THE MANTRA...THE MANTRA...THE MANTRA �We are a little more portable then your average band. We consist of very little and aren't all that loud. However, having places to play can always be a struggle around here, especially when you don't mould yourself after the trend of the moment. It's hard to find shows to begin with, but it's even harder when you don't play the most commercially acceptable music of your generation or demographic.� In 2000, Leigh Bursey, front man of The Mantra, sang for his mother at her wedding reception. That is the origins of The Mantra. However, it wasn�t until June 2004 that the group, now comprised of four members, formed in Brockville, Ontario. Following the exit of three different guitar players, Leigh and his girlfriend Laura had begun writing songs on their own for fun on her piano. Leigh would hit a note whereby Laura would create songs. After being left at the last minute by a mirage of guitar players, the duet did not hesitate in diving straight into the sound they were going for and relished the lack of dependance on others. These days, Leigh plays rhythm guitar and some percussion (as a pop-grunge beat machine) to his stylistic spoken word and indie crooning in accompaniment to Laura�s ever graceful voice, keys and bass drum. A new and seemingly permanent (as the seasons) addition to the band is Ryan Reabel on bass. In a stable position and where they want to be, Leigh�s outlook is very positive: �We were never bad. Each line-up has done amazing things from huge festivals, to Riverfest, competition victories, music videos, albums, and everything in between. I have never been more proud of anything.� Laura and Leigh are the centre of The Mantra, and their (�romantic�) relationship has on a number of occasions been the sole reason for playing. The music is influenced most heavily by The Arcade Fire, Raising The Fawn, Death Cab For Cutie, Evanescence, The Smashing Pumpkins, The White Stripes, and Modest Mouse. The Mantra call themselves �art-rock�, �just because it seems to be the only name that somehow feels fitting. We're still a rock band, but we're a little different then the average rock band: more of a strange bird, if you catch my drift.� At the Brockville Youth Centre on Perth and Church Streets downtown Brockville, Leigh over the past year has learned the light and dark sides to being the curator of local shows for youth. The young counter cultural musicians have played and organized numerous charity events and have brought their unique set on the road to a number of youth centres including Merrickville and Gananoque. The Mantra are a conscious band: �we are definitely a band of socially aware young people.� An issue on the forefront of Leigh�s altruism is the lack of support, especially funding, for the youth centre in Brockville. I asked Leigh what he thought about the skateboarding funds recently announced by the city of Brockville: �skating was a lot bigger a while ago, but at the same time it supports youth. It would be nice to see more funding go to the youth centre. Realising that the managers of our youth centre work very hard and many people still don't even know the place exists, it is no fault of the faculty, but more the community. How are people supposed to take advantage of help, or give help, if they can't even find the centre to begin with.� Teenage depression, mental health issues in general and the �unfair stigma� associated with them are concerns for Leigh in Brockville. Rather than addressing social issues as a community, Leigh feels that, �we corrupt ourselves with check book balancing and celebrity gossip. There are other things much more important and pressing for the generations of tomorrow.� The misuse of media is one of Leigh�s, �biggest pet peeves.� If you know The Mantra then you will know that they are always busy and these days are no different. The Mantra have just filmed a video for �drenched and drowning� and have also released a new album, "Under The Overpass: Songs For The Minority". The album is twelve tracks of brand new material, which they plan on touring with until their first studio album is released in June. After a busy-as-always summer, Laura and Leigh plan to do an acoustic tour of Newfoundland! Due to space and time I will save the interview with Leigh on the shows he puts on until later. Since August of �05, Leigh has been giving a venue for local bands looking for shows and out of town bands out on tour. The youth centre in Brockville on most Sunday afternoons is where to go, thanks to Leigh, for live music. �Kids appreciate and respect...sometimes it�s only for a few kids, but it�s worth it cause people appreciate it.�
