Music on the go!

For a few of the musicians, it was their maiden flight that brought them to Mumbai to perform their latest collaboration, but Rajasthan-based music group Dharohar is already going places with their unique combination of rural Rajasthani folk music and beat boxing.

Led by UK-based beat boxer Jason Singh, the music group that is deeply rooted in traditional Rajasthani music is soon going to UK for a tour. And if sources are to be believed, the group will soon be travelling to Portugal and Spain too to enthrall the audience.

Formed almost two years ago, the evolution of the group has been a challenge, especially in terms of means of communication. Manchester-based Jason who confesses he knows very few words of Hindi admits, “We had a few challenges, the biggest of all was the language. We did not know how to communicate for our workshops and collaborations.”

Several members of the group who belong to rural parts of Rajasthan only speak a distinct Rajasthani dialect but are learning to adapt to the urban world outside. Jason points out, “When Jumma Khan stood by the aeroplane clutching his boarding pass, it was an emotional moment. He was the first member of his family to board a flight. There are others like him.”

Interestingly, seeing the potential of the group, British Council-India has stepped in to arrange for the group’s travel to UK. Jason says, “The Jaipur Virasat Foundation (an organisation that works with traditional Rajasthani artistes) brought us all together, and now British Council is arranging for our tour to UK.”

The popularity of Indian music in the UK is big and growing, says Jason. He adds, “Both NRIs and the  British are familiar with Indian music through Bollywood and Punjabi Bhangra.”
While Jason, who is also part of Safires, a music band in UK, admits that Dharohar has received several invitations from music festivals around the world to participate, the members have decided to take it a little slowly. He concludes, “We don’t want to commit ourselves right now but international tours are on the cards.”