MUMBAI: Delhi-based Hindustani classical fusion band, Raagleela, is finally ready with enough material to release its first full length studio album, as revealed by drummer Vaibhav Ahuja. He also added that the band, which was one of the finalists of ‘leapFROG to Coke Studio @ MTV’ back in 2013, is planning to release the album later this year.
The yet-untitled album, as Ahuja said, will consist of nine songs, including previously heard tracks and brand new material. “We are currently making a few changes to some parts in few songs; just refining and adding musical layers where required. We are also writing new material simultaneously,” stated Ahuja. He also said that there will be three tracks on the album that the band has never played before.
One of those three songs will be the band’s first single, he revealed. “This track is slightly heavy in nature, and we refrain from playing heavy tracks while performing live. Therefore, many have not heard this one yet. We have finished the structure of the track, just left with the refining, which should be done soon,” Ahuja added. He also said that the band plans to release a music video for the same, which will be a live recording of the band performing the track in one single take. The single and the music video will be released in the next three months.
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When asked whether previously released tracks such as ‘Ghode’, ‘Ire’ or ‘Delirium’ will be included on the band’s debut album, Ahuja replied, “Both ‘Ghode’ and ‘Ire’ have already been recorded and released, so those two will not be on the album. However, tracks such as ‘Delirium’ and ‘More Nindiya’ will be included. Those tracks, the versions you hear on SoundCloud, are mostly live recordings. We are refining all the tracks and releasing them.” Ahuja also added that the plan is to release the album independently.
Joining Ahuja in the band are Prateek Narsimha (Hindustani classical vocals), Sarthak Pahwa (percussion), Sagar Chawla (piano, keys, effects), Roshan Roy (bass, backing vocals) and Sarthak Joshi (lead guitars). Ahuja also said that Roy, the band’s new bassist, is replacing Madhur Chaudhary. “Roshan is still learning the ropes and at the same time, the band is also getting used to him. So, once everyone gets the sound right, we go into recording,” added Ahuja.
The band’s name ‘Raagleela’ literally translates to ‘playing with the ragas’; ‘ragas’ being the system of musical notation and scales, and revered as the essence of Hindustani classical music. The band fuses Hindustani classical with jazz, funk, blues and lounge. The band’s musical influences range from Karsh Kale, Anoushka Shankar, Prem Joshua to Hiatus Kaiyote, Pink Floyd, Advaita, Porcupine Tree and many more. Raagleela has performed and won at numerous college level festivals, including the prestigious Mood Indigo, and has also performed at blueFROG in Delhi and Mumbai.
Ahuja also said that the band plans to focus on the new record, which is why it will have fewer live appearances.
