Sacred

 

A t first glance, the sultry sounds of Poet/Spoken Word Artist TANTRA, will place you in a realm of seductiveness, sexiness, and hypnotic waves of love and lust. But then, as you are pulled into her recordings, you suddenly realize... that she is actually speaking with lyrics of substance. The new release by TANTRA entitled "Sacred" is a perfect blend of love, politics, relationships, social topics, and self-empowerment. The music compositions (produced by Michael Cox) on this CD is a mixture of jazz, house, and soul. Some of the stronger pieces on this project are "Breakdown", the hypnotic sounds of "Fallin'", "One Love", which is a poem dedicated to New Orleans, and "Dreams At Stake". One poem that caught my attention immediately was "Status". It starts out saying "Build me a man. Build me a man." Honestly, I didn't know where she was going to go with this poem, but once it began, I was there and along for the ride. TANTRA is a breath of fresh air (with no parental advisory sticker, so you can let your children listen to it). Her voice is so heavenly that you will be seized into her lyrical tracker beams, forcing you to listen to quality.

Floyd Boykin Jr., CEO SpokenVizions Magazine

Jazz/funk Artist, Tantra, performing with Michael Cox, recent release, Sacred is a timely CD touching on black sexuality, Love, Empowerment and Performance Poetry. Highlights on the CD are track #3 Status, a story telling song and wake up call about the now not so silent Killer AIDS. Tracks #4 Fallin', a very sultry track talking about love, track # 7 an empowering track speaking to the inner beauty of a woman, track #8 My Drum, reflecting activism but not preachy, made you want to tap your foot instead, bob your head instead, do something, and feel good about what you did afterwards, and track #11 First Time, Tantra's vocals rides the house music beats and tells you a beautiful story. This Jazz/funk/house intoxicating CD drops March 2007. This is a CD you will want to play in your car to clear your head, to set a mood right before you make that call to somebody special, to turn up real loud when you want to escape into peace and love. This CD is indeed Sacred, don't believe me, go cop that album.

Celebrity Journalist Dean Russell, Contributing Writer/Interviewer Vocalized Ink Radio

The marriage between spoken word and music has become a popular and instrumental way for poets to showcase their versification, and Tantra does this deftly on her new, unceremonious CD, SACRED. Although her voice is genteel and polished, and her poetry is persuasively pure and sophisticated, there are many moments when this smooth voiced poetry-chanteuse comes off as a gutsy powerhouse who is unyielding to settling for anything less than what she deserves as the goddess she declares to be. Impressively, she manages to achieve this queendom without any quintessential hardcore sassiness or deviation from her femininity like most women do to make the point of their strength and independence. For instance, her head bopper, "Build Me A Man" is a soft-spoken, unbending imploration over an infectious beat that calls forth a constant urge to wine low to the floor, as Tantra stipulates what kind of man she prefers. She conveys her demands convincingly as a lyricist by harmonizing the chorus in between her uncompromising requisitions. It happens to be one of my favorite tracks. "Fallin" is a breathy ballad about the spirituality and infatuation of falling in love in which Tantra sensually recites as if she is at the crowning-point of having a climax with the experience. She graciously educates with sagacity on her declaration "A Poem For Gordon" written as a dedication to Gordon Parks. "Gold" and "My Drum" written for Coretta Scott King--but also venerates other historical heroes--are fast, danceable ditties that could successfully become favorites in the deep house clubs where flower children and bohemian dance soldiers seek refuge. "One Love," Tantra's offering for New Orleans and the Hurricane Katrina devastation, comes off as if she is an activist standing at a podium before an audience of thousands, politically and powerfully unmasking the government's conspiracy and disturbing neglect of a community in distress. Delivered over a heavy baseline arrestingly calling one to stop and listen, Tantra throws her lyrics determined and firm, yet gracefully womanlike, and you hear her disdain for the mistreatment of this tragedy. Her encore "Dreams At Stake" is a mid-tempo consciousness poem that fades out the album with a last thought for the listener to consider how imperative change is needed if people want to really make their dreams come true.

I'd say in comparison to her previous albums, Tantra has managed to draw listeners closer to who she is on SACRED. There is a diverse dexterity shown in this production that merits an expanded credibility to her as a performance and spoken word artist, and she is unequivocally and believably goddess incarnate on this collection of music and prose.

By Chuma Whahid Rasul a.k.a. Christopher Hicks, Chuma Spirit Books, LLC

The term "old soul" brings to mind a state of authentic origin attributed to someone young. If you know like I know, a soul never grows old as it is without limit. The possibility of love through the power of words is what makes Tantra such a gift to the ears. Her deliverance of heart and spirit endows the World with her contribution shared with the specific intent to "fall in love with Love like deep slow kissin'.........." (from "Fallin'") Tantra's ode to Orleans "One Love" is a melodic truth spoken and with such pain and anger infused with love and hopefulness, she again straddles your sensibilities and twists your emotions into whether you nod your head in the groove or in grief. Much can be said with the choice of the co-star that is the backing tracks. On one side, hearing Tantra "build structure" accompanied by house music is a slick accompaniment choice on "First Time". I have had the honor of reading this multi-talented progenitor of love in her collection of published works but this album brings an extrasensory perception into the world of Tantra........... Get in!

Alan Wone, Actor/Poet CEO, Philosofloetry Publishing

When it comes to poetry, it takes a special kind of writer to pull off a really effective piece. The challenges of using everyday words to convey emotion in a truly artful manner are not easily overcome for most. When you find a poet that totally enthralls you, it's almost like finding some lost treasure, you want to hold it secret and claim it as your own. Tantra is one of those poets. With several CDs, a book and live performances past her, Tantra now prepares to release her latest collection of prose set to music. SACRED is a truly wonderful project that will surely gain new fans and listeners for this East Coast based spoken word artist. With her combination of spirituality and sensuality, Tantra has established herself as one of New York's premier spoken word artists. Tantra continues to create wonderful poems and her new CD SACRED is sure to be another bold move for her. With production provided by Michael Cox, Tantra delves into issues of love, relationships, world affairs and culture. She glides over jazz grooves dance fueled "Gold" beats, and rhythm and blues. You can't help but fall into the sweet love crooning of "Fallin'". While the straightforward bass bop of "One Love" lets Tantra tell it like it is and give a poem to New Orleans and the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Tantra can feel very proud and be sure that her words can help worlds with this new CD. Make sure you look out for Tantra and this CD. You may never forgive yourself for letting this sacred treasure pass you by.

Laron Cue, Kayaro Records

" 'First let me say, CONGRATULATIONS on what is a profoundly creative and innovative work. Your talent and skill as a poet and lyricist are phenomenal. I really am honored that you thought I could offer comment on this project. I really enjoyed the reflections, messages and verbal artistry of all of the tracks. I especially enjoyed listening to "Gold" -- for obvious reasons this was reminiscent of the piece you created for the HIV PSA we produced a few years ago. I absolutely love the message of "What Shall We Tell Our Daughters" and the reinforced message that women of wisdom have much to share with the younger ones who are searching for guidance, purpose and meaning with regards to their value and worth in society. I also enjoyed the provocative and powerful social messages of "A Poem for Gordon," "Dreams At Stake" and "My Drum." "One Love" was also a creative, yet thought-provoking reflection on the travesty of the aftermath of Katrina's wake in New Orleans. Tantra, in a nutshell -- the intellect, introspection, rawness juxtaposed with vulnerability, and the compassion mixed with conviction with which you offer yourself, your gifts and talents to the world are to be lauded!' "

Michelle Taylor, Communications and Creative Services Director BETAH Associates

Search far and wide, and you're unlikely to find a more sultry voice than that of New York's Tantra. On Sacred, Tantra's vocals are beautifully mixed with soul, r&b, and house rhythms to create an offering that is satisfying to the ear, but also nourishing to the soul. Stand out tracks include, Change My World, Fallin, One Love, and the house infused, Gold. Sacred is definitely an asset to the spoken word movement, and you owe it to yourself to give it a listen on cd, or live in person.

Dwayne Morgan, Up From The Roots

you suddenly realize... that she is actually speaking with lyrics of substance...

"Tantra's words have the uncanny ability to do balancing acts between sensuality and sexuality! Her "Poetry" softens spirits, and heals hearts! Her passion is infectious!"

Bruce George, Co-Founder of Def Poetry Jam