Psychedelic Circus
Annapolis, Md.
www.telesmaband.com

“We’ve been described as a psychedelic circus,” says guitarist/drummer Chris Mandra. “But it would be a psychedelic circus where the performers are everyone.” Using instruments as ancient as the didgeridoo and as inventive as the manDrum – a real-time electronic-based percussion interface that Mandra developed – the sextet Telesma has been together since 2004. Their sound encompasses tribal, rock, trance and Middle Eastern music, having influences that extend beyond musical avenues and delve into the world of visual art and dance. Telesma aims for a communal artistic experience, enlisting belly dancers and performers to collaborate at their live happenings. Noted psychedelic painter Alex Grey has even collaborated with the group onstage, as documented on the group’s recent DVD Hearing Visions: Live. “We try to make it an environment where people want to celebrate being alive.”

“We’ve been described as a psychedelic circus,” says guitarist/drummer Chris Mandra. "But it would be a psychedelic circus where the performers are everyone…"