Daira’s Jadoo Bastar is a musical experience to savor and cherish equally for music lovers and the musicians themselves. The exotic mix of harmony and melody that emanates from the rich blending of the local tribal music artists of the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh and the popular Mumbai based Art Rock Band Daira, well regarded for their presentation of a mix of alternative rock and Indian classical music, truly is musically and soulfully uplifting.
In a free-wheeling chat with IPRS, Daira’s Jadoo Bastar, spoke about their coming together, their musical camaraderie and their melodious future. Here are edited excerpts.
Q. Jadoo Bastar as a concept is truly unique. How did you arrive at collaborating with musicians from Bastar?
Ans.This began in May 2022 with a musical workshop that Daira was called for in Jagdalpur in the Bastar district. The workshop held at BADAL (Bastar Academy of Dance, Art and Literature) had people from around the city attend to get familiar and understand the songwriting process. During a section of the workshop a jam session was held where we collaborated with the local artists of Bastar. This led to the idea of making an album using some of the folk tunes of the area.
Q. Choosing the repertoire must have been a well thought out process. What went behind the choice you made in your set?
Ans.The choice of the songs was mainly based around the rich heritage and culture of Bastar. All five songs in the albums capture various aspects of this rich culture.
Q. Can you tell us about the making of your song Kahan Kahan from the album Jadoo Bastar? What does the song talk about in a mix of Hindi and Halbi language?
Ans.A part of “Kahan Kahan” was curated in the jam that was held during the workshop. The Halbi part of the song is a chant that is enquiring where the gods are coming from. Are they coming from the mountains or the waterfalls? The Hindi lyrics represent the voice of the gods that says: for you to find me (God) you need to look for people with a genuine heart.
Q. Can you talk us through the inherent singing and composition style in Bastar folk music? How did you blend it with your style which is quite different?
Ans.Bastar folk music originates from the Bastar region in Chhattisgarh, India, and is characterized by its rich tribal traditions. It features diverse instruments like the Todi, Mohri, Nisaan, Tudbudi, Dholak, and Flute, with performances often incorporating dance and vibrant rituals. The music is deeply intertwined with local customs, serving both entertainment and cultural expression.
Our Hindi lyricist Alok Ranjan Shrivastav was quite active on the blending front as he interacted with the lead tribal singer Lakheshwar Khudram to get a feel of the melody and the original lyrics in the melody. Daira then went on to arrange the tracks in its own distinctive style even adding the Reggae beat to transport the melody Iya Kya Hajaari / Mere Jaisa Hi into a whole new experience
Q. How has the experience helped you evolve as creators and musicians?
Ans.The entire process of making this album has been a wonderful experience as we’ve got to understand Bastar folk music in its entirety. Also, as a band we were able to witness a different side of the musical spectrum and fuse it together with the traditional tribal music of Bastar.
Q. Can you tell us some memorable incidents with the tribal artist during your interaction while making the album?
Ans.So, most of the time we spent with the folk musicians of Bastar felt like a breeze. They had tons of stories and experiences that they wanted to share with us. One moment I think all of us remember very fondly is when we had finished recording all the songs and were listening to those recordings and were focused on the sound quality and other aesthetics etc. The very next moment we saw that these guys had started dancing. At that moment all of us became carefree and started dancing with them.
Q. Halbi, Bhatri and Gondi are languages few understand but you have in a way given them a new lease of life through the album. Going forward, do you see your role as a promoter and preserver of the cultural heritage of Bastar?
Ans.Yes, we believe through this album and through the documentary as well, we have attempted to promote and preserve some of the cultural heritage of Bastar. With Live shows and events around and outside India, we are all keyed up to take this the distance in the coming times.
Q. What did you learn from the tribal musicians during your interactions?
Ans.The tribal musicians of Bastar are truly amazing and kept surprising us throughout the process. Although we couldn’t speak the same language musically, we believe, that we shared good vibes and that we understood each other quite well. They responded and reciprocated to our ideas beautifully which translated into our songs very smoothly.
Q. Tell us about IPRS Stage as a platform for your performance? How was it to perform at the serendipity festival?
Ans.Performing at the IPRS stage was a beautifully fulfilling experience. Like I said, that was the first time we performed outside Chhattisgarh and we believe there couldn’t have been a better platform to do this. The Serendipity Arts Festival was also great. It felt great to be a part of the event.
Q. How do you plan to keep this going in the coming years? Are there any musical tours planned?
Ans.Yes, we have been playing live with the full band. The IPRS Stage in Goa was the first time we performed outside Chhattisgarh, and we have plans to take the band all through the country and hopefully abroad as well.
