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News |  31 Jan 2015 14:36 |  By RnMTeam

Ghazalaw to release album in "autumn"

MUMBAI: Ghazalaw will soon release its eponymously-titled debut album ‘Ghazalaw’ in "autumn" as revealed by Welsh singer-songwriter Gwyneth Glyn. Ghazalaw is made of Mumbai-based Ghazal singer Tauseef Akhtar and Glyn. Through Ghazalaw, they aspire to weave their love of poetry of their two ancient traditions together, celebrating the affinity between Indian Ghazal and the Welsh folk traditional music.

Excited about performing in Mumbai as a part of the ‘Ghazal Bahaar’ line-up, Glyn spoke to Radioandmusic.com about Ghazalaw’s upcoming tour. Glyn said, "Through touring around England and India, the focus is promoting the album. We plan to release the album in autumn, while touring will commence in November."

"Each song develops in its unique way. Whenever Tauseef sings an alaap (the improvised section of a raga, forming a prologue to the formal expression) or a note, I try and remember an old traditional Welsh song," Glyn further added when asked about how the music of Ghazalaw develops especially since it is a combination of ghazals and traditional Welsh folk music.

Glyn also said that the instruments mainly used in the album are harp, tabla, guitar and harmonium. However, she said, "We have barely scratched the surface of the vast variety of musical instruments available in India. We are very open to experimenting with instrumentation. Even if the harp is known as the ‘Sound of Wales’, I am very intrigued by string instruments in India, like the sarod, sitar and the tanpura."

Ghazalaw performed at the Kolkata Book Fair recently, which had been facilitated by British Council India. Glyn said that she was completely taken aback by the audience’s response of the performance that she is already looking at exploring opportunities to return to India soon. "What excited me most was that the younger audience seemed to really like our music. So much so, that I saw them tweeting and updating their posts on Facebook and telling their friends to check out our music. Such a response from young audiences is very exciting," she stated.

Glyn also said that she was first exposed to Indian music when she heard Pandit Ravi Shankar playing. She further emphasised that Ghazalaw is open to exploring the sound of the sarod, in particular.

Before the Kolkata Book Fair, Ghazalaw performed last year as a part of the Horizons tour across Wales, joining the African music and dance troupe Ballet Nimba. "It felt really relaxing coming out and getting to know other musicians," said Glyn. Horizons tour had artists perform from all over Wales at four different regions simultaneously.

Ghazalaw is set to perform at the Ghazal Bahaar at the Rang Sharda auditorium in Mumbai on 31 January and 1 February. Tickets are available on bookmyshow.

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