The Score Magazine January 2019 issue | Page 39

the Big Tree – solar power with powerful performances Echoes of Earth's proclivity toward organic extended not just to their music, but also to the stalls it hosted. Shirts made by hemp, organic sunscreen and ethically sourced jewellery comprised just a few of the items available. Bare Necessities at Echoes of Earth – sustainable everything! There was an air of love and security that ran through the festival, be it at the food court where a child was begging his mother to buy him an ice- cream or between stages, where a full- blown cricket match was taking place. AC shredding over Aditi Ramesh’s exquisite vocals Ankur Tewari brought his soul- stirring compositions live with the help of an exquisite band. As he has been doing for time immemorial with Zero, Sid Coutto's harmonies provided Tewari with the perfect platform to let his voice take centre stage, filling up all sonic space and adding a much-needed layer. Soul-stirring and heart-warming, Ankur Tewari When Chai Met Toast – the quintessential festival band brought their sing-alongable, happy go lucky tunes to the Mandala stage. The happiness and comradery seen on stage was contagious and resonated both with the music and with the crowd. the man himself, Dualist Inquiry, playing a classic riff Co-headlining the festival was Awesome Tapes from Africa, who closed the Mandala stage with, well, awesome tapes from Africa. Filled with beats that had chants in indigenous African languages, the set transported the audience half the world away. Awesome Tapes from Africa, a man who exemplifies Echoes of Earth as a festival All excitement and chatter at the festival, however, was directed at three letters: FKJ. The French multi- instrumentalist who pioneered live looping brought his vast live setup to India for the second time in as many years, which had the audience abuzz with unfathomable excitement. His set was the fitting end to what had been an incredible festival and a reminder that Echoes of Earth is, and always will be, about the earth and its elements.the set transported the audience half the world away. “I’ll tell mom if you push me off!” – Echoes of Earth was fun for the whole family! Next on the Mandala Stage was Aditi Ramesh, who has had a meteoric year and a half. The introduction of ‘AC' on guitars and a flautist added a vibrant element to the set that can be condensed to a single word – tight. This resulted in a well-disciplined performance, but also one that saw the artists enjoying themselves on stage, with their infectious energy resonating with the crowd. No festival is complete without When Chai Met Toast’s life-affirming tunes! All attention then moved back to the Lionfish stage where the mighty Dualist Inquiry debuted his band avatar in Bangalore. Sahej took his one-man guitar-synth-mixer set to a much larger scale, incorporating a violin, drums and keys into his performance. FKJ live and looping! All in all, Echoes of Earth pushed the envelope on forward thinking music festivals in India. They were true to their cause in an unprecedented manner. While festivals nowadays claim to be environmentally friendly, it seems gimmicky and superficial, however, Echoes of Earth was free from any pretence and their commitment to the surroundings and to the music was top-notch. The Score Magazine highonscore.com 37