WHITE SUN SINGS MANTRAS RATHER THAN CHANTS THEM

White Sun is a California band that modernizes and sings age-old mantras. The self-titled White Sun debut recording is one of the best examples we have of taking Sanskrit mantras from thousands of years ago and singing them (rather than monotone chanting) and placing them in a setting palatable for audiences today. Take a listen to these remarkable sounds. You will hear a female lead vocalist (some a capella and lots of ensemble tracks), keyboards, guitars, a non-synthesized string section, a gong, a tabla, lots of various ethnic percussion, and, on the final track, a choir. The result is a fresh update on mantras. This album sounds like pop-new-age music with the only twist being that the lyrics are 600-year-old sanskrit or some other ancient language. Recommended. White Sun album flash drives available at Summer Solstice. Photo by Santosh.