Nitin Sawhney combines music and memories for his new UK show

by LAUREN CODLING

ACCLAIMED musician and composer Nitin Sawhney is bringing a “personal” show which will embrace his Asian heritage to audiences in Manchester next month.

Featuring tabla player Aref Durbesh and vocalist Eva Stone, India & Me is a combination of music and memories concerning Sawhney’s heritage and culture.

“I [talk] a lot about my heritage and how that related to the music I make, the work I do, and how I incorporate Indian philosophy into my thinking,” he told Eastern Eye.

“It is talking about lots of coincidences that happened to me and anecdotes relating to my life experiences as a British Asian growing up in England.”

The performances, Sawhney said, were especially “cathartic” for him.

“I’ve always let my work talk for me. I’ve never really talked like this in front of an audience before – it’s so nice to talk about my experiences growing up as a British Asian here.”

The show was previously shown at the Globe and Tara Theatre last year. The positive reaction, including two standing ovations by audiences, encouraged Sawhney to bring it to a new audience in northern England.

The performance is part of the three-year programme North and South, which is a chance for artists across the country and from south Asia to share their work.

In the wake of Brexit and the rise of Islamophobia, Sawhney explained being part of the project is giving him the platform to express some of his views on the “dehumanisation” of those affected by the recent events.

He said: “[The show] is about just purely talking about my identity, but also contextualising it in the wake of Brexit and all of the stuff that is going on at the moment.

“It is important to reaffirm the value of immigrants in this country and also reaffirm the value of being a human being, rather than just being dehumanised constantly which is what happens in the press and media a great deal.”

Growing up in Rochester in Kent, the musician recalled he felt very “isolated” due to the prominence of far-right organisation National Front in his area. This segregation has only made him feel even stronger about “embracing” his culture.

“I think it is very important for Asians to feel they are part of a community or culture,” he said. “They should feel they have something to contribute from their own heritage.”

Sawhney said the performance was also a “tribute” to his immigrant Punjabi parents, including his father who sadly passed away in 2013, who he commended for their bravery in coming to the UK.

“The courage of immigrants is something not a lot of people talk about,” he said. “To uproot themselves and come to another country… quite often we forget about that with our parents."

On Asian artists in the UK, Sawhney commented he does not think there are enough opportunities for up-and-coming young performers.

Although he praised the BBC Asian Network, Sawhney said part of the problem is that Asian artists are pushed onto that platform instead of on a more mainstream one.

“There should be a strong platform on Radio 1 or Radio 2 for Asians,” he stated. “[It isn’t just with the BBC though], I think it is like that generally. Asians are struggling to get their voices heard.”

Looking to the future, the producer has some “exciting” upcoming projects, including his composition of the latest Jungle Book movie.

The film is directed by Andy Serkis, who incidentally presented Sawhney with his Ivor Novello award last year.

“[The score] is quite dark and has a lot of Indian influence in there,” the artist enthused. “I was so pleased that Andy was directing – he’s really easy to work with – and it’s a beautiful film. It’s going to blow people away!”

Nitin Sawhney’s India & Me will be showing at the RNCM Concert Hall in Manchester on February 17.