Liquid reality Facilities of musicians around the world. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A new fusion album combines Indian classical tradition with global sounds. Brooklyn-based musician, record maker and sarodist Anupam Shobkar Liquid reality Releasing on March 14, coincides with the festival of Holi which symbolizes a sense of solidarity.

Anupam has also studied Western classical music and demonstrated interesting cross-over projects. “I just wanted to expand the scope of Sarod as an Indian classical tool,” they say, talking about the idea behind Liquid reality,

And so, Anupam began writing the album, for which he collaborated with a dress of global talent including Swaminathan Selvaganesh, Satoshi Techishi, Gumbi Ortis, Santiago Libson and Utsav Lal.

“The album continued to populate myself with calm music ideas derived from my learning and imbibing from diverse music styles,” Anupam says.

Anupam started his music journey while playing the guitar. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In a track ‘Hey Ghalib’ dedicated to Mirza Ghalib, Shobkar has given Ghazal a jazz perspective, with complex harmony and interesting rhythm cycles. ‘Anjaneya’ has been inspired on the drums of young Kanjira artist Swaminathan Selvaganash (grandson of mythological Vikku Vinayakram) and Satoshi Techishi. ‘Laders to the Sky’, which features Barcelona -born singer Ona Kerry and Perkusinist Gumbi Ortis, brings to the nature of a Brazil. ‘Allless’ has included Anupam in Swaminathan for an enthusiastic couple. In addition, the Indian Pianoist Utsav Lal, located in Brooklyn near Anupam, has given his distinct touch on the iconic ‘La Danese Do Bonhoor’ of the misconduct.

Anupam is from a family of Hindustani musicians belonging to Miahar Gharana. “Music was always at home.” However, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, growing as a “Bombay Kid”, Anupam Guitar’s virtuous Eddie Van Halan, who was deeply influenced by the depth of Satriane and Allen Holdsworth. Being a full “guitar stupid”, he started playing instruments as a child. “The circles had a diverse scene of American guitar music that I grew up in Juhu. With my friends, it was always western, jazz and rock music, ”he remembers.

At the age of 16, Shobkar attended a concert by Ustad Ali Akbar Khan at the National Center for Performing Arts in Mumbai. The evening turned to a lifetime moment for him-he decided to keep the guitar down and play sarod. Subsequently, his father received his first sarod from Kolkata.

Anupam trained in Sarod under Ustad Ashish Khan. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

It was Ustad Ashish Khan who took Anupam under his wings and opened the doors of Indian music. “Lived in the West and worked with many musicians, including Beatles, they had a wonderful open mind that echoed with someone like me,” says Anupam. His greatest memory is going to Mahar with his guru, where Anupam in his study received the honor of practicing Ustad Allauddin Khan. “Ustadji (Ashish Khan) was like a family member, and I know everything about Sarad today. I stayed with him for months, traveling and performing, ”he reminds him.

But as soon as he reached the depth in Sarod, Anupam found himself remembering his guitar. This was the grain goddess who advised her to follow her way. This inspired him to commission Kalima, a Bispoke double-neck guitar, with a quarrel for manifestations such as a fierce neck and sarod for Western techniques. “I really came to me in a dream, or perhaps it was always sprouting in my subconscious,” they say.