About Butterthief and the Leela EP Reality is going through a massive re-mix and it results in post-millennial phenomenon like a speed metal lead singer re-connecting with his Sanskrit roots, a blues shuffle drummer overcoming addiction by finding clarity and peace with meditation and polyrhythms and a gospel siren learning to sing the thousand names of God. This is the essence of Butterthief and not just their music, but something larger coming through, a bubbling up, an emergent sonic reality bursting out of yoga studios and onto the festival circuit, mantra-jamming to the masses. This is the yoga remix, straight edge and supine. They are clear, tapping free energy straight from the cosmic void. Manish Tandon (vocals/guitar), Mary Walker (vocals) and Joey Repice (drums/percussion) are on a hero’s journey of sorts, spreading the gospel of meditation, clarity and presence. It’s a daily dharma that encompasses every aspect of their lives, from teaching meditation and breath-work to others, as well as performing live in a direct form of sonic darshan. The sound of Butterthief is a sublime meld of diverse musical influences ranging from U2, Manu Chao, Gogol Bordello, Depeche Mode to !!! combined with traditional, ecstatic, Sanskrit chant. In Indian culture there are the four phases of man, which tracks the spiritual and cultural development of the individual in society: student, householder, hermit and sage. In many ways, the band's musical development matches two phases of the cultural evolution of the Indian life, but from a quantum perspective leaping from the student phase (Brahmacharya) into the wandering sage phase (Sanyassa). Make no mistake about it, Butterthief are eager to bring their ecstatic form of Mantrapunk, a blend of substance free, group experience to the masses. The origin of the name Butterthief is essential to understanding the ethos of the group. It refers to the life of young Krishna, where he was mischievous and playful, so much so, that he was caught stealing butter, hence the name that would stick with not only him, but the three members of the group that are Butterthief who bring this type of musical playfulness and spontaneity to the stage. Walker, Tandon and Repice all found one another through The Art of Living Foundation’s New York Center. Tandon saw Repice one day and was struck by his intensity and his angular, tattooed frame. Repice's energy leapt across the room and within moments the two were agreeing that they needed to play music together. Repice is a living testament to the power of meditation and chant. The techniques he's learned not only saved him from addiction but they've taken his drumming to an entirely new level. Tandon cut his teeth on the speed metal circuit growing up in LA and while he was never far from his traditional Indian roots, he was also busy bending chords to Metallica and Anthrax cuts. In one of his early bands, he collaborated with Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park. He also got turned onto the hardcore punk sounds of Minor Threat along with the alcohol and drug free ethos of the straight edge scene which is an integral part of the Butterthief consciousness. One day, Tandon heard Walker's voice, rising above the crowd in the call and response of an impassioned Kirtan session at the Art of Living Center. She has what Tandon calls "the boom" an ability to push the vocal stylings of Sanskrit chant to another level. Walker grew up in Kansas City singing in gospel choirs, honing her vocal chops. Like the other two members of Butterthief she is an active meditator and takes her life enhancement tools into the world, teaching meditation and breathing to incarcerated youth in the NYC area. It's a holistic spirit that weaves its way through the entire musical DNA of the band. In essence, there is no separation in anything they do. Music is service, service is music and the breath of meditation brings it all together. On their latest EP the band gets electric, moving away from it’s more acoustic and in some ways, more traditional Kirtan sounds. It’s post-rock, atmospheric, driving, devotional, joyous, yet intense. Chiming and shimmering tracks like “Submil Bolo” and “Sri Radhe Shyam” take their sound into new realms of dance floor devotion, while not sacrificing the soul of Kirtan for some commercial affect. In actuality, they are creating a contemporary vehicle for this ancient practice. It may seem like a compromise on the surface, but each member of Butterthief is anything but compromising and in fact it’s the commitment of it’s members towards an integrated spiritual life that brings the music home as Tandon relates his experience as a teacher of meditation, “I discovered this form of meditation in 1998 and eight years later, it has healed many aspects of my life. I was torn between two cultures and conflicted about who and what I was supposed to be. Now, I feel completely integrated into spirit, art, music and life through meditation and teaching it to others.” When you listen to Butterthief, you’re on the precipice of something extraordinary and new; It’s hardcore devotion without the heavy baggage associated with it. They keep it light as the music travels at the speed of bliss. The group calls it “coming om” (a play on coming home). Intense, vital and charged, Butterthief are spreading the gospel of “Mantrapunk” to the world. They wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for The Art of Living Foundation and its founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. It was there that they all met under the guidance and truth of their teacher, who has not only passed on this tradition which goes back over 5,000 years, but he also encouraged them to add their own color, essence and expression to a living, breathing and evolving practice for the 21st century. The Yoga Remix Mind-Body dance party is the musical vehicle for the group, traveling through college campuses and festivals around the country, teaching meditation and breathing while performing in substance free settings. Look for them. Butterthief is coming to a life near you.