KAKTUS MANTRAS

Kaktus Mantras was an industrial/noise/punk rock/ ambient band. Formed 1990 in Queensland by Cristina Calerno (ex-The Mothers) and Scott Dachroeden. The band focused on creating music that went in a dozen different directions at once and in as many genres as they could, no pre-determined style or concept, just creating music for the sake of it. Magazine Drum Media stated, "In trying to think of one word that would capture tonight's set, the noun that comes to mind above all others is freedom. Here we have three people apparently off in their own little world of music, yet all together enough to create a soundscape that held the audience in a gaze".  

Rolling Stone stated "No one could accuse Kaktus Mantras of playing it safe: their song ''Easy'' does indeed sound like a mantra...one that's being chanted in a wind tunnel! Eastern Exotica meets riffery, and they get on fine!" They released their first album 'Yess' in 1992 with Tim Chillingworth on drums. After countless tours and two albums Kaktus Mantras called it quits in 1997, Cristina Calero went on to work with Carmen Rizzo, a Grammy-nominated producer, in Los Angeles with the 'trip-hop' project POVI, the album 'Life in Volcanoes' [2000 Nettwerk Records] was the fruit of their labor. Scott Dachroeden moved to the US over two decades ago with the hopes becoming a concert photographer and working in the music industry. He would find success both as a photographer and guitar tech, working with Alice in Chains, as well as Tool, Rob Zombie, Halestorm, Bush, and many more. Scott died of cancer in 2022.

Members

Christine Calerno (vocals / bass), Scott Dachroeden (vocals / guitar), Tim Chillingworth (drums)

EPs
'Everything' 1995 Cicada Music

ALBUMS
'Yess' 1992 Firewater Records

'Happens' 1997 Firewater Records

References

Kaktus Mantras