Raman's music can inspire us all

By Jay Sreekumar

The ones who love to listen to rock and folk and dance to its beats would perhaps go for U2 or Bob Dylan.

People who prefer Carnatic music or Indian classical would ideally stick with MS Subbulakshmi or TN Seshagopalan.

What if someone wants a mix of the two or if someone else feels too bored with either that he wants to hear something different. Something unique. You still have an answer – Susheela Raman.

Born in Hendon, London, the talented musician has her ancestral roots in India. Every since she was a child, she developed a passion for all kinds of music and started working on its possibilities.

She has released four albums so far, each revealing the craft in her trade – a brand of music that is so original, so refreshing, so captivating.

Raman’s band includes musicians from all over the world – Cameroonian bassist Hilaire Penda, Guinea-Bissau born percussionist Djanuno Dabo, American drummer Marque Gilmore, British-Asian tabla player Aref Durvesh and British guitarist and producer Sam Mills.

Most of her songs are in English and offers a variety that no other kind of music has had in recent years. Her music is a rare mix of Indian Ragas and Western harmonies.

Salt Rain (2001), Love Trap (2003), Music for Crocodiles (2005), 33 1/3 (2007) are the four albums released so far. Her first album, Salt Rain, won her the best newcomer award from BBC Radio 3. She was also short-listed for UK ’s Mercury Music Prize in the same year. The album is a wonderful blend of traditional Tamil music and contemporary jazz-folk and pop style.

Salt Rain (2001)