SHILLONG BAND SUMMERSALT SCALE LEARNING CURVES FOR NEW ALBUM

The band is readying a diverse 11-track release called ‘Kliar’

- DAVID BRITTO

WHEN WE arrive at Mumbai’s Yash Raj Films Studios to chat with multilingual Shillong folk fusion band Summersalt about their 11-track sophomore album Kliar, singer-guitarist Kitkupar Shangpliang is in the midst of cutting his vocal parts for their song “Captivate Me.” The band, formed in 2006, has been working tirelessly over the past week in putting together a record that melds Khasi culture, rock, jazz, soul, R&B and more under the watchful eye of sound engineer Shantanu Hudlikar.

Summersalt comprises Kit, Duitara (four-stringed Khasi folk instrument) player and keyboardist Adorbha Shangpliang, guitarist Gregory Ford Nongrum, vocalist Pynsuklin Syiemiong, drummer Dawadhok Shanpliang, and bassist Baiaineh Shangpliang. “All of us have had our own musical journeys and we came together because some of us have had the experience of working outside and studying outside and having learned all the cultures of the other places, we realized how valuable our culture can be to the outside world,” says Kit.