UK collborates with best of India's new alternative musicians
India Soundpad is an ambitious new project from the British Council and the University of Westminster’s Faculty Music label (John & Jehn). The project aims to encourage creative collaboration between the emerging alternative music scenes in India and the UK.
International connections through legendary production
The India Soundpad project brings together the legendary British music producer John Leckie (Stone Roses, Radiohead, Muse) with the most exciting, original and emerging Indian artists. It has been a unique opportunity for the two countries and two musical industries to connect, collaborate and create.
John Leckie auditioned many bands in India in 2008 to select four to record with him. The successful four were given the opportunity to record tracks with Leckie and Dan Austin at the prestigious Yash Raj studios in Andheri (West) Mumbai. As a result of these studio sessions, two tracks from each of the India Soundpad bands: Indigo Children, Medusa, Swarathma and Advaita - were released as a digital album on 12 May through Faculty Music.
The four bands appeared at The Great Escape Festival in May as well as in a series of concerts across the UK.
While each of the Soundpad bands have their own unique sound, they are all key in the growing alternative music scene in India. Some draw upon traditional Indian classical and folk traditions with others more influenced by contemporary western music.
Read the BBC report.
