Delhi-based artist SafarRang has unveiled his debut EP, ‘Notes From The Dark,’ on August 29, 2024. This 4-track EP, described as ‘alternative fusion,’ offers a rich and eclectic musical experience, drawing from SafarRang’s extensive musical journey and diverse influences.
‘Each of the songs is from a completely different universe, and it feels extremely satisfying to have had some of Delhi’s most seasoned musicians feature on the songs that needed them’, says SafarRang.
The EP opens with ‘World,’ a track that starts with dark, ominous tones and the lyric “Oh the world is ugly.” Lo-fi drones and an industrial piano vibe are contrasted by celebratory shehnai sounds. The harmonium adds a heady Sufi-ness, symbolizing a life-affirming bond and precarious optimism, culminating in an extended vocal dialogue with the shehnai. Ritwik De of Ghar Ka Studios and the man behind acts Tankbund, Zokova and The Yellow Bucket has produced and played on the EP,
‘What Ritwik brought was a unique musical sensitivity, working with him was an extraordinary
experience. I think having grown up in Delhi around the same time, and in the music circuit, the collaboration naturally worked well.’
The second track, the only Hindi song on the EP, is an ode to love and separation. SafarRang’s mellow vocals, supported by a Hindustani couplet and a radiant arrangement of the piano, the swarmandal, harmonium, guitar, drums, and Dhruv Bedi splashing on shades of Raga Bageshree on his Sitar. A recurring theme throughout ‘Notes from The Dark’ is the journey from words to a musical vocalism, explored through genre-bending passages, particularly prominent on ‘Drop Fear,’ the third song, blending rock’n’roll, funk, punk, and grunge, crunchy guitars blending with the sounds of the swarmandal.
The final track, ‘Hold On’ is a nostalgic nod to the early Indian indie rock sound of the early 2000s. Advaita’s Mohit Lal, son of Kathak pioneer Pandit Durga Lal, drives the song with his veering patterns on the tabla, building to the powerful chorus of “Hold on, because the dawn isn’t far.”
About the artist, born into a musical family, SafarRang has collaborated with musicians from both classical and contemporary traditions of the East and the West. SafarRang is strangely rooted in the world of Hindustani music and poetry. The influences however, are countless. Elements from contemporary Western idioms, Grunge, Punk, Progressive Rock, Jazz, RnB all weigh in heavily on the musical expression, while the narrative style of the Western classical world, opera and its dramatist touch and an orchestral flavor in the compositions are never far away either. The binding touch though, remains the lyricism, expansiveness and leisurely balance of the Hindustani khayal tradition.
With ‘Notes from The Dark,’ cover art by Hideo Daikoku, Bhanu Sharma aims to continue pushing the boundaries of modern Indian musical expression. ‘Notes From the Dark’ is available on all major streaming platforms starting August 29, 2024.
Listen to Notes From The Dark by SafarRang on Spotify:
This article is based solely on information provided to us via a press release from the artist.
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