Nitin Sawhney Talks Of His Journey From Beyond Skin To Immigrants
GQ India|February 2020
The age of unreason is upon us, but British- Indian musician and composer Nitin Sawhney demonstrates a world of co-existence by tirelessly creating more of his amorphous, borderless music.
Nidhi Gupta
Nitin Sawhney Talks Of His Journey From Beyond Skin To Immigrants

The Caucasian man in white kurta pyjamas in front of me is practically writhing in his seat. Champagne slopping around in his flute, he’s moved from a cross-legged position into one where both feet are planted on the ground, his shoulders and torso rippling as Nitin Sawhney and band bring their track “Homelands” to its crescendo. He isn’t the only one: The rapture is shot through the semi-circle of Sawhney’s audience at the Kila in Vana, Dehradun, this winter evening.

Sawhney, sitting on a high chair on a makeshift stage thrown over a drained pool, is on his own plane of ecstasy. To introduce the song, he’d told us half an anecdote about wondering why his parents – his father from Lahore, mother from Jalandhar – moved to the UK. “The real homeland is internal,” he’d said, “and until we realise this, we won’t find it.” That sombre note did not prepare us for the sheer joy the song carries. As Ashwin Srinivasan and Nicki Wells vocalise the seven notes of the Indian scale over a curtain of violin and tabla beats, Sawhney’s long fingers flutter expertly over an acoustic guitar, head bobbing along energetically, a giant grin on his face.

“Homelands” is the third song on Beyond Skin, Sawhney’s seminal 1999 album. Considered among the greatest records of the 20th century, it stood out for its syncretic mash of sounds and instruments from around the world – thumri meets country grooves, Bengali folk meets drum ‘n’ bass, rap meets Carnatic – as for its boldness and political acuity.

この記事は GQ India の February 2020 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は GQ India の February 2020 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

GQ INDIAのその他の記事すべて表示
The 30 Best Watches Of 2024
GQ India

The 30 Best Watches Of 2024

Rounding up the best shapes, materials, complications and sizes from this year's horological novelty treasure chest.

time-read
10+ 分  |
October - November 2024
Wes Lang's Heroes of Love...
GQ India

Wes Lang's Heroes of Love...

Last month, LA-based artist Wes Lang unveiled The Black Paintings, a monumental series of works that play like storyboards to a raucous midnight horror movieand a spiritual quest. Here, GQ collaborates with the artist on a fashion story that brings his stylish characters off the canvas.

time-read
8 分  |
October - November 2024
The Miraculous Resurrection of Notre Dame
GQ India

The Miraculous Resurrection of Notre Dame

In 2019, a fire nearly destroyed the crown jewel of France-and the nation set a breakneck five-year deadline to bring it back from the ashes. This is the story of how an army of artisans turned back centuries to restore Notre-Dame by hand, and wound up reviving something even greater than the cathedral itself.

time-read
10+ 分  |
October - November 2024
"IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PERFECT. IT'S ABOUT BEING REVOLUTIONARY."
GQ India

"IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PERFECT. IT'S ABOUT BEING REVOLUTIONARY."

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter talks business, legacy, art, and family

time-read
10+ 分  |
October - November 2024
The Wedding Singers
GQ India

The Wedding Singers

Madboy Mink's dynamic duo, Saba Azad and Imaad Shah, redefine festive style.

time-read
5 分  |
October - November 2024
A Watch Is More Than Just a Pretty Face
GQ India

A Watch Is More Than Just a Pretty Face

As collectors look to make their grail watches stand out, they're turning to unique vintage bracelets and paying thousands on thousands for straps on the secondary market.

time-read
3 分  |
October - November 2024
The Fluidity of Cartier
GQ India

The Fluidity of Cartier

Why Gen Z stars are obsessed with this historic maison.

time-read
2 分  |
October - November 2024
A Princess with Passion
GQ India

A Princess with Passion

From restoring monuments to reviving hereditary crafts, Bhavnagar's Brijeshwari Kumari Gohil has her sights on the future.

time-read
6 分  |
October - November 2024
THE FUTURE SOUNDS LIKE AT EEZ
GQ India

THE FUTURE SOUNDS LIKE AT EEZ

The Coachella-slaying, multi-language-singing, genre-obliterating members of Ateez are quickly becoming load-bearing stars of our global pop universe.

time-read
10 分  |
August - September 2024
DEMNA UNMASKED
GQ India

DEMNA UNMASKED

He's the most influential designer of the past decade. He's also the most controversial. Now the creative director of Balenciaga is exploring a surprising source of inspiration: happiness. GQ's Samuel Hine witnesses the dawn of Demna's new era, in Paris, New York, and Shanghai. Photographs by Jason Nocito.

time-read
10+ 分  |
August - September 2024