Just announced: Indian Fusion Lab Taster Sessions, 5th October and 16th November.

Indian Fusion Lab Taster Sessions

05 October / 19:00 – 21:00 / More Info / Enrol
16 November / 19:00 – 21:00 / More Info / Enrol

Brighter Sound at Band on the Wall invite you to come join Avital Raz and Sam Lewis for a free taster of

Indian Fusion Lab – a new 10 week course starting January 2016 for musicians who are interested in how to use Indian Classical traditions as a creative spark.

The Indian Fusion Lab is an exploration of different ways we can use elements from Indian Classical Music in creating new original music.

Run by musicians at various stages of study of Indian music, we are committed to exploring the rich pallet of wonderful subtleties in melody and exciting rhythms this music has to offer us as songwriters and composers.

Suitable for intermediate to advanced ability musicians of any genre and style who would like to gain some insight into Indian scales (Raags) and Rhythms (Taals) or just those looking for new inspiration for their compositions. The taster session is two hours long and free to attend. It will give an idea of what we are going to do in a ten week in depth course starting in January 2016. Participants may bring their instruments, but will be encouraged to focus primarily on singing as all Indian music is first taught by singing.

Much like Jazz, Indian classical music involves improvisation within certain frameworks. Raags are more than just scales. They have specific personalities. They may differ on the way up or down and have specific ways of treating notes or embellishments to create a very distinct mood. During the course we will be experimenting with improvisation and the concepts used by Indian Classical musicians to approach it. We will be discussing ways these concepts can be applied to our own songwriting. 

Avital Raz was born in Jerusalem and had an impressive career in Western classical singing before she relocated to India and devoted herself to the study of Dhrupad- (the most ancient form of Hindustani classical music), for six years under Prof. Ritwik Sanyal of Benares Hindu University. Today she lives in the UK and focuses primarily on using the various traditions she’s learnt in creating her own original music.

Sam Lewis is an experienced saxophonist who over his 21 years of playing has been involved in a wide range of genres and performed with a number of acts to an International level. His passion for Indian Classical began 5 years ago. He travelled to India to take lessons in shehnai from master musician Lokesh Anand in 2010 as well as taking lessons from Indian Classical saxophonist Jesse Bannister in Leeds before and after his travels. Since then Indian music has continued to be a big influence on his playing. It has also given much inspiration with his approach to composition, especially with two of his projects; Emu and Rangeela.

Emu – Litttle One (Live Band on the Wall)

Rangeela – Get High Rangeela – Get High (I’m so High)

Avital Raz

  • Day: Mondays
  • Dates: 5 Oct, 16 Nov
  • Venue: Education Room 1 at Band on the Wall
  • Times: 7-9pm

Booking is essential. Please click the enrol button to register.