Page 27 - Rolling Stone - India (December 2019)

The Mix

Sarathy Korwar on India Shows:

‘Expect Some Loud, Heavy, Punk Jazz!’

The London-based drummer, percussionist and producer talks
about his recently released album ‘More Arriving’

ne of the most Korwar says, “I wasn’t anxious With a brief tour under-
assertive collection of about how the record would way in the U.K. and Europe,
O songs about the In- be received in India because I Korwar will bring More
dian identity released this year think it represents a modern Arriving to India, performing
come courtesy of US-born, Lon- young Indian voice as much as at Bacardi NH7 Weekender in
don-based percussionist, drum- a global South Asian one.” Meghalaya. Previously in
mer and producer Sarathy Ko- After releasing “Mumbay” New Delhi for a set at Boxout
rwar. On his latest album More with a music video earlier Weekender in April, there’ll be
Arriving, which released in July, this year, the video for “Bol” another performance at Ech-
Korwar taps into the energy featuring Zia Ahmed and oes of Earth festival in Ben-
of MCs like Prabh Deep, Delhi classical/fusion vocalist Aditya galuru on December 7th. Ko-
Sultanate and Mawali from hip- Prakash came out portraying rwar says about India plans,
hop crew Swadesi for powerful “a South Asian person trying “The live lineup is going to
storytelling. laughably hard to integrate into be myself on drums, and two
On songs like “Coolie” and a stereotype of British society other musicians from the U.K.
“Mumbay,” there’s one part of (and failing),” as Korwar puts on sax and synths. We will be
Korwar – who was raised in more. He said in a press About three months after it. The artist conceptualized working with local MCs wher-
different parts of India – that’s statement about the sound of its release, it’s safe to say that the video’s narrative along- ever we go, so expect some
covered. From thereon, More the eight-track album, “This Korwar and his collaborators side filmmaker David Higgs. loud, heavy, punk jazz! We’re FROM TOP: COURTESY OF BOXOUT WEEKEMDER; RISHABAH SOOD
Arriving takes on a psychedelic is what Indian music sounds – Danalogue on synths (from Korwar adds, “Flipping the going to try and do the shows
jazz fusion of spoken word by like to me right now, and that U.K. psych/jazz band The narrative around in the video exactly the way we do them
Bangladesh-origin poet Zia means incorporating multiple Comet Is Coming), saxophon- was something I wanted to play in the U.K./Europe, bringing
Ahmed (“Bol,” “Mango”), sear- brown voices. If anyone has a ist Tamar Osborn and pianist with. Some of my favorite sketch the same intensity and energy
ing yet succinct ruminations problem with that, they should Al MacSween – have had a shows like Goodness Gracious that I associate jazz with here
from Mumbai rapper Trap be questioning what they think well-received album so far Me in the Nineties used this in London, to India.”
Poju (“City of Words”) and Indian music should be.” from within and outside India. technique so effectively.” ANURAG TAGAT

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