Many Roots Ensemble is a Mumbai-based band that defies musical boundaries. Their sound is a fusion of Afrobeat, funk, disco, hip-hop, R&B, and jazz, along with classical & Ethiopian influences. The ensemble's music is a celebration of diversity, rejecting the constraints of genre and embracing a global sonic palette. Their approach to music is as boundless as their curiosity, making them an eclectic force in the contemporary music landscape. After performing at festivals like the NH7 Weekender, Echoes of Earth, the Delhi Jazz Weekender and Magnetic fields, the outfit has released their debut album, 'Echoes of Origins'.
This multi-genre album encompasses the band's sound and the music they're inspired by while covering a variety of global genres. Featuring collaborations with some of India's top independent musicians like MC Mawali, RANJ & Shirish Malhotra, it transcends geographical and musical boundaries and highlights the group’s ability to blend diverse influences into a cohesive and captivating listening experience.
Echoes of Origins is a journey and an invitation to explore the world through sound. The album opens with the infectious 'Initiation Dance', a pulsating Afrobeat number featuring the dynamic vocals of MC Mawali. This high-energy track serves as an introduction to the ensemble’s sonic palette, characterized by its rhythmic complexity and tasteful grooves. With tracks like 'Urban Junglist', we’re taken into an almost menacing landscape. It’s a moody and atmospheric piece that blends elements of jazz and hip-hop. The interplay between the saxophone and the rhythmic section creates a dark and mysterious cocoon, inviting listeners into a world of shadows and intrigue.
The album also showcases the ensemble’s softer side. 'Fault in Thy Heart' is a soulful R&B ballad featuring the smooth vocals of RANJ and Sampriti. The track's mellow nature provides a welcome respite from the album's more energetic moments, allowing listeners to connect on a deeper emotional level. 'Valhalla' is an unpredictable & adventurous, jazz-infused instrumental that showcases the band’s improvisational abilities. The album concludes with 'Ethio-Todi', a captivating exploration of Ethiopian and Indian classical music, featuring the talents of tenor saxophonist Shirish Malhotra.
Many Roots Ensemble's Echoes of Origins is a statement of intent. The band's commitment to pushing musical boundaries is evident in every track, and their ability to create music that is both accessible and challenging speaks to the craft that they have mastered over the years. This is an album that rewards repeated listens; revealing new layers of complexity and depth with each playthrough. After marinating in the same old formulas that configure contemporary pop music, Many Roots Ensemble feel like a breath of fresh air. They're showing us what homegrown music is capable of when it dares to go beyond the tried, tested, and established.
Follow Many Roots Ensemble here.
Listen to their album below.
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