Rootless comes with timeless and audaciously original sound. Their debut single, “Rakitaki Tanana,” is a cultural manifesto that encapsulates the group’s mission to merge traditions and global sounds. Deep at heart, the track is alive with energetic Indian vibes melting together with the fiery pulse of Romani instrumentation. Written by Matus and David, and with lyrics partly written under the mentoring of the influential Pakistani-British producer Sarmad Ghafoor, the song boasts a cross-cultural dynamic with instant appeal. Ghafoor not only translated the lyrics but also added his production flair, providing “Rakitaki Tanana” with its undeniable polish and depth.
Driving the performance is Karan’s soaring voice, constantly rising through the track like a beckoning command, lifting each note into the air as if into a chant of freedom. And below that, the rhythm section is pulsing with sincerity and fire. Sodhi’s intricate tabla work adds dimension and a particular kind of dialogue to the piece. At the same time, Prince’s commanding dhol becomes the song’s heart, a tethering line that roots its energy in place with iron-clad conviction.
And what is powerful about “Rakitaki Tanana,” a tribute to the resourceful and embedded classic drumming tradition that the song reframes for contemporary ears, is that it neither sanitizes nor romanticizes the social and cultural phenomenon, while revering fascinating time-tested traditions. The tabla/dhol interplay not only holds the song together, it drives it, establishing a kinetic tension where Far East mystique runs head-on into Romani fire. This is not fusion for fusion’s sake; it’s an actual meeting of cultures and languages and instruments crashing together to create something different and new.
For a first album, Rootless has accomplished what many spend their careers chasing. They have a sound of their own. With “Rakitaki Tanana,” they’ve laid the groundwork for a musical trajectory filled with innovation and reverence for the roots they spring from. It’s a track that sounds like it was born to reverberate across international stages, and in the hearts of audiences desperate for music that resonates.
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