From your perspective , why is it important to bring diverse folk genres like Thumri , Baul , Qawwali , etc ., to a global audience through platforms like JioCinema ?
The essence and depth of lyrical and musical beauty in these forms is unique to this country . It says a lot about our culture , the people and their history . There are hundreds of years of stories and emotions embedded in them . I mean , it ’ s also one of the reasons I moved from the US to India - to gain more access to these forms . I ’ ve gained so much joy , learnings and perspective shifts from them . And there are so many more people out there who would gain from it .
The Yellow Diary
What expectations do you have regarding the impact of EQUALS on the appreciation of folk music in India and globally ?
Folk traditions have drastically changed in their patronage and popularity over the years , modern life seems to forget our roots and our heritage . We all hope that we can start a conversation towards a greater respect for the classical arts ; especially in India . Maybe more people will follow suite and make more music in this vein too …
In a series rooted in memory and tradition , how do you see your musical style contributing to the narrative ?
We come from a different approach where we play drums , bass , electric guitar and synths . Some of these instruments have been made in the last century . For us to collaborate with instruments and a knowledge that has been in our culture for centuries feels important . Apart from that we just wanna make good music for lil to enjoy .
From your perspective , why is it important to bring diverse folk genres like Thumri , Baul , Qawwali , etc ., to a global audience through platforms like JioCinema ?
How did you feel being part of EQUALS , India ’ s first folk music documentary series ?
It feels amazing to be considered . Our music is not really folk and so we are very excited to be collaborating with Suchitra ji and her musicians who are teachers and performers who come from a different world of music altogether . So our collaboration has so much more depth .
Can you describe your role and contribution to the series ? What aspects of your musical journey are highlighted ?
India has a rich and unique folk culture which remains untapped to a great extent . These cultures have a rich tapestry of varied stories , traditions and emotions . Sharing it with a global audience allows the world to have a peep into India ’ s heritage and fosters cultural understanding and appreciation . Introducing Indian folk culture which is centuries old , can also help preserve these cultures for future generations .
Shadow and Light
Our role in the series is as an equal collaborator . Having said that , The idea is to bring out folk music ’ s capability to transcend the boundaries of time . For us , this series brings out a very good display of our process and how we see and create music . This show was two different musical perspectives coming together to make a more potent expression and we are glad that while at it , there was so much for us to learn .
The Score Magazine
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