Bridging between Indian Classical and Western Music
Mauli Shah, Lifestyle Editor
Cross cultural music or fusion music has often produced the most unique tunes and is relatable to a larger audience. Some of the most unique tunes are made when Indian classical and Western music come together to make a phenomenon. It has gained a lot of popularity recently, but it is not a new concept because there were collaborations since the 1960’s and 70’s. This also led to the development of a new genre known as “raga rock” and musicians like The Beatles, Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead were one of the first ones to use Indian instruments in their music.
To make fusion music, we also get very unexpected collaborations like the one between Pandit Ravi Shankar, a renowned Indian classical musician, and George Harrison, the lead guitarist of The Beatles. This led to an album named “Shankar Family & Friends” which had a smashing success. the tunes were refreshing, and the blend of music received a lot of appreciation.
Indo Western music blend didn’t stick to one path; multiple collaborations led to some amazing tunes which fuse some unanticipated genres. One successful collaboration was between Indian classical musician Zakir Hussain and jazz pianist John McLaughlin. This resulted in the formation of the band “Shakti,” which combine Indian Classical Music with jazz. Another Indian musician is Karsh Kale who does a fusion of Indian Classical Music, hip-hop, and electronica. Also, sitar player Anoushka Shankar, daughter of Pandit Ravi Shankar blends Indian Classical Music with Western jazz and pop. These fusions have also led to the emergence of new genres such as “Indie fusion” and “Indo-jazz.”
Photo Credit: Dark Horse Records
