful message, heart-felt truth and a mesmerizing sound!”
“Beautiful! Beautiful! Wow!”
“I have so enjoyed all the glorious music you have been creating…thank you so much! Your love shared thru your music is definitely having a beautiful ripple effect on our world.”
“I love it, Freyja! Your rhythms are compelling and lyrics deeply moving."
“Gorgeous new music!!! Amazing heart, message & intent!”
