A true woman of the world, Ahluwalia was born in India and grew up in Toronto, Canada and her musical choices reflect her personal dichotomy. She is a well-trained exponent of an ancient style of romantic song known as gha... more »zal, which began in Persia (now Iran) at least a millennium ago before spreading to India. She performs classic folkloric material but has also found important collaborators in her own backyard, Canadian-based poets of South Asian ancestry whose erotic lyrics dovetail seamlessly into her songs. Musically, she hones in on her heritage with drones, chimes and traditional drumming. But these are modernized with splashy guitars, earthy bass lines, and swirling, syncopated riffs from the great Natalie MacMaster , who sounds for all the world like a Cape Breton Celtic fiddler playing ghazals - exquisitely. Cross-cultural experiments aside, it is the singer who at once grounds the project and launches it into another dimension. Her honeyed, sensuous and resonantly nasal voice recalls the great dames of Bollywood and honors centuries of anonymous ghazal interpreters, whose legacy is resurrected and glorified in this graceful, fearless young artist. --Christina Roden« less
A true woman of the world, Ahluwalia was born in India and grew up in Toronto, Canada and her musical choices reflect her personal dichotomy. She is a well-trained exponent of an ancient style of romantic song known as ghazal, which began in Persia (now Iran) at least a millennium ago before spreading to India. She performs classic folkloric material but has also found important collaborators in her own backyard, Canadian-based poets of South Asian ancestry whose erotic lyrics dovetail seamlessly into her songs. Musically, she hones in on her heritage with drones, chimes and traditional drumming. But these are modernized with splashy guitars, earthy bass lines, and swirling, syncopated riffs from the great Natalie MacMaster , who sounds for all the world like a Cape Breton Celtic fiddler playing ghazals - exquisitely. Cross-cultural experiments aside, it is the singer who at once grounds the project and launches it into another dimension. Her honeyed, sensuous and resonantly nasal voice recalls the great dames of Bollywood and honors centuries of anonymous ghazal interpreters, whose legacy is resurrected and glorified in this graceful, fearless young artist. --Christina Roden
"Anyone who loves the poems of Rumi, the classical music of Persia as interpreted by Kaylan Kahlour on the kemenche, and the different makams and modes expressed in Turkish Sufi music, will appreciate this modern CD based on the beautiful ancient vocal and musical traditions of India. As described in the liner notes, ghazals are originally poems, which are set to music and become songs. Kiran Ahluwalia rediscovered this creative art form and designed music to accompany the words of modern day Indian poets. Her inspiration was the discovery of poems written in Urdu and Punjabi by three Toronto Canadian residents of Indian descent.
This CD contains superb renditions of magnificent poetry ... the music is played on both traditional [tanpura, tabla, sarangi. flute, shaker and claps] and modern instruments [drums, guitar, harmonium, and fiddle] which melt together into exhilarating passionate lyrical expressions. I love the sound of the words, sung in Punjabi and the Urdu languages and the sensuous vocals by Kiran. Her voice is mysterious ... containing a tinge of velvet, the softness of silk and the sheen of satin. The music is vibrant, lively and flirtatious. The essence of love is revealed through a myriad of musical stylistic expressions and a rainbow of emotion-filled poetic lyrical phrases. This CD captures the soul of traditional Indian music interpreting it for lovers of ethnic music. Erika Borsos (erikab93)"
Original Voice with sweet and new flavor of Ghazal
kubera | New york, NY United States | 12/10/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I listened to Kiran's Interview on NPR and was mesmerized with her voice and the newness among Ghazal collections. I immediately iTuned these and later reading her bio - Kiran has undergone extensive study in Indian classical music, and then I was not surprised at the ease and flow in her voice which accompanies the renditions. A wonderful treat and I hope others get to experience the same."
Superb New Artist!
fj | Toronto | 06/06/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Kiran Ahluwalia has put together an enchanting compilation of pieces which make traditional music of the Indian subcontinent accessible to the modern Western audience. The addition of Rez Abassi's guitar adds richness and texture to Kiran's already beautiful music."
Reminds me of another current favorite
nmlhats | Dallas | 11/21/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The music on this album is wonderful and varied in feel--humor, longing, celebration, romance. I, too, first heard her on NPR but it took me a long time to finally pick up this CD. I listen to it often...love to put Kiran A. in a 5-cd random shuffle with Cesaria Evora, Lila Downs, Sanseverino, and Bebel Gilberto! A great international mix that puts me in a good mood.
If you want to try something else with the Indian flavor that reminds me very much of this group of songs, the instrumentation & lyrics, do check out the Indian film soundtrack of "Omkara" (a fantastic Hindi modern-day adaptation of Othello) by Vishal Bharwadj and Gulzar. The music for the film (to me) has the feeling of Kiran's CD, with the harkening back to traditional sounds but in an updated fashion, with great instrumentation and beautiful lyrics, delivered by great players and singers."
Full Bodied Bliss!
Alice Violet | Winsted, CT | 12/16/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Full Bodied Sound, pleasing in so many ways...I love the blissful layers of ecstatic sound. Vocals and instrumentals are like nothing I had ever heard! ...find it uplifting & innocently intoxicating."