Mantawoman

Mantawoman - deemed "courageous, passionate, truth-seeking" by Yo-Yo Ma - is a pioneering virtuoso on the yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer) and singer-songwriter from San Francisco. 

Mantawoman, who goes by Manta Arius* offstage, makes songs and performances that embrace paradox, romanticism, and the freedom of surrendering to change. In 2023, Mantawoman released her debut EP, The Way She Makes Us Waves, which showcased her signature "hypnopop" style, combining mesmeric yangqin playing rooted in Chinese tradition with modern production and a chamber-pop band.

Mantawoman has headlined the Purcell Room, LSO St Luke’s, Turner Contemporary, Nottingham
Contemporary, and The Divine. 

As a collaborative musician, Manta has shared the stage with Yo-Yo Ma, Kayhan Kalhor, Johnny Gandelsman, Wu Man, Rhiannon Giddens, Caroline Polachek, and Imogen Heap, playing venues such as Lincoln Center, Tanglewood, and OVO Arena Wembley.

*Manta Arius (they/she) was formerly known as Reylon Yount