the story so far. . .
THE FIRST THING YOU'LL PROBABLY NOTICE ABOUT MANTRA IS THAT THEY ARE NO ORDINARY BAND. FOR A START THERE'S ONLY TWO OF THEM. AND THEY PLAY ALL THE INSTRUMENTS.

THE BAND CAME INTO BEING AT THE START OF 2001 WHEN ALEX ROUTLEDGE AND KESH PATEL STARTED WRITING AND RECORDING SONGS TOGETHER. WITH WIDE-RANGING INFLUENCES THAT EMBRACED FUNK, SOUL AND MELANCHOLIA, THE CREATIVE JUICES SOON BEGAN TO FLOW.

LIKE MOST YOUNG BANDS, THEY PRACTICED IN EVERY MINUTE OF THEIR FREE TIME AND PRETTY SOON HAD A STRONG SET OF SONGS. THEIR FIRST FEW SONGS COMBINED RAW EMOTION AND MAJESTY WITH A RARE CLASS OF PURE, BEAT-DRIVEN FUNK. SONGS THAT TOOK THE BEST BITS OF EVERY DECADE BUT SOMEHOW ADDED THEIR OWN MAGIC TO IT. THERE WERE OF COURSE TOUCHES OF THEIR INFLUENCES BUT THE SOUND WAS VERY MUCH THEIR OWN AND SOUNDED LIKE IT HAD BEEN MADE IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

THE BAND'S FIRST RELEASE – SHAKE ME DOWN BACKED WITH FORGET TO BREATHE - STARTED TO EARN THE BAND SEVERAL FAVOURABLE REVIEWS. LOGO MAGAZINE DESCRIBED THE BAND'S MUSIC AS “SIMPLY STUNNING. IMPRESSIVE AND A HALF” WHILST WHISPERIN AND HOLLERIN HAILED SHAKE ME DOWN AS “ BIG, BOLD AND THE KIND OF THING THAT SCREAMS 'ANTHEM' FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOP WITH AN INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH MEGAPHONE”.

AFTER SEVERAL TRIUMPHANT GIGS THROUGHOUT 2003, THE BAND'S LIVE SHOW BEGAN TO DEVELOP AND ATOMIC DUSTER WERE QUICK TO PICK UP ON THE BAND'S TALENT AS THEY TOLD THE WORLD THEY WERE “A SUPERB LIVE EXPERIENCE, MULTI-TALENTED INSTRUMENTALLY AND BLESSED WITH A GIFT FOR SONGWRITING”.

IN AN EFFORT TO CAPITALISE ON THEIR INCREASING POPULARITY, THE BAND LAUNCHED THEIR OWN INTERNET RADIO STATION, “MANTRA FM” WHICH FEATURED SONGS, RARE LIVE RECORDINGS AND INTERVIEWS, PROVING A PARTICULAR FAVOURITE WITH THE BAND'S LOYAL FANBASE.

EARLY 2004 SAW THE BAND EMBARK ON THEIR FIRST UK TOUR WITH DATES IN MANCHESTER, LEEDS AND NEWCASTLE. IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT THE BAND'S SUCCESS BEGAN TO TAKE A NEW DIRECTION, THE BOYS' DANCE-ROCK LIVESHOW TURNING MANY HEADS UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY.

AND WHAT FOR THE FUTURE? THE BAND WILL SHORTLY BE ANNOUNCING A STRING OF LIVE DATES THROUGHOUT LONDON AND THE SOUTH-EAST TO SUPPORT THE RELEASE OF THEIR DEBUT EP. THIS PROMISES TO BE QUITE SOMETHING. AS WELL AS COVERING A PARTICULAR SONG BY QUEEN, THEIR LIVE SET IS NOT ONLY BREATHTAKING BUT ALSO BOASTS A VARIETY OF NEW MATERIAL.

click here to listen to the SHAKE ME DOWN EP