Instrumental band Khamira’s artists Aditya Balani,Yusuf Khan and Vishal Nagar spoke to Upasana singh about fusing folk with Welsh music
The melodically arresting and rhythmically flowing tunes of Indian classical and Welsh folk music took the audience on an experiential voyage.
The amalgamation of Indian instruments from an age-old sarangi to rapid top-note resonances of the tabla accompanied with guitar, trumpet, drums, piano and electric bass transported the spectators into a trance at the launch of the debut album Khamira in Delhi.
The lead guitarist, Aditya Balani was always fond of music. As a kid, he used to play on an old keyboard his father bought. No one could fathom that his infatuation with music would turn the guitarist into a global icon. After donning various hats as a composer, singer, and an educator, he has proved his mettle. Branching out can be challenging at times but the artist is unperturbed. “I was aware of the consequences but it has never bothered me. Balancing amid all this chaos is something I like.”
Grandson of sarangi maestro Ustad Sabri Khan,Yusuf Khan has carved a niche for himself among musicians. With a professional background in the field, the artist feels privileged to be born in a family of sarangi players. “During my childhood years, I used to stop crying instantly when the sound of sarangi reached my ears. When there was no one to play the instrument, I would start crying.The love and passion for the instrument developed over the years.Rather than me choosing the sarangi, the instrument chose me.”
Vishal Nagar has always been surrounded by music. Music for many is a medium that makes you feel at home. “All of us wish to be kids again in order to have a carefree life. While playing tabla, I travel back to my childhood days where you are always curious and eager to learn without thinking about the benefits and repercussions. The journey of my life is encapsulated in the moments I play the tabla”, said Nagar based out in San Francisco.
Most people are unaware about the conceptualisation of Khamira. The idea emerged through a collaboration initiated by Global Music Institute (GMI), founded by Aditya and his sibling Tarun Balani. The institute aims at encouraging Indian musicians to learn and develop their skills under the guidance of foreign musicians through various workshops. The global exposure will help budding musicians immensely.
The members of the band have performed at various platforms in different countries. They have appeared in television shows like Coke Studio and The Dewarists.
“All of us are constantly involved in world music. To connect with other musicians, the cross-culture of dialogues started happening which brought us all together and therefore, we decided to collaborate mixing compositions of traditional music with welsh and Indian folk”, said Balani who believes India has an influx of different genres of music like jazz, rock, and pop which are gaining momentum among the masses. This, in turn is enabling young artists to come up with original compositions.
As Bono said, “music can change the world because it can change people.”