By Gordon Durich
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 8/6/25 – A special screening of Thomas Essig’s Telly award-winning documentary Something Divine which features Ray (Monk Raghunath) Cappo, lead vocalist of straight edge hardcore band Youth of Today and also Shelter (and Moby and bandmates John Porcell Porcelly and Sammy Siegler, Kirtan singer Madheva Naidoo and founder of LA’s Veda Yoga Kumi Yogini) was held August 2, at Veda Yoga Center.
The film follows Cappo at the height of his popularity, leaving Youth of Today and heads to India. Ray Cappo transcends from punk artist who becomes Monk Raghunath after spending time in ashrams and holy places the world over.
What ensues is the confluence of two opposite spheres, hardcore punk rock and spirituality.
Cappo became Raghunath in 1991, representing initiation into lineage and a rebirth.
Thomas Essig is a producer, musician, actor and audio engineer. Raghunath wrote his memoir titled “From Punk to Monk: A Memoir.” As the author of a book about spiritual exploration, it resonated with me. Also, my past includes being a punk in London, England.
Something Divine is a potent brew of raw Lower East Side energy meets vibrant spirituality. A trip from music to meaningfulness, in the vein of Sonny Sandoval (“Son of Southtown: My Life Between Two Worlds” author and Brian “Head” Welch, co-founder of Grammy Award-winning band Korn and New York Times bestselling author.
Something Divine has understandably scored multiple awards at film festivals in The US and Europe including Impact Docs Awards and can be watched now on EO Flix.
