Mantras from the Mayapurists

This motley group of eclectic musicians from Florida were in Bengaluru over the weekend and left music lovers spellbound with their soul stirring performance. The Mayapuris who crash-landed in the city with their unique punk rock twist to the kirtan and chant genre were seen strumming on the stage.

One of the most talked-about groups from America in this growing scene of exotic world music, The Mayapuris are unique in that, all of them were drummers originally before they became kirtan multi-instrumentalists! Their music is driven by rhythm and influenced by international community of musical spirit.

Their band’s name was inspired by Mayapur, a place in West Bengal, on the banks of the Ganga where the sankirtan movement originated 500 years ago. Kirtan is a musical art form that has existed for thousands of years in the history of music and art.

These kirtan gypsies have re-created the magic of kirtan by their powerful mridangam beats in punk rock style. The band is popular amongst new age millennials. “We perform in New York, Orlando, Los Angeles and across Americas. For us Bengaluru is on the same level as these cities, as Bengalureans are up to date with the Western music scene.

Our influences have been the Beatles, Bob Marley and also the ancient element of mantras that have existed since ancient times. Our music resonates with the youth of India. We find creative ways to share this ancient practice in a way that is exciting. Our music makes you move your body to great grooves,” shares Vishwambar Seth.

Recalling some of their performances, their drummer Bali adds, “We’ve played in colleges, universities, music festivals, church, weddings and yoga festivals like the one in Bengaluru over the weekend, which was magical as it was a fusion of Grandmaster Akshar performing yoga with our contemporary kirtan music.

We’ve also played in psychiatric hospitals which resulted in a positive and profound upliftment of patients. We encourage everyone to let their feelings free; if you feel like crying, then cry, if you feel like laughing, then laugh out, if you want to roll on the ground, then the sound vibrations will move you internally and that will manifest externally too.”

The band members have known each other since their childhood and have been making music since then. They have been touring internationally since 10 years. When their first album came out, it went on to become Top 10 on iTunes. The highlight of their experiential performance is that everyone participates in the music not just as a spectator but sings along and dances to their tunes.

Musically, it’s a fusion with flute, acoustic guitars, harmonium, mridanga, bass guitar, cajón and more. Kishore Rico shares, “There’s a sacred vibration of the mantras. It’s different in the sense that we call out the names of the higher powers and the divine energies.

Our music has reggae, rock, rap and punk rock influences that gets upbeat and exotic when we add mantras to it. Our music is universal and although we’re based in Florida, we travel and perform internationally.”