music
There’s a myriad of consultants and advisors involved in the making of a movie, especially when, like in this project, we want to get things just so, both historically and aesthetically.
Our very first step therefore, almost before the development of the story and writing of the screenplay, was to reach out and contact the very foundations of the concept - percussionists, tabla-making masters, musical experts and composers.
Here’s who we’ve been talking to so far:
bashiri “bash” johnson - new york
We are proud and excited to be able to say that our project has drawn the kind attention of one of the leading percussionists in the world -
NYC-based Bashiri “Bash” Johnson.
Over his illustrious career, Bashiri has recorded and/or performed with Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Whitney Houston, Donald Fagen, Madonna, Steve Winwood, Rolling Stones, Celine Dion, Rancid, Angelique Kidjo, Gloria Estefan, Paul Simon, Barbara Streisand, Spice Girls, Miles Davis, Ray Charles, Jay Z, Eric Clapton, Sade, Lionel Richie, Kenny Garrett, Aretha Franklin, Sting, Queen, Gypsy Kings, Laura Nyro, Peter Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Nina Simone, Herbie Hancock, Luther Vandross, among many others.
He’s most kindly expressed interest in developing the musical ideas put forward in “LoveBeats” and pushing the state of the art when it comes to leading-edge rhythm.
CONFIRMED!
qasim khan niyazi - delhi
“This drum is the key. It is tuned to the vibration between love and death”
- Prayajeet Kumar Ananda
In the hands of a master drummer,
a master-maker’s tabla resonates with our souls.
Qasim Khan Niyazi, from Hyderabad, India,
has been making Tablas all his life.
He learned the art of Tabla crafting from
Ustad Akbar Mian Hyderabadi as a child
before setting out to create a new recipe
for the Siyahi or tuning paste to increase sustain,
tone and longevity of his instruments.
This became a 40-year journey
to innovating and improving the quality of his instruments,
as well as a tone matched by no other maker.
We welcome Master Niyazi and his team
to the project, and hope that our efforts
will be worthy of his kind patronage.
