Kabir chose us: Raman Iyer

In the time of Bollywood songs and international pop numbers, “Kabirpanti” has become a dying art form with a very niche following among classical musicians and folk singers, explains Raman Iyer of Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Cafe. The neo-fusion band has set out to change this scenario, with the belief that Sant Kabir’s message holds as true today as it did in his time. By mixing the immortal message of Kabir with modern genres of music like rock and reggae, the band has acquired quite a following among the youth. “We still try to maintain a basic folk feel and follow the same school of Kabir singing as our guruji and true inspiration, Shri Prahladsingh Tipaniya,” says Raman Iyer, who plays the mandolin in the band.

The band has been busy adding touches to its first ever music album, which consists of 11 songs and one new instrumental piece based on the Carnatic raga, Dhanushree. The album is all set to come out in mid-August. “A number of the songs we have recorded are completely new and we have also given a whole new spin to some of our older tracks,” says Raman. The band has tried to create a more acoustic feel in the album tracks than what one would usually experience at their concerts. Although they have coordinated with studio engineer, Nitin Joshi, for the album, the band is producing their music independently.

Viren Solinki, the band’s percussionist recalls the fun and experimental side of the recording process, including making instruments sound wholly different from their regular style. “There is a part with a nagada in one of the songs but I played the timbale (a reggae instrument) and the tabla’s bayas to create the sound,” he says. Bassist Poubuanpou Britto KC also stepped out of his comfort zone and played a number of other instruments like the acoustic and electric guitar as well as the keyboard, adding a distinct Western feel to Kabir Café’s music. “I also experimented with the tempo of one of the songs, You Ka Tu, where I thought the words of the song would be conveyed better if the song was slowed down.”

It is not just with the instrumental section that Kabir Cafe has tried some new ideas. Neeraj also pushed the boundaries by collaborating with a number of male and female choir singers from Pune. “I was not entirely sure what the sound would be like because they are from a completely Western background. I have also not been the lead vocal for a choir before,” Neeraj explains. “Once we started collaborating though, I realised that they gave more depth to the songs. It was a great experience and now I hope we can work with them again.”

Raman looks back on the journey that each member went through before they became a part of Kabir Cafe. “Aside from Britto, each of us had some connection to Kabir even before joining the band. I knew Kabir bhajans, Viren has a Kabirpanti background, as his father and grandfather sang Kabir songs, and Mukund, who is our guide when it comes to the technicalities, was moved by his verses. It is only when we met Neeraj that we realised Kabir could be presented in this way too. I believe that we did not choose Kabir but it’s Kabir who chose us.”