COLOGNE video of LORD INSIDE

MERRY CHRISTMAS OUR DEAR DEAR FRIENDS. WHAT A YEAR IT HAS BEEN, INDEED.

DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, OUR NEW YEARS GIG IN PUNE HAS BEEN CANCELED...

SO, WE WILL SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR.

HARDER.
BETTER.
FASTER.
STRONGER.

WITH LOVE.

BOMBAY.

It's nice to see people coming together and choosing to see all this disaster as a trigger for change.

That's what we need.

I think it starts with yourself. your mind. and the life choices you make.


here's a tribute.

peace. love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89yzoIAmhPU

COVER OF A DUTCH MAGAZINE...and AUS article

Both places, we haven't been to yet. But it's nice to know our music reaches lands we have not set foot on.....YET.

NOVEMBER - what's in store??

CRAP! Time flies. It's absurd that we are literally a stone throw away from 2009.

Apocalypse now! Mind over matter next battle be tical. - that's wutang.

So, I haven't formally told anyone, didn't think it would matter, but I figure you guys should know why S+F is playing one or two shows less each month. It's because I (Monica) have agreed to act in Kiran Rao's directorial debut...yes, a film...a great script...and it's fun to act again. S+F is still taking on as many gigs as possible and we're heavily into working on our 3rd album. None of this means that anything has changed...It's just new and exciting things are in the works.

WE'RE GOING TO AMSTERDAM THIS MONTH! Our Amsterfriends tell us that Melkweg (where we are playing) is one of the all time BEST venues in all of the Netherlands. So, we are super stoked to play

DETAILS
11-16-2008 21:00atMELKWEG, AMSTERDAM
Lijnbaansgracht 234a, Amsterdam, telefoon: 020 5318181, Amsterdam, 234a

To send us off, we will be playing November 14th in Delhi at ELEVATE. Never played there before...but looking forward to it.

ok. big love. i'm out!

the news and knowing you're out there...

All over the world, there is a plague...an obsession with what is wrong and what is bad. When I get together with friends, we always joke about putting together a newspaper that only highlights whatever positive things are happening in the world. There is much to write about! There is much to support.

I like to think that I surround myself with positive people. People who understand that what we focus on, and what we put our energy towards, is what eventually takes power and precedence over the things that lack our attention and focus. We must ask ourselves at any given moment, if what is wrong with the world is what we would like MORE of??? My guess is, definitely not.

My heart has broken a few times in the last couple of weeks. Friends tell me that it is because I am a silly Utopian idealist who needs to wake up. These are the same friends who scoff at such events as "Rock On for Humanity" - saying that there's no way that money will even reach the people in need in Bihar..."it's just another stupid Bollywood tactic to draw more attention to the film Rock On".............

I wonder??? How one could be averse to the fact that an otherwise ignorant and incestuous industry is finally branching out and wanting to do something for an effectual change? Why wouldn't you want for that industry to finally do something good with the mind-boggling popularity it DOES have and the oddly and often disgusting control it has over household culture in India? I want it to change. I have always disagreed with it. My brow has furrowed one too many times at the hypocrisy I see in the media. But I choose to focus on what I DO want...and, I DO WANT CHANGE.

Is this the downfall of India? Why our roads are paved with the tar of the 1950's? Why people are either too lazy, too tired, too apathetic to move onwards and upwards towards a better system for the children who will come after us? Often, there is a crab in the bucket syndrome infecting the historically spiritual beings of this beautiful country.

Have you felt it? Have you felt people pulling you down every time you've taken a step forward?

I know you are out there. I feel you every day. Even though I'm a quiet one...unless I'm on stage. Everyday, I want to be better...everyday I challenge myself. I'm upset with the MNS and the horrible abuse I've witnessed first hand on the streets of the "urban and cultural capital of India" - countrymen beaten mercilessly because their nose is a certain shape and their dialect is of a certain kind. No sense in acknowledging that these are the very men constructing the buildings that we live in, the hospitals we seek refuge in when we are sick, and working towards a solution for mass transit in this beautifully overpopulated and uncomfortable city! Why acknowledge that? No point. Right? WRONG.

I know you are out there. I feel you every day. You who would sooner hold a hand, than slap it. You, who believes in the evolution of all things...which means, change.

I praise you. I make music for you. I consider you, MY PEOPLE.

I see better days ahead. I do. And I hope you share my vision.

first draft of together again music video

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=iHGOPq6tcBg



our original concept for this video got botched by budgets and promises broken. as usual, we just do it ourselves!! thanks to anand subaya for stepping in last minute and doing some creative editing!

so, we did what we could to put something together out of it all. labor of love...
as usual ;)

ROCK ON FOR HUMANITY

Date:
Friday, October 31, 2008
Time:
5:00pm - 10:00pm
Location:
MMRDA, Bandra Kurla Complex

It was in the month of August that torrential and non stop rain caused immense flooding in Bihar; the situation continues to look very grim.
The rains have not stopped and the water levels continue to rise. The state of Bihar is facing some of the worst flooding in 50 years.

Latest reports from the Ministry of Home Affairs indicate that over 3.3 million people from 1,849 villages in 16 districts of the state have been affected.

The Bihar government says the official death toll in floods after the Kosi river changed course is 383, but international NGO ActionAid whose workers are on the ground says "it is likely that 2,000 people have died".

Two million people are estimated to have been cut off by the flood waters. Infrastructure (roads, rail, water and electricity) have been completely or partially destroyed or are under water in major parts of the affected areas.

The population is in immediate need of food, clean water, shelter and basic health support.

The Prime Minister of India has declared the Bihar floods a national calamity.

The government has stepped up its relief efforts at all levels and the Bihar state government has sought the support of civil society organisations in stepping up its relief efforts.

As part of the same, the "Rock On!!" team led by Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal & Ritesh Sidhwani have pioneered a relief effort called "Rock On for Humanity".

The underlying message of "Rock on for Humanity" is to "Improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".

The show will witness performances by:

Shaa'ir + Func
Shankar Ehsaan Loy
Pentagram
Raghu Dixit Project
Rabbi
Them Clones
Parikrama feat. Saif Ali Khan
Shaan
Kunal Ganjawala
Dream Out Loud
Something Relevant
Kailasa
Avial
Farhan Akhtar

TICKETS available from 21st October at www.bookmyshow.com

RETAIL OUTLETS :
Cinemax properties at Bandra East, Thane- Eternity Mall, Vashi, Kandivali East.

Rhythm House-Fort

Hiro Music- Bandra (W)

Music World-Malad

Tickets will also be available at the venue on the day of the event.


To DONATE ONLINE log onto: www.rockon.bigadda.com

Sms Rock On to 52525 & pledge your support
(premium rates apply / Rs.3 per sms)

ITS OCTOBER ALREADY!?!? - GIGS and NEWS

Hi. Time flies when you're having fun.

S+F plays TONIGHT at D'Ultimate along with the magnificent DJ Kris.

That's 3'rd October, 2008 at D'Ultimate in Andheri (W) @ 8 PM

Also coming up...

S+F play in DELHI! (finally. it's been too long)
15th October, 2008 @ Retro Sushi as a part of RSJ's ROCKTOBER fest

31'st of October, S+F will be playing a benefit hosted by Farhan Akhtar in Bombay. Stay tuned for more details.

big love.

SATURDAY GIG and FREE COMPILATION

S+F at the blue frog on Saturday. FREE before 9 so get there on time.

Also, our track "Hard To Forget", is featured on the "very best of 7 digital Indiestore" compilation. You can download the entire thing for free.

http://www.7digital.com/artists/7digital-indiestore/the-very-best-of-7digital-indiestore-2008

We're getting pumped for saturday after a beautiful open mind night at Zenzi, it's finally feeling good to be back.

journalshit

Understanding gets lost on the long arduous journey from cd
to sound
sound to ear
ear through wax
wax clog eardrum
drum the absent brain
oh no!
create percussion

in
the empty hollow of skull

the patterns get written
through skill-less fingers


i'm afraid
the point
and you
have not yet been acquainted

and though that's not my problem

I write music
because I've made the choice
to care.








Please educate yourself about the subject you are writing about
To avoid looking like a self-absorbed ass...
whose reviews come across as some pre-pubescent attempt at verbal ego masturbation.

Also.

Pray tell.

What have you done lately?

S+F?? WHO DAT??

WHO IS SHAAIR + FUNC?

Back in Bombay - Rock On

4 city tour is over. Thanks to RSJ and the whole LiveAlive festival. It was pretty much a whirlwind to cover 10 different cities in two weeks...5 different countries in three weeks. Living the dream, man! Living the dream. They never tell you how difficult it is to be on the road WITHOUT roadies. It's the simple things that are tough to get done...like
washing your clothes (i was reduced to doing so in hotel sinks)
sleeping
eating food that doesn't make you vomit after three weeks of it


Also, if you're in India, chances are you have heard of the film ROCK ON. This film touches on the Indian Rock Music scene/Underground...
My favorite parts about the film are...Purab Kohli who plays the drummer. He was convincing, funny, and natural. Also, Sahana Goswami, the fashion designer in the film...her performance really puts her on the map as an actress to be watched in the future. She has conviction, passion, and really portrays her character with so much truth. Farhan Akhtar's debut as well was pretty damn good if you ask me. Cheers to all those involved.

Shaa'ir + func are also in two scenes for a lengthy 10-20 seconds as ourselves! Why not, we say, why not?

But that's besides the point.

The real thing I want to acknowledge is that there is an entire film based around the need and desire to be an independent musician in India.

It's about damn time.

Wed. August 27th S+F DJ Set @ Shiro's Mumbai

We promise the most ridiculous (in a good way)DJ set you've heard in India in a long long loooooong time.

More Glastonbury Pix

14 days, 4 countries.

We are back in India with internet connections and a spare hour. Tomorrow we play in Pune at a place called SOHO. Have you been there?

Glastonbury:

We saw, Massive Attack, Squarepusher, Roni Size, Goldfrapp, Groove Armada, Amy Winehouse, John Mayer, Neil Diamond, Simian Mobile Disco, Stanton Warriors, and more than I can remember right now, so I won't try cuz it will piss me off and I can always update this later.

We played, a slamming gig in the Greenfields. Our stage was cooler than cool...because it was entirely solar powered but it was still loud and out of control. Our set was at 1 AM after Massive Attack had unraveled all of the tightly wound, and wound up all of the crazies - - though some people are not as enthralled, us guys certainly were. The tent was spewing with people, each and every single one, ready to dance by the fourth or fifth song. (fuck you, i'm famous!) we signed SOLD (not stolen) CD's, hugged our sweat onto strangers, and galloped around in the mud.

GLASTONBURY UPDATE

okay so i know that we need to write an update about our glastonbury experience. trust. it is coming. pictures and muddy details

in the meantime

WE ARE PLAYING THE BIG CHILL FESTIVAL (UK) !

hurrah

Also, playing C/O POP - so much love to Ritnika for this one

and we are playing the OYA festival in Norway.

please check www.myspace.com/shaairandfunc for updates.

also, our new website is up. FINALLY. :o)

www.shaairandfunc.com

BANGALORE and LEAVING FOR LONDON

As many of you have already heard, we are indeed off to London.

And we are happy to announce that...

WE'RE PLAYING GLASTONBURY!!!!!!!!

Our first ever gig in Bangalore took place at the legendary Opus this past Friday. We were received with incredible warmth. It seemed as though we should have played in Bangalore long ago. At first, I was a little skeptical at what the tone of the evening would be, given that everyone at Opus was sitting down, most faces were devoid of emotion (positive or negative alike). The audience was mixed, and very attractive if we may say so ourselves. ;)

In any case, four songs into our set, it was as if everyone in the room had made best friends! Everyone danced with everyone else, some serious psychic communication was tossed around the room through piercing eye contact, and all in all we fell madly in love.

So, we will be in London and Europe for two months, taking LIGHT TRIBE around the world...Look out for our first music video from LIGHT TRIBE on VH1. That's coming soon.

please keep in touch and we'll see you again soon.

Much Love - S+F

Open Mind Night

It's 2 AM and now we are 3 successful open mind nights down.

Funny, I've allowed myself to feel reluctant to just put down my thoughts, sin filter or censor, simply because of disconcerting remarks we've received as a band about what we do and what we say...how we dress even.

I suppose that in some senses, when criticism arises towards art it somehow equates to accomplishment. Crabs in a bucket only pull down another crab that might be close to getting out of the bucket.

But, forget all that.

The brilliant thing is, every month, rain or shine, you show up. Maybe it's not you, but it's probably someone like you...
You show up and you respect in the audience, and you respect when you play, and YOU make it cool to be informed. left of center. independent. progressive. whatever you want to call it.

An entire room will sing loud-voiced and starry eyed to Zombie or Hey Jude...but that same audience will holler and shriek when an amazing guitarist is pounding out love in the form of taps and rhythm on his acoustic.

The point of all this is, I feel that all of us crabs will escape the bucket...once we give the same importance to our music and our arts that we have given to music and art from the west.
And I think we're doing it...

there's just always more to be done.
good night
mad love.

TWO GIGS this WEEK

Light Tribe Launch

People are asking for the spoken word piece I wrote for the Light Tribe Launch. So, here you go. Many thanks to all of you who actually made it out to the launch...it was amazing because of YOU.

Visual and verbal altercations
with my own subconscious mind
Have left me stupefied
at the polar extremes
that could possibly be present
in one body

One way not being altogether more prominent than the other
I find
that the more obligations I bestow upon myself
the slower I am
at the timely moving forward
I have solitarily
on all fronts
of my pragmatic being

cohesively been focused upon

My gentile manner
has been mistaken as willingness towards faltering
Though my rage may not be pricked into my skin
I have it dripping off my tongue
like young linen
Rubbing roughly
against the smooth skin
of unsuspecting flesh

Albeit nicely.

I want to free
the you inside of me
That I’d find
some sort of sublime
in being perhaps for a moment less alone

And while I would blink

At least this is just what I think

An entire army has been created in a likeness of that which they’ve never known
And yet always known - somewhere

The light tribe has been the black of the pupil in my eye
And when our eyes meet
we recognize that we stomp this soft earth
with the contents of that which surpasses genetics
A connection
to the frenetic
burn that has sourced the evolution of all things
All things
all things
The light tribe has been the thick feeling in my gut
When only I can know that it all is landing on the side of righteousness

Though we are branded as rebellious

Instead of just informed.

LIGHT TRIBE RECORD RELEASE!!!!!!!

Hi - So, we've decided to make the record release party completely free. It's on Wednesday night at Blue Frog. That's May 21st @ BlueFrog in Bombay.

Slam it.

TimeOut Mumbai + Rolling Stone

Friends! I know I've been out of touch for many days...Actually, made a dash over to New York to spend some much needed time with family.

Had a very nice welcome back though, as I've seen that the Rolling Stone Magazine May issue is out. Shaa'ir + func are featured in a fashion spread...which was basically just our own antics and freakish styling.

Also, we're on the cover of TimeOut Mumbai this month. And I think what is the most exciting thing about all this is that a band like us would make the cover. We've been forging our own path and saying nay to those trying to mold us outside our own, since the very beginning.

So, cheers to the light tribe taking another step forward! The future is a bright one.

Please come to the launch of the new album. May 21st, 2008 @ Blue Frog in Mumbai

MY SPACE INDIA

I found MySpace


Recently, we played at the My Space India launch in Bombay. What is undeniable and also extremely exciting about being in India right now...is being able to watch the inception of a paradigm shift. Minds are changing. Lives are changing. There is this undercurrent of movement...

I think that is what was so exciting about playing at the launch. Often times, people ask us what the difference is between audiences in India and audiences in New York or London...we always reply with the truth...that there is no damn difference!

enough said :o)

TONIGHT!!!!!!! RADIO ONE FM 94.3 !!!!!!!

Tonight we will be on Radio One FM 94.3 with RJ Malini. The interview will also feature acoustic performances of some old and new stuff...just spur of the moment at the Radio One studio.

Please tune in if you can.

Also, if you guys have been switching channels...take a pause on VH1 or channel V as our second video is FINALLY on air. The song secret from New Day: The love album - sweet.

With love and light,
S+F

MUTINY 10th Anniversary

This night was one to remember.
Track is by the Chili Peppers called "Throw Away Your Television"

Much love and many thanks to the ingenious Radek and our friends at DREAM-ING.tv

big love!

be in. be in. be in.

imminence

Hello everyone...hope everything is finding you well and you are riding that pendulum swing with grace and flow.

Right now is a time of great transition for us. Every day we wake up with this sense that something is JUST about to happen. it's almost here...it's just about...in about a moment it'll.... pop.

So, we've played out some of the new stuff from our new record, which has been a trying/gratifying/relieving experience. I am still inspired and floored at how supportive, funky, sexy, and cool audiences in India really are. I only wish the rest of the world could know....the progressive lustrousness of the minds we have the privilege of exchanging energy with while playing our hearts out. The time is nearing every day, when we will let our second record go...let it fly...let it be what it is meant to be in the hearts and minds of others. And with that in mind, every day, from morning until night, we are perfecting, tweaking, listening, learning, asking friends what they think, rehearsing, and basically dealing with that looming imminence in the space around us. What fun!

The best part is, as soon as we're done this one, we're not really done...we just have to start on the next..............

chapter after chapter
we're going to do it.
thanks for helping us get there!

OPEN MIND NIGHT

My friends, on the 10th of April in Bombay, at a place called Zenzi on Waterfield Road in Bandra, there will be an open mind night. I like to call these types of events, Be-In's. What is a Be-In you ask?? Well, I love the concept and I think it's beautiful and ever appropriate to acknowledge the power of an uplifted, inspired spirit that believes.....in change.

The term Be-In was coined during the hippie-beat generation when like-minded people would get together somewhere, anywhere, for no other purpose but to meet other like-minded people, and just BE...namely, to raise the vibration of the space...to share thought or music or laughs or kind looks...or flowers...or whatever positive thing you could think of...because when a vibration in the room is raised...so is our own personal vibration...which then means we can go out into the world feeling that much bigger/better/faster/stronger -----who wouldn't want to do that?

Open mind night is, as i'm sure you figured, in actuality an open-mic situation...But, I think it's more than that. We can raise each other up. So, I'm hosting the event and probably will share something/words/a song/something...and I hope that if you're around, you make it. you can email snf@shaairandfunc.com for more info if you'd like.

Come to the be-in 9 PM Zenzi in Bandra off of waterfield road
love and respect,
Shaa'ir

S+F in support of THE GOOD KARMA DRIVE

After playing an amazing gig at the Sula Fest in Nashik a few weeks ago, we met some amazing people...namely, Simon, Roman, and Jonny. These guys along with some of their friends in London have set out to do something good for this world that is much smaller than we think it is.

They have driven to India from the UK, raising money along the way to build a school in Dharamsala.

www.goodkarmadrive.org

Please check out the site.

Also, if you are interested in seeing an interview and some clips of S+F in support of this awesome endeavor...click on the second India checkpoint and watch the second video.

thanks for doing what you can.

also, sorry for being out of touch. massive traveling and crunch time on the production of second album. the day is near.

restless

So many emotions sort of wrapping around each other like a pantone pallet madly separating and connecting to form other colors/emotions within the same. Been moving faster than my mind was prepared to and wondering about the nature of my being and whether or not it's "rock star style" to not sit with your thoughts at least for a little while every day. Because that's why we do what we do, right? In order to communicate something. I've been observing other artists quite a bit in recent times, and struggled with vibrations and been floored by their illuminations the same.

I love the stage because it represents something completely unique. The events that take place in that space, with those minds, with that sound banging against those walls, being received by those ears is something that will never take place in the same way ever again! Live is so spectacular because of the relationship of an active translation. Music to ear...visual to eye...

I wonder why other people love the stage...what moves them...

In dance, there is a term called authentic movement. Why authentic as opposed to just movement?

the definition of authentic
1. Conforming to fact and therefore worthy of trust, reliance, or belief: an authentic account by an eyewitness.
2. Having a claimed and verifiable origin or authorship; not counterfeit or copied: an authentic medieval sword.
3. Law. Executed with due process: an authentic deed.
4. Music.
1. Of, relating to, or being a medieval mode having a range from its final tone to the octave above it.
2. Of, relating to, or being a cadence with the dominant chord immediately preceding the tonic chord.
5. Obsolete. Authoritative.

[Middle English autentik, from Old French autentique, from Late Latin authenticus, from Greek authentikos, from authentēs, author.]
authentically au·then'ti·cal·ly adv.

SYNONYMS authentic, bona fide, genuine, real, true, undoubted, unquestionable. These adjectives mean not counterfeit or copied: an authentic painting by Corot; a bona fide transfer of property; genuine crabmeat; a real diamond; true courage; undoubted evidence; an unquestionable antique.
ANTONYM counterfeit
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Am just sussing out some thoughts. Don't know really why I'm writing this...but, maybe if you have some thoughts or get the yarn I'm knitting with, perhaps you can just help this conversation along.

I've never been in a position where I have been so close to what I've always wanted and am currently feeling many things that I had never anticipated. Feeling the flip-side if you will. I am tremendously grateful for the intensity of the emotions that I'm feeling and hope to channel them into songs. Think of the "true story of what was" by Ani DiFranco

"BECAUSE REAL IS REAL
REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU SAY
REAL IS REAL RELENTLESS
WHILE WORDS DISTRACT AND DISMAY"

blessed be
progress
life
and the swing of things

Hit!

No, I'm not talking about the song, I'm talking about the number of hits this blog is getting every week! Thank you guys for reading, it's good to know that the blog is serving its purpose.

Now, I know I've said this before but I'll say it again, because I love repeating myself, the new Shaa'ir + Func album is scheduled for an April release. I've been listening to the album on loop for a really long time now and seriously, you guys don't know what you're missing. so, I'll give you an idea. My favourite song goes a little something like this.

boof boof shack boof shack waaah waaah clink clink waah clink clink. chugga chugga chugga. wooooooooooosh waaah wooooooosh clicliclic. ding ding ding.

Now that I have put my job on the line for you dedicated Shaa'ir + Func fans by shamelessly leaking the song online, I'm going to continue hoping I don't get sued, since I do not have any money and/or material posessions to give away anyway, but you get the idea (I'm sure you do). most of the songs are, what have been described as, Shaa'ir + Func's london and New York experience being reflected directly by the new songs they have written. They're more upbeat, more energetic and will make you go woooooooooah! as soon as you put the cd into your cd player/discman/whatever. Needless to say, take care of your cds when you eventually buy them.

Also, an average sized bird tells me that the cds will be available for sale across pubs in Bangalore when the album is released. Now, the sources aren't very reliable so please try not to send me death threats if that turns out to be a rumour. Also, do not knock on my door and run away, it's really annoying. Anyway, with a whole lot of effort, the cds will be available for purchase soon, so you don't have to go through too much trouble to get yourself a copy.

In related news, S+F are planning a tour across mother earth, so if you missed the Blue Frog gigs you can just fly down to London or Somalia or something and catch them there. it's that easy!

Stay tuned for more updates, leaked songs in t.e.x.t. format (rumoured to be better than mp3) and mindless rants. by me.

Lots of love to you, (<--- this is learned from S+F, it sounds more original than "peace out")
Kalhan

LONDON madness

This is the London portion of my madness diary from our touring abroad
____________________________________________________________________________________
LONDON BABY!!



Our flight was TERRIBLE. But (sigh) at least we have each other and all of our precious instruments. We hop a taxi down across the River Thames to our Elephant and Castle Flat.




To my delight, I find that our building is quite beautiful, with a KOI pond in the Courtyard, a well-equipped gym, and an indoor swimming pool. Life has rare moments when it throws you a bone and rewards you, this was one of those rare moments. Our flat was sweet, just enough space, and after a few adjustments and setting up our London studio, we were ready to party.

Randolph and I were very excited that it was common place to drink beer on the streets of London town. Simple minds...simple pleasures.

And then what happened? Yes, Glastonbury. Glastonbury was magic.





It was magic, and mud. It was magic, mud, music, cold, rain, and a test to help you arrive at the stuff you are made of. Randolph had a few days of rehearsal with the Midival Punditz prior to our departure on a lovely tour bus equipped with TV's and beds...I especially liked the bed part. So I slept the entire way and didn't really notice any scenery, until someone started shouting, "we're here! we're here!"...
I was much too out of it to slap whoever it was, though I was in my head, I promise you. As it were, it was impossible to sleep while the van was jostling around like it was driving through an earth quake. The ground was already slushy from the rain it was getting the week prior to the festival. Something you should know about Glastonbury is it is the largest European festival EVER, held on farm land in the town of Glastonbury. It was said to be a land where spiritual energy ley-lines converge, thus giving this land an elevated vibration. The festival can only be held every other year, as the owners of the land wish to allow the land adequate time to regrow and heal itself. For the duration of the festival, an entire city is built, with towns and stages, food and recreational activities...


The Midival Punditz featuring Randolph, Karsh Kale, and Vishal Vaid, both of whom I know from NY and are dear friends, played the Jazz-World stage at Glasto. The Jazz-World stage was one of the best stages at Glasto, in my opinion. It was as big as the Main-Stage, and people who shared the stage included the likes of Rodrigo y Gabriela (love them) and Amy Winehouse. Needless to say, they rocked their gig. The crowd loved them, and Randolph as always, brought it with his style and funk on stage. I reunited with good friends Nerm from the Shiva Soundsystem and Shane from the D'Archetypes. Such good guys those ones are. Randolph also played with the Shiva Soundsystem on the BBC World stage. We hooked up with the Bandish Projekt for a bit, and we all shipped off to see Bjork. I had to push up to the front. I so respect and admire Bjork's work. Her spirit has informed much of the work I do. It was my first time seeing her live and she was by far the high-light of my Glastonbury experience. The thing to remember about all of this, is that it was raining the ENTIRE time, it was also extremely cold, and there was no shelter. So that's what I meant by us really getting to know what stuff we were made of. I'm a tough bitch!








Another highlight was when Randolph, Nerm and Dee (ShivaSoundSystem), and Reju (one of the head producers on BBC Radio1), used our artist passes to get into the Pendulum live gig in the Dance Tents. They were mind-blowing! We climbed onto the gates separating us from the sardine packed audience, raised our hands in the air and danced for a solid hour. All our necks were sore after that. It was lovely...



Backstage was always a party for artists with booze and food 24-7, so we spent a lot of our time back there, hanging with NOISIA, Annie Mac, Bobby Friction, The Foreign Beggars, whose drummer we ended up using for our gigs in London, Shiva Sound System, and the D'Archetypes. We dominated, drank brandy and cokes to keep warm, and danced around in our gumboots, paying no mind to the splashing mud and our frozen finger tips. We prayed to the party gods to keep us healthy and warm! Other artists we got to see are Timo Maas, Iggy Pop, The Chemical Brothers (visuals were astouding), Lily Allen, Adam Freeland, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and countless independent artists who left us inspired.

After Glastonbury, real world stuff sort of set in. Things like working on our next record, cooking at home, and staying fit, occupied our days...until we began rehearsing for our first UK gig at VIBE bar on the famous brick lane. The event was called the Super-Sonic Buddha. We played our set after which Randolph and Nerm took over on decks. Our drummer, Praveen Mukhi (of foreign beggars fame), was tight and solid after only a few rehearsals. I retired to the bar where I met Rocky, former drummer from the Asian Dub Foundation. After a couple of rounds, he expressed an interest in having Shaa'ir and func play at a couple gigs with his current project entitled RockID.

Randolph and I agreed, and added another three gigs to our London itinerary. Shaa'ir and func gigs in London included appearances at The Cuban in Camden, The Spotlight event at the Paul Robeson Theatre, Sound in Leicester Square ( same stage as Jamiroquai ), and The Institute for Contemporary Arts festival. Next was the Big Chill festival. Memories from Big Chill Goa came flooding back to me and I was immediately psyched in a good way. Goa was so amazing. Plus, it was actually ALMOST warm in London at that point and we were nearing the end of our trip. We had written a good chunk of our next record, become good cooks, done a few radio spots
on Radio1, made really good friends, and played some banging gigs in London. Big Chill was sort of our last hurrah. And we were off.......!

We arrived to the camp grounds after a lovely car ride with our dear Shane from D'Archetypes. Our good friend Tiku, aka Tyrone Fernandez, of Bombay Black fame, was down from India and came with. We lost him in the first hour, and Randolph and I just decided to explore on our own. After glancing at the lineup, I was most excited to see Bonobo. I love his record...an amazing sound scape that really takes you on a journey. Also, Shlomo and the vocal orchestra was down...his set consisted of a choir of beat-boxers creating a full on set that lacked absolutely nothing. It was dope. The entire Counter Culture Family was down from Bombay for the festival. We all had our own little Indian town in the Campsite. Randolph and I also popped into the only tent that sold CD's at the entire festival. It was there that we bumped into Ma Faiza, who then insisted that we give some CD's over for them to sell in the tent...after only five minutes of our record playing, we had sold two CD's and signed some autographs. Definitely some synchronicity there. That night, Randolph and I wondered to the body and soul tent, where we found a very GOA-like tent, full of musicians jamming. Some people recognized us and invited us on stage to jam. Of course, we did.....good fun was had by all. People are so open and loving at these festivals. It really gave me a brighter fire to burn for India and future festivals there. As a people, our culture is so colorful and warm...Indian festivals are coming in abundance, I felt in the earth between my toes. It's on.

Day 2 at Big Chill offered us a real highlight. We hooked up with Ojos De Brujo (which means wizard eyes), backstage after they dropped a wicked set on the main stage. They are such a dynamic band, with such a happening blend of authenticity and innovation. We really enjoyed meeting them. We rapped about similarities between their experiences being an alternative band from Barcelona and us guys from India.

Back home in London, we got one last call to collaborate on a track with the legendary Sam Zaman from State of Bengal. We went to his house over the span of a week, and wrote and recorded an extremely beautiful song. It was my first time meeting Sam (Rand and he are friends), and I can truly say, he is a wonderful artist and human being...he also has the best chai and ginger biscuits on earth!

I hope that you all will hear the work that we did sometime soon.

As a last and final farewell to the gorgeous south-bank that we lived a short walk from, Nerm, his partner Sangna, Dee, Randolph, and I had the most monstrous Mexican Meal with overflowing pitchers of Cuba Libres (Viva la Revolucion!) which then ended at an impromptu secret rave underneath the Waterloo bridge. We could run to the water (which was toxic), or dance the night away with our heads tilted upwards catching the visuals projected on the underbelly of the bridge. What fun.

Alright then, back to New York.

what the hell did you do!?!?

In case, you'd like to know what we did in NYC and London...I wrote up a diary. I've edited quite a bit out, because the verbiage can be a tid bit boring sometimes...and tried to leave in the juice. So, yeah. Enjoy!
__________________________________________________________________________________

New York City burns and breathes. It's streets have a pulse. Almost as if underneath the tar and cement there's a giant heart beating underneath. I wanted Randolph to feel that rhythm and love the city the way I did. I already felt like he did, through my own heart. Just needed for it to physically happen…

After a few sushi lunches and a few days of rehearsal with our NYC drummer, Rajeev Maddela (Who is a kick ass drummer, by the way), we were ready for our first ever gig in New York as Shaa'ir + func.
We arrived at The Annex, one of the most popular live performances spaces in Manhattan, for sound check in the nick of time. We were locked out. Brilliant. As it is stress levels are high as we know that press is covering the gig, and we won't have enough time to sound check and go home before doors open. As I'm taking a deep breath and assuming the face of someone who is
calm, professional, and just a little bit pissed off, I see a lanky, fiery red-haired, guy taking strides toward us dressed in all black, and platform spiked boots. Could this be the timid sound guy I had chatted with over the last few days?

He approaches with headphones stuck in his ears with quite possibly the most satanic death metal reverberating around him. He greets us and apologizes for being late. As he opens the bolted door to the Annex, Randolph and I exchange a bit of a laugh. Already a quirky beginning to an interesting night. Sound check goes over well. Our sound guy is eccentric, but cool. We leave, get coffees, chill for a minute, then get ready for the night. The Annex s a big space, but graciously it was full of friends, family and fans. Every song we played, we gained ore and more momentum, feeling each other's vibration, and wanting so badly to share all we possibly could with our people. I think they felt us too. The warmth with which we were received was climactic. Thank you New York City!!
I can't write about everything that happened during our trip, because it'll take me about a month just to write, and take you about two months to ingest...so i'll offer whatever highlights or anecdotes that could serve to be of some interest.


In only two weeks time, we had played six gigs in NYC, one including a rather feisty barmaid/man, cross dresser with a fantastic body and perfect makeup, not to mention three inch heels on his/her already 6'2'' body, who walked around with a leather whip intimidating men and women alike. The gig was good though, aside from all that. In a short amount of time, we made good friends, played fantastic gigs, moved in and out of an apartment, and shipped our butts off to the land of tea-time and crumpets. LONDON BABY!!

drop the pressure.

In NYC you find a melange of people. Sometimes you'll step into a bar or lounge and not one single person will be of the same race, demographic, or social style. that's what I love about it. It's incredibly diverse.

Anyway, it was the end of the night at one such bar...around 4 AM...and the night was sort of that typical pop music evening...the kind you can listen to with a bucket over your head and get just as much from. In any case, something really beautiful happened, Guns N Roses came on...what else? sweet child o' mine. But everyone erupted into song. Everyone from the Rasta dude with 3 foot long dreads, to the business man with too much gel in his hair, to the blond college chick with a t-shirt 4 sizes too small and her sorority girlfriends...it was quite possibly the most beautiful thing I had EVER seen!!!!!

And that's what it's about man. That's all I want...that's it that's it that's it. that's the magic ............

On the Plane

Befuddled and stupefied I'd stare
Wide eyed at the white wall in my midst
Boredom
Hovering like a disease
ready to strike
my restless mind
privy to the negativity
fed to me on TV and other various devices
sending sub-sonic waves
into the air I breathe
But today
I'm not thirsty
I find myself writing this decree
perhaps finally listening
to the voices that speak to me...

What I crave

Inspiration like dried leaves shivering on
the branches stretched above my knees

And every psychotic episode
that I allow myself the opportunity to dive head first into
takes me to a pair of eyes
blinking in low light

understanding

What I want

Understanding the life that permeates in the space
between the beings that stomp this soft earth
all upside
rightly bound to a core
of gravity that slithers
around a light that burns
Embers that morph slowly from red to bright blue
That burn that binds me to you

Two eyes blinking in low light
lending me their stories
So I might be able
to fight the good fight.

And they're back in the studio!

Hello children!

I'd like to make a few announcements here to start things off.

The Shaa'ir + Func blog has been inactive for almost two months now, you can blame Monica for that. Apparently she has "more important things to do" like "touring" and "making music". Hence, I, Kalhan Raina, a guy who has no music to make and no shows to play, am going to give you guys regular updates on Shaa'ir + Func.

That was important news. Now, I guess I should let you guys know that the new Shaa'ir + Func album is almost in the can and it needs some tweaks before it gets out. I heard the songs a few days ago, most of them are upbeat dance oriented tracks with stronger messages and I'm trippin' on them right now.

Also, they're planning to strip down a few of the beat heavy tracks to see what they sound like. So long story short, when the album comes out eventually, it's going to be full of surprises for everyone. I'll try and get a song or two on myspace for you guys to listen to once the spectrum-analysis and mastering and all that technical pickerick is taken care of.

S+F have also made a new video for the song "Secret" which I've requested for upload for all of you to watch, so keep you-tubing for it in case you didn't catch the premier at Blue Frog.

Anyway, back to the announcement part of it, Shaa'ir + Func are back in the studio. Not that they're out of the studio too often, since they've been recording in Randolph's room, which is quite an amusement park with all the batman collectables, synths and amateur guitar porn (in case you didn't know that Randolph has more guitars than Jesus)

So, that's the end of my rant and also, you should give up any sign of hope of me talking sense or saying something inspirational here. And yes, I'm praying for Monica to start posting again too.