Photo by Sam Yu Singer-songwriter Daphne Tse of Los Angeles performed in Frederick on Saturday night at Ananda Shala Yoga and Pilates Studio on South Market Street. Tse was in town on her way to Washington for Chant 4 Change. Performing with her are local musicians Joseph Rimbey, left, and Kevin Collins.
	ON THE WEB Daphne Tse: myspace.com/daphnetse Chant 4 Change: chant4change.com Gauri Vani: www.gauravani.com Balispirit Festival: www.balispiritfestival.com Ananda Shala Yoga and Pilates Studio: www.anandashala.com (Note: Another Kirtan event will take place in Frederick on Wednesday, featuring Saul David Raye. See Ananda Shala website for details.)

"With Obama coming into office, we're sort of raising the energy," Tse said of the performances.

An all-age crowd gathered on cushions and blankets in front of Tse, in from the frigid night to "the warmest place in Frederick ," yoga instructor Lori Love said.

Joining Tse was the local 513 Band -- Kevin Collins on drums and keys and Joe Rimbey on electric bass -- who sat in at Tse's last performance at the yoga studio, about a month ago.

"I heard (Tse) had a great voice and she needed a band," Collins said before the performance. "So I took a listen, I liked it and I learned it."

Tse offered the musicians mint tea before their concert and laughed. "It's not like playing at a bar."

She will head into Washington today, via Metro, with her mother and sister for Chant 4 Change.

The event, which includes an evening of Kirtan (call and response chanting), singing, dancing and teaching, was conceived by Gauri Vani of Washington. Because several yogis were already gathering for the inauguration, Vani wanted to expand on that idea. In addition to Tse and Vani, guests include sacred activist Shiva Rea, Kirtan/chant artists Jai Uttal and Dave Stringer, as well as Saul David Raye and Joshua Greene, and some 400 others.

The event takes place at the Church of the Holy City, within sight of the White House and Washington Monument, from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. today, Martin Luther King Day. Though only a limited number of tickets will be offered at the door, a live web broadcast can be seen at chant4change.com/live-webcast, and viewers can chant along.

Tse's songwriting changed when she began practicing yoga.

She integrated her folk music style with chanting and sacred messages and said she is influenced by singer-songwriters whose work borders on spiritual music -- such as Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez and especially Shawn Colvin.

Tse also teaches yoga and managed a yoga company in California before focusing on music full time.

She released her first album, "Mata," which means "mother" in Sanskrit, in summer 2008, and will live in Bali, Indonesia, beginning February to record her second album, along with producing the Balispirit Festival.

In Frederick , Tse played what she calls "folk soul," a mix of originals, plus a few covers, including Bob Dylan's "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go," and one Kirtan. She sat under a chandelier and began the night by having the group chant "Om" three times, in long, drawn-out breaths.

"I note to those non-singers: everyone's a singer," she said. "We'll chant to the Mother tonight. If you need to, close your eyes to feel less inhibited."

The scent of rose incense hung in the air as she explained the chant would give reverence to Mother Teresa, to Mother Ocean, to the Mother goddess of music, to her own mother, in from Texas, who sat in the back, and to all mothers.

"Oh, Mother, I thank you," the crowd sang over and over. Then, in closing, "Obama, we thank you."