| ABOUT
THE MUSIC
While
Indian art music (classical) is well known in the west, Project
Mastana explores the vast riches of India's lesser known folk
and devotional traditions (qawaali, bhangra, raas-garba) as
well as the "music of the millions" -- India's popular music,
topping UK pop charts and legendary for it's cross-cultural
appeal.
This
music is rarely heard outside the immigrant community enclaves
where it is a source of great nostalgia. As it turns out,
Indians are not alone in their nostalgia for these songs!
Since the 60s, Indian films -- rich with music and dance --
were popular in places as distant as Africa, Greece, Russia
and England, creating generations of Indian music fans far
beyond India's borders.
Whereas
the London underground music scene of the 90s fused these
influences with electronica, Mastana heads off in a direction
quite its own, blending Indian music with world influences
at a roots music level. These are not DJ remixed versions
of the originals, rather, these songs from South Asia, are
rearranged, reinterpreted. We are revisionists in the best
sense of the word, looking to update where needed and bring
the essence of this music to a larger audience. Employing
real instruments and real music, Mastana lets the music speak
for itself.
And
speak it does. Show after show, audiences delight us with
their overwhelming and vigorous response to the music with
dance -- a sure sign that they agree: music is understanding
beyond explanationÉ Now, who wants to dance?
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