Mantra features the beautiful voice of Shanti, one of John's spiritual mentors and a woman he considers his "mom." This album is the most wildly creative project that John has produced to date. Utilizing native instruments and sounds, the Mantra album transports listeners directly into the heart of India. The sitar (a traditional stringed instrument), tabla (hand-drums), and bansuri flute bring flavors of ancient tradition to your ears, all the while mixed with modern instruments from the Western world. Lyrics are carried along in the Bengali and Hindi languages. "Mantra," the title track, is sung in English, and scriptures are laced throughout. Shanti grew up in the slums of Kolkata, India. Though she is not even 5 feet tall, she has a huge heart of love. Shanti and her husband are reaching children in India who have been exploited and enslaved, or in some cases, simply forgotten and left behind by society. They are powerfully touching the nation of India as they rescue orphans and widows. They are imparting hope to the ones who are broken and hopeless, and they also are reaching persecuted believers in ways no one else can. All of the proceeds from this album go to support Shanti and the work she is doing in India. We are only offering this album for sale at live events where John or Shanti travel and at select bookstores, not as a digital download.
