Lark's Living Room Hit List

Nitin Sawhney
Philtre





Listen to samples from Philtre
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Throw
Journey
Noches En Vela

"Nitin Sawhney is without a doubt one of the most important British-Asian artists working in the UK"
Rich Morley, Global Trance

"Free flowing and effortlessly impressive"
The London Times

Nitin Sawhney has released 7 albums of his own music, has written 25 film scores, has been commissioned to write for theatres and orchestras, and is called upon to write music for countless television ads. He has worked with Paul McCartney, Sinead O'Connor, Sting, and Cirque du Soleil. In other words, his music is pervasive and present in the popular consciousness of Britain.

His recordings and film scores have received numerous music industry awards, including the BBC Boundary Crossing Award. He is also the recipient of the Commission for Racial Equality Award.

Philtre draws you into a lush and sensuous world of contemplation. Initially Sawhney's use of differing musical genres seems to be speaking to different people, but as the album progresses, these styles like shifting light, reflect the inevitably varying moods and insights of one person.

The palette Sawhney uses:
The rhythms: a seamless blend of blues, jazz syncopation, Indian movie music, flamenco, hip-hop
The voices: both male and female pop, blues, hauntingly lovely Indian classical, as well as his own voice, which is fluid, expressive, and articulate
The instruments: blues guitar, violins, bansuri flute, western drums, piano, flamenco guitar

Here are three suggested tracks which demonstrate the breadth of Sawhney's style, lyrically expressing the same emotional questions.

#12 THROW
An R&B song, with the lead voice laid over a chorus repeating, "What we have, what we give, what we take, who we are."

#6 JOURNEY
A lyric so vulnerable, it's startling to hear it voiced out loud: "Every now and then I fall into deep thought and examination, figuring out if I really belong in this world."
This train of thought sung in the most melodious and intimate phrasing!

#10 NOCHES EN VELA
(Sleepless Nights)
Flamenco yet! This surprise utilizes the fabulous Spanish group Ojos de Brujo, complete with driving flamenco guitars and palmas (rhythmic clapping) - and add scratching!

This album bears repeated listening. My favourite songs keep changing!

For more information visit nitinsawhney.com.