In the Hindu tradition, there is a goddess who dances. Have you ever seen a statue of a woman who's got about five arms coming out of her side, and they're all spread out? If so, you've seen Shiva, the Hindu goddess of dance. And if you're interested in seeing how she probably moved, just check out Sierra's Mantra the next time they're in town.

What could a modern rock band from Chester County possibly have to do with an ancient Indian deity? Plenty. Lead singer Sierra Kameron is the closest I've seen of a reincarnation of the holy Shiva. Kameron seductively moves her body as she performs, her lusty voice matching each arm flair perfectly. And speaking of ancient traditions, where did they get their name? Guitarist Bill Dee says that coming up with this attention-grabber was pretty simple: you take your lead singer's name and add it to a word which Dee defines as a "chant or prayer; a mesmerizing sound that puts you in a trance." Pretty mystical, huh?

I have to admit, I am entranced by Kameron's voice. She's an amazing performer, with a voice that blends Anne Wilson and Alanis Morisette. And she certainly knows how to play a crowd. Dee is an accomplished guitarist who backs Kameron up with vocals which perfectly accent her strong, lusty voice. Drummer Steve Spatz keeps the beat going, with solid groove help from bassist Josh Drennan. And if you're ever looking for a whiz on the keyboards and electric guitar, just look stage left to Kevin Wegman. The entire outfit is an accomplished set of performers. When I caught their live performance a few weeks back, I was amazed by the energy they put into a show. When they started out their set, you could just feel the emotion pouring out of them. It was a powerful performance.

While Kameron and Dee have been playing together for quite some time, Mantra has been in existence for about two and a half years. Coming from various backgrounds - jazz, hard rock, heavy metal, world music - the five decided that they should blend their backgrounds into a whole new sound. Dee says the band has two goals, "to put [the music] out there, and to stay connected to it." They love playing New York and our very own York, Pa. A dedicated crew, they are billed as a band which can "fuse pop sensibility with cutting edge aggression." Their original songs show up quite a bit in a live show, "about one original song per set," says Dee. I had the chance to listen to Sierra's Mantra's self-titled EP, containing three songs. "Exiled One," the first track on the EP, won Bill Dee a Billboard Certificate of Achievement. It's an alluring song, one that starts with sitar music and quickly leads into sharp, ripping guitars. I have to say that the sitar music felt a bit out of place in this otherwise modern rock riff. I enjoyed the other two songs on the CD, "Emotionally Antiseptic" and "45 Minutes," a bit more because they had a more defined rock feel to them.

In talking with Dee, it became clear that Sierra's Mantra has the goal of putting out this sort of music mantra. The songs certainly had some mesmerizing sounds, but they weren't necessarily the kinds of sounds I'd listen to on a regular basis. Mantra is, at heart, a hard rock band. They played a few ballads when I saw them perform live, but I can't shake the feeling that they love to rock. And so, when I hear a sitar at the beginning of a screaming guitar song, I get a little curious. I think that Mantra has perfectly good intentions of trying something altogether different. But that's exactly what it sounds like: a band trying to be different.

Dee describes the band's mix as "electronica, world music, and hard rock." It's an original sound. An idea the band has come up with independently, without any label telling them what they have to sound like by trying to predict America's next musical wave. Ultimately, Dee, Kameron, and the rest of the band are aiming to simply "put it out there." And fans are pouring in, be it at songwriting circles or club dates. Producer Larry Fast, who's worked with Peter Gabriel and Richie Sambora, described Sierra's Mantra as "a band with tremendous potential." I think the possibilities for this band lie in their determination, their passion, and their powerhouse lead vocalist.

Seeing Mantra live is a fascinating experience. When Kameron, a natural-born performer, is belting a song out, she's all you can see. Her voice is so strong that when she starts in on a song, everything else seems to just stop. But don't believe for one second that the band won't be heard. The instrumentalists all come together to provide solid back-up. In the midst of all the music, Kameron thrusts, wiggles, and spins with the best of them, her long red hair accentuating every move. She's kind of like a singing Jennifer Beales in "Flashdance." Her voice is empowered, and she acts accordingly. I must admit that I'm inclined to believe the band could suffer from a slight "No Doubt" complex; there's a chance Kameron could become Pennsylvania's answer to Gwen Stefani and steal the spotlight, whether she means to or not. I have, if you'll forgive the pun, no doubt that Sierra Kameron is a name we'll know one day. Not only does she bear an eerie resemblance to Kathy Griffin (the redhead on "Suddenly Susan"), she's also a powerhouse of vocals. She will make it someday, with or without this band.

If Sierra's Mantra seems to put your karma on the positive scale, and the band sounds like a blend you'd enjoy, check out www.sierrasmantra.com. They've got samples of their songs on the site, as well as bio information and a list of upcoming gigs. The band will be featured on the College Music Journal's Certain Damage sampler CD in September. They are waiting for word on musical scores the members have written for TV and film.

Sierra's Mantra is dedicated to this craft, despite day jobs and disappointment. I give the band credit for being so passionate about doing what they love. They are on a mission to "get [the music] out there," according to Dee. And from what I saw, they're well on their way. Between gigs at CBGB's in New York and various mid-state locations, Mantra is working on entrancing the East Coast. Let the goddess emerge.