Chakra 10 (Let's Pray) is a collaboration of two outstanding artists from the Minds Behind the Music label: mAncient and Tom Tikka. mAncient is an author, healer, multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, and a monk just to name a few of mAncient’s talents amongst many that he possesses. Tom Tikka is an award-winning SONY/BMG songwriter with multiple top-10 hits around the world. Tom just released an album called "Better Man" this year. He was also a finalist in the InterContinetal Music Awards 2022, and received the ISSA award for International Male Vocalist Of The Year.
When I asked Tom to tell me a little bit about his collaboration with mAncient, this is what he told me, "I felt the song was very good but needed a hook, so I suggested that we collaborate on it. He emailed me the instrumental track and I edited it down to 3 min. After this, I recorded my vocal hooks. I moved the bits around and added: timpani, clavier, wah wah guitar, tubular bells, strings and some choir bits. I loved the result and he did too, so it was a go." Tom also stated that it felt good to do something completely out of his genre. He felt liberated and that it was exciting. Let's get on with the review.
The Review... CHAKRA 10 (LET'S PRAY)
Chakra 10 (Let's Pray) starts out epically, with a stunning vocal effect that leads into a punchy violin riff and an X-files-like piano resting on a pounding kick drum that makes you feel like you’re about ready to dance in your seat. Next, you hear mAncient transitioning the track to a captivating prayer, while Tom Tikka sings, "Let's pray and hold our hands together" in a heavenly voice.
This track is epic, and you can feel the power of prayer in this track. As the track plays on, you can also feel the build-up with the Hi Hat that leads to the hook.
The hook is amazing. All the instruments burst out: the violin, piano, and guitar mix with timpani, clavier, tubular bells is simply divine. mAncient reciting prayers as Tom sings the chorus, "Let's pray and hold our hands together, Let's pray and hold our hands together, There's no reason not to do it, just take my word, Take my word..." This track is truly fantastic. mAncient and Tom Tikka have done an outstand job getting the message of how powerful prayer is. Chakra 10 (Let's Pray) is a kind of track that leaves you captivated by the words, and gives you a feeling of closeness to a higher power through prayer.
Chakra 10 (Let's Pray) will be released soon. So, readers keep and eye out for this smashing single! You really don't wanna miss out on this track! Simply brilliant!
Here is a little bit about mAncient. Born 56 years ago, mAncient got into music at the age of four. The accordion. Since then, he has learnt to play keys, percussion, harmonica, a little sax & trumpet, but his foremost love is vocals. He creates healing music in the Earth House genre, and was born a healer. He has taken his Bodhisattva vows. Which means that he is in for another round on the Earthly plane. In 2018 he said “Enough” to his normal job, and started traveling. Since then, he has been more broke than not, but happy. In 2021, he passed 6 million streams of his music. With a global network of 200.000 or so, he uses his network for positive change. His aim is to leave a better Earth for his children and grandchildren, and his best friend is a dog. They fight a lot, but that is OK. She is a trained bodyguard.
There are 15 brilliantly written tracks on Holy Warriors. I will be reviewing the first 5 tracks of this album 0-4, and giving a conclusion of the album as a whole.
Starting this review with Chakra 0 the first track of the album. But firstly what does Chakra 0 mean? Well, according to the book called "Clear The 13 Chakras In 7 Seconds", a book written by Haakon Rian Manchient Ueleand himself means "The Zero’th chakra is the Earth Star Chakra. It is our connection with the crystalline heart of Mother Earth. When we speak of “grounding”, we connect with our Earth House Mother". And that is the feeling that you get while listing to Chakra 0, a sort of connection with the earth, a connection with everything around you. You can feel the power moving through you. This track has a tribal dance feel while in the background there is a wolf howl as the vocal chants "Warriors" as you close your eyes and listen to this track you get a feeling of strength and connection with all things around you.
The Next Track on the album is an magnificent song called Chakra 1. This track has a slow groove to it with an amazing drop. I really got into this track. this track had me dancing in my seat. With its smooth leads and rhythmic beats to rich harmony's that blends with the vocals. To guitar leads that dances with the rhythm of the track. I got a bit of a spiritual vibe to this track. A sort of closeness with a higher power. I must admit I really enjoyed listening to this track.
The next track, yep you guessed it! Chakra 2. This track starts out with a prayer or a mantra. A prayer to an Angle to let go of fear. as mAncient prays there is a kick drum playing in a tribal rhythmic dance fashion. this is a type of beat that gets the heart beating. This is a kind beat preparing you for a fight either a spiritual fight or perhaps a physical one.
The fourth track I reviewed was Chakra 3. This Track start out with a nice kick and snare beat kinda like a drum and bass style track accompanied with a harmonic flute playing a rich lead. The flute and organ together sound really nice and gets your head bobbin. You just set back and let the flute set the stage for the journey that this track is taking you on. The guitar leads you to the vocals singing prayers or a mantra that sounds truly magical, other worldly. Another really deep spiritually sounding track by mAncient. One that you can feel within.
And Finally, Chakra 4. This track starts of with a beautifully played piano along side chanting of a mantra. The drum part sounds crisp with a synth lead. The bass is full and you can feel it in your chest. The guitar part along with the synth is truly amazing. The change up of this track is also amazing and flows so nice with the harmony of the track, just brilliant! When I close my eyes and listen to Chakra 4 I get a sense of oneness.
In conclusion, Holly Warriors is an album of spirituality in my opinion. An album about having a connection with the earth, being closer to enlightenment. An album about searching within for oneness. An album about the power of being connected to everything that is around you from the air that you breath to the birds in the sky. Mancient has put into sound the beauty of oneness with Mother Earth and of Healing. Through his tribal dance beats to his magical flute that play along side a rich organ, he brings prayer to life through sound. His deep vocals can put you in a trance. This is an album you can feel in your soul.
This last week has been horrible. I’ve had to grab the corners of my mouth and drag upward to smile, and would’ve preferred to have a back bracelet to keep my back straight.
I work 17 hour days, seven days a week, which has been my life since 2018.
As a healer and coach, with 22 years of social work in my baggage, I do know a little about picking myself up. So, I got to work. Meditation, nutrition, connecting with good people.
But … there was one special key that became especially important.
I was waiting for my weekly Zoom with Neale Donald Walsch. On Mondays, it starts at 02:30am, and as I was waiting, all the struggles and battles I am in, caught up with me.
Feelings of inadequacy, imposter syndrome, and all the darkness I have accumulated as a social worker and empath, working with people whose lives were plagued with darkness … I felt like a pressure cooker with no safety-valve.
I sat down to find songs for my show on @RDTVF (Twitter), and this song came up…
I had only listened to it for a few seconds, before I started crying.
Tears of joy.
It is said that monks are HEB (Highly Evolved Beings).
I am a monk. Can’t say I feel highly evolved; just another dude doing his life.
I could tell you a lot about why this song grabbed me. But I think you will understand, once you listen to it.
May it bring blessings, joy and healing to the rest of 2021, and to all of 2022!
Håkon (@mancient_com on Twitter) is a Norwegian-born monk, expat in Sweden. He lives with his dog, and has three children who live in Norway. They are the light of his life. If you want to learn more about him, visit https://www.linktr.ee/mancient.
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