Prince Rama

For the Hindu deity, see Rama.
Prince Rama
Background information
OriginBrooklyn, New York, United States
Genres
Years active2008–2019
Labels
Past membersTaraka Larson, Nimai Larson, Michael Collins, Ryan Sciaino
Websiteprincerama.com

Prince Rama (previously Prince Rama of Ayodhya)[2] was a two-piece "now age" psych-dance band based in Brooklyn, New York, founded by Michael Collins and sisters Taraka Larson and Nimai Larson.[3] Discovered by Animal Collective's Avey Tare in 2010,[4][5][6] the band signed to Paw Tracks shortly thereafter.[7]

The band drew heavily on its members' experiences growing up in a Hare Krishna commune.[8][9] Taraka published a manifesto on the "Now Age" that puts forth Prince Rama’s aesthetic and metaphysical philosophies.[10][11]

Collins departed the band after the release of Shadow Temple. Trust Now was the band's first album without him.[12][13][14] In 2016, Ryan Scianino began working with the band.[15][16]

Shadow Temple and Trust Now peaked at #3 and #6 on the Billboard New Age Charts, respectively.[17] On August 20, 2019, Taraka Larson announced that the band had disbanded.[18][19] The band's final EP, Rage in Peace, was assembled by Taraka Larson from a variety of unfinished session material.[20][21]

Band members

  • Taraka Larson: lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, synthesizer, keyboard (2008–2019)
  • Nimai Larson: drums, drum machine, percussion, vocals (2008–2019)
  • Michael Collins: synthesizer (2008–2010)
  • Ryan Sciaino: guitar, synthesizer (2016–2019)

Education

Taraka graduated from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA in 2009 and Nimai studied Visual Art and Art History at St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas.

Discography

  • 2008 - Threshold Dances (Cosmos Records, UK)
  • 2009 - Zetland (Self-Released)
  • 2010 - Architecture Of Utopia (Animal Image Search)
  • 2010 - Shadow Temple (Paw Tracks)
  • 2011 - Trust Now (Paw Tracks)
  • 2012 - Utopia = No Person (Not Not Fun)
  • 2012 - Top 10 Hits of the End of the World (Paw Tracks)
  • 2016 - Xtreme Now (Carpark Records)
  • 2019 - Rage in Peace (Carpark Records)

References

  1. ^ Esquire
  2. ^ "Prince Rama - Feature Stories". Stomp And Stammer. July 3, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  3. ^ Elliott, Kevin J. (2010). "Introducing... Prince Rama". The Agit Reader. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  4. ^ "Prince Rama | Kennedy Center". The Kennedy Center. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  5. ^ Kompanek, Christopher (March 3, 2016). "Prince Rama continues to evolve with an '80s sensibility and an eerie sound". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  6. ^ Carney, Abby (May 15, 2015). "Catching Up With: Prince Rama". Paste Magazine. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  7. ^ "Taraka on Living With Snakes, the End of Prince Rama, and Being Misunderstood". Last Donut of the Night. November 24, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  8. ^ Caramanica, Jon (August 10, 2010). "Summoning the Spiritual With Just Enough Cowbell". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  9. ^ Watson, Elijah (April 26, 2012). "Prince Rama's Taraka Larson talks new album, future plans". The Daily Texan. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  10. ^ Hua, Vee (February 3, 2012). "Prince Rama Band Interview - The Now Age Manifesto". REDEFINE magazine. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  11. ^ Joffe, Justin (March 4, 2016). "Welcome the Now Age: Prince Rama Envision Pop Music as Spiritual Mantra". Observer. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  12. ^ Moyer, Matthew (April 3, 2012). "Prince Rama: No New Age". Ink 19. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  13. ^ Nagurney, E. (June 20, 2011). "Prince Rama to puncture consciousness of the soul-mind in 13 drops of amber rain on new album Trust Now". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  14. ^ Young, Martyn (October 20, 2011). "Prince Rama - Trust Now". DIY. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  15. ^ "📚 - Ryan Sciaino". cargocollective.com. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  16. ^ Carpenter, Lorraine (April 12, 2016). "Prince Rama break through the kitsch barrier". Cult MTL. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  17. ^ "Billboard New Age Chart". Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  18. ^ Minsker, Evan (August 20, 2019). "Prince Rama Call It Quits, Release Farewell EP Rage in Peace: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  19. ^ Slingerland, Calum (August 19, 2019). "Prince Rama Break Up, Share Final EP". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on June 14, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  20. ^ "CAK137 Prince Rama - Rage In Peace". Carpark Records. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  21. ^ Waight, Leighana (September 2019). "Love Song to My Death". Whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
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