Far away from the subcontinent, far removed from the shenanigans of Mamata, Jayalalitha, NaMo and Shah Rukh, there lives a community of South Asians that is entirely uninterested in these things. This is not some group of ascetics banned from speaking or interacting with the world, reclusive and isolated. They are not spiritualists, although you can argue they pursue the life of soul and spirit in their own style.
They are not even a formal community. The individuals probably know of some of the others but they rarely if ever meet face to face. Sounds like a sleeper cell doesn’t it?
They are all part of a community with branches in almost every country on earth: the desi diaspora. Indians and Pakistanis and Bangladeshis and Lankans and Bhutanese whose parents or grandparents crossed the waters and settled in foreign lands. The second- and third-generation sons and daughters. Some trade on their heritage; others ignore it, want to move beyond it. But like their companions who have set the jazz world aflame, the members of this community are primarily interested in making sweet music.
In another instalment of an ongoing series on the South Asian diaspora and contemporary music, here is a sextuplet that deserve to be lauded back home as much as they are in the west.
Fail for You
Luke Sital-Singh (UK)
Hailing from south London with an early penchant for acting and pantomime, Luke Sital-Singh is one of freshest and most lauded recent South Asian entrants on the UK music scene. His folky, just-a-guy-with-a-guitar persona belies an expressive gentle voice and ace lyricism. Influenced by stalwarts like Dylan and Young but also newer folkies like Bon Iver, he bridges a gap between Nick Drake’s deep introspection and the Fleet Foxes crispy excitement. In the words of one critic, Singh "has breathed fresh life into a tired form". This self-produced clip is what started the ripples in 2012.
Celebration Flow
Aaradhna (New Zealand)
Part-Gujarati, part-Samoan Aaradhna Patel is entirely a child of modern New Zealand. Blessed with a full voice and larger than life presence Aaradhna is an up-and-coming voice in contemporary R&B. Like most of her cohorts her Indian parentage is to be celebrated but not necessarily in a slavish way that compels her to make musical references to the place. She is comfortable within her skin; her rainbow identity is simply the way the world is. In this clip she guests with some big names of hip hop to deliver a rather down-beat groover.
Untitled # 2
Tashi Dorji (US)
A first-generation migrant to the US, Tashi Dorji began noodling with the guitar back home in Thimpu, Bhutan, as a teenager. Since settling in North Carolina, Dorji has found his place in the same line of brilliant American guitarists that includes John Fahey and Leo Kottke. Complex pieces, seemingly worked out as he goes, the music Dorji creates is neither jazz nor pop nor folk. There are echoes of the temple bells from his homeland and of sounds cut off and incomplete, just like you encounter in the mountains. Yet this is not Bhutanese music or Tibetan. It is entirely unique, modern and transcendental. Dorji issues his music on cassettes and plays locally in around the southeastern US.
I Might Just Be
The Diamond Age (UK)
Bill Acharjee is the bassist and one half of this new dream pop band from Southampton. Light and bristling with electric energy this track sums up their ethic beautifully. Slightly tongue-in-cheek and oh, so British, The Diamond Age are ones to watch grow over the coming years.
Deeper Well
The Wailin’ Jennys (Canada)
A well-established folk/roots band from Canada the Wailin’ Jennys have landed one of the best names in the music business (a play on Texan outlaw icon Waylon Jennings). Their tight harmonies and light touch but soulful interpretations of originals and covers, like this Emmylou Harris number, have won them a huge fan base. Nicky Mehta, daughter of Indian immigrants, sings lead vocals as well as plays drums and various other instruments as is the need of the hour.
Pashto Lullaby
Deeyah Khan (Norway)
Of all the acts Deeyah Khan, a Pashtun second-generation immigrant resident in Norway is the one who draws most overtly and deeply on her roots. As a musician of considerable talent, as this lovely Pashto folk melody illustrates, filmmaker and political activist, Deeyah is a consistent advocate and public voice in support of women’s rights, free thought and expression (musical and otherwise) throughout the world. Her work with Freemuse has made her a well-known public intellectual throughout Scandinavia and Europe.
They are not even a formal community. The individuals probably know of some of the others but they rarely if ever meet face to face. Sounds like a sleeper cell doesn’t it?
They are all part of a community with branches in almost every country on earth: the desi diaspora. Indians and Pakistanis and Bangladeshis and Lankans and Bhutanese whose parents or grandparents crossed the waters and settled in foreign lands. The second- and third-generation sons and daughters. Some trade on their heritage; others ignore it, want to move beyond it. But like their companions who have set the jazz world aflame, the members of this community are primarily interested in making sweet music.
In another instalment of an ongoing series on the South Asian diaspora and contemporary music, here is a sextuplet that deserve to be lauded back home as much as they are in the west.
Fail for You
Luke Sital-Singh (UK)
Hailing from south London with an early penchant for acting and pantomime, Luke Sital-Singh is one of freshest and most lauded recent South Asian entrants on the UK music scene. His folky, just-a-guy-with-a-guitar persona belies an expressive gentle voice and ace lyricism. Influenced by stalwarts like Dylan and Young but also newer folkies like Bon Iver, he bridges a gap between Nick Drake’s deep introspection and the Fleet Foxes crispy excitement. In the words of one critic, Singh "has breathed fresh life into a tired form". This self-produced clip is what started the ripples in 2012.
Celebration Flow
Aaradhna (New Zealand)
Part-Gujarati, part-Samoan Aaradhna Patel is entirely a child of modern New Zealand. Blessed with a full voice and larger than life presence Aaradhna is an up-and-coming voice in contemporary R&B. Like most of her cohorts her Indian parentage is to be celebrated but not necessarily in a slavish way that compels her to make musical references to the place. She is comfortable within her skin; her rainbow identity is simply the way the world is. In this clip she guests with some big names of hip hop to deliver a rather down-beat groover.
Untitled # 2
Tashi Dorji (US)
A first-generation migrant to the US, Tashi Dorji began noodling with the guitar back home in Thimpu, Bhutan, as a teenager. Since settling in North Carolina, Dorji has found his place in the same line of brilliant American guitarists that includes John Fahey and Leo Kottke. Complex pieces, seemingly worked out as he goes, the music Dorji creates is neither jazz nor pop nor folk. There are echoes of the temple bells from his homeland and of sounds cut off and incomplete, just like you encounter in the mountains. Yet this is not Bhutanese music or Tibetan. It is entirely unique, modern and transcendental. Dorji issues his music on cassettes and plays locally in around the southeastern US.
I Might Just Be
The Diamond Age (UK)
Bill Acharjee is the bassist and one half of this new dream pop band from Southampton. Light and bristling with electric energy this track sums up their ethic beautifully. Slightly tongue-in-cheek and oh, so British, The Diamond Age are ones to watch grow over the coming years.
Deeper Well
The Wailin’ Jennys (Canada)
A well-established folk/roots band from Canada the Wailin’ Jennys have landed one of the best names in the music business (a play on Texan outlaw icon Waylon Jennings). Their tight harmonies and light touch but soulful interpretations of originals and covers, like this Emmylou Harris number, have won them a huge fan base. Nicky Mehta, daughter of Indian immigrants, sings lead vocals as well as plays drums and various other instruments as is the need of the hour.
Pashto Lullaby
Deeyah Khan (Norway)
Of all the acts Deeyah Khan, a Pashtun second-generation immigrant resident in Norway is the one who draws most overtly and deeply on her roots. As a musician of considerable talent, as this lovely Pashto folk melody illustrates, filmmaker and political activist, Deeyah is a consistent advocate and public voice in support of women’s rights, free thought and expression (musical and otherwise) throughout the world. Her work with Freemuse has made her a well-known public intellectual throughout Scandinavia and Europe.
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