Manasamitra is a Yorkshire based arts organisation delivering a range of South Asian and cultural experiences in traditional and innovative ways. Their touring work Shivoham is a musical experience that seeks illumination from within. It is borne from Director Supriya Nagarajan’s experiences as someone who has synaesthesia and a desire to convey the exuberance she encounters in this through music. It subtly narrates the tale of Hindu Lord Shiva, the destroyer of evil, who sits at the top of the hierarchy of the pantheon of Indian gods and has his meditation in the forest disturbed by a pair of lovers.
Alongside a backing track of music composed by Shri Sriram, Shri himself plays a unique style of fretless handmade bass. This includes bending notes for a raga style effect, sliding up and down the strings, tapping the body of the bass table style, and even playing with a bow to a more classical effect. It is this fusion of styles and techniques that makes Shivoham so unique.
In a musical partnership with Shri is Ben Castle, son of legendary entertainer Roy. Ben plays bass clarinet and saxophone and despite coming form a big band and traditional jazz background manages to beautifully complement Shri’s sounds with ethereal and esoteric sax-playing that is as mysterious as Shivoham’s subject.
Then on top of this somes some enchanting and entrancing Carnatic singing from Supriya Nagarajan. Supriya explains there is no real necessity to understand the lyrics of the piece as the narrative comes from the emotions the trio create. The combination is fluid and hypnotic, allowing us to drift off into imaginary dreamlike mystical worlds. There is an intense purity throughout, though not always serene and beatific, at times there is a more frantic and frenetic energy.
My personal favourite section is a rivalry of two flutes, Ben’s metallic Western instrument, Shri’s wooden flute associated with the East, and there is a witty and humorous banter and dialogue between the two. The use of improvisation and the intimacy of the surroundings make this a profoundly personal spiritual experience. For a novice to Hindustani music like myself I would label this as ‘chill out’ if that didn’t conjure the muzak of panpipes in a hotel lobby. But this is a real opportunity to see the beauty of Indian aesthetics located within a contemporary British context.
A Creative Scene tour reviewed at Dewsbury District Golf Club, 25 June
Manasamitra are currently touring ‘Lullaby, The Singing Bowl’, a contemporary exploration of night-time sounds from around the world interspersed with lullabies from India.
Lullaby – The Singing Bowl: tour dates
6th July – Garforth Festival
26th September – Batley Festival
21st November – York Minster
Click here to read Rich Jevons’ interview with Ben Castle on The State of the Arts.