Mumbai/Bengaluru -based DJ and music producer DJazz (Aditya Malve) brings a distinctly intricate vision to India’s electronic music scene. With over a decade in the creative industry, his sets are known for tearing down genre walls, seamlessly fusing House, Disco, drum and bass, Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Blues. What sets him apart is his wide-reaching web of influences—drawing on the rhythms of Yussef Dayes and Zakir Hussain, the vocal prowess of Nina Simone and Doechii, and even the minds of Neil deGrasse Tyson and Quentin Tarantino. This eclectic foundation has landed him on the stages of premier festivals and venues across the country, including Sunburn, Solaris, GAIA Festival, antiSOCIAL, and Soho House.
On the other side of the rhythmic equation is Unmesh Banerjee, one of the most promising tabla players of his generation. Hailing from a family deeply rooted in North Indian Classical Music, Banerjee received intense, rigorous taalim in the Farukkabad baaj directly from his father and guru, Pandit Sunil Banerjee, while his mother, Smt. Bharati Nanavati Banerjee, is a versatile Patiala Gharana vocalist. He is also studying Carnatic rhythm under mridangam stalwart Vidwan S. Sekhar. A performer since the age of six, his technical mastery has earned him a CCRT Scholarship, an ICCR empanelment, and the distinction of being an All India Radio artist.
Together, they are pushing the boundaries of fusion with Shaastriya Sangeet Vol. II: Religion of Eternity. Building on the foundation of their acclaimed first volume, this four-track EP dives even deeper into the high-contrast intersection of traditional Indian Classical Music and avant-garde electronic soundscapes. Let’s break down how this cross-cultural experiment unfolds, track by track.
The EP kicks the doors open with “Flirt Inasmuch,” a high-energy track that establishes a remarkably rich production standard right out of the gate. Here, a driving, hypnotic disco beat and hard-hitting basslines crash into resonant tabla strikes, all layered over a groovy, shape-shifting synth. In the second half, the introduction of Unmesh’s vocals and the sharp snap of a kanjira elevate the groove even further. The track thrives on a playful, experimental tension between ancient rhythm and modern club music—making its title feel entirely earned.
Following that adrenaline rush, “Pyaar” shifts into a deeply meditative, trance-like space. Opening with an archival monologue about becoming one with your instrument—a poignant tribute to the maestro Zakir Hussain—the track moves with a sweeping, ephemeral grace. Fast, intricate tabla rolls cascade over an anchoring tanpura and lush, arpeggiated synths, creating a masterful balance of mathematical precision and fluid motion. As the layered synths steadily elevate the atmosphere, the tabla glides across two distinct octaves, mimicking a rhythmic conversation with itself. It is a stunning piece that invites the listener to slip into the very same unity the opening monologue describes.
The third track, “The Cosmopolitan View of Saraswati,” is like a genre unto itself. Built on glitchy loops and classic techno elements, the production establishes an otherworldly space. The tabla rhythms filter through astral effects to form a structural sonic matrix. By blending pseudo-natural sounds with futuristic textures, the duo builds a psychedelic atmosphere that reimagines traditional percussion. It feels like a transmission from a distant realm, custom-built for an underground jungle festival.
“Para-Digm” brings a darker landscape. Anchored by an evolving four-to-the-floor beat, the track loops obscure vocal chants against a restless tabla rhythm. The momentum drives a massive surge of energy before the arrangement fractures into chaotic amen breaks. It eventually resolves into sweeping chords at the climax. The track is a production masterclass that expands the boundaries of Indian electronic music and delivers a literal paradigm shift in how you have heard tabla play. Aditya and Unmesh have delivered their A-game in creating this. You’ll lowkey wish for the third volume of this project which I feel might be around soon.
