. . . .

sensory overload

2010-02-11T03:28:00.000-08:00

http://chaiwallasboombox.blogspot.com/2009/12/sensory-overload_23.html

tomorrow night 12th Feb, 2010
BASSCAMP
Shaa'ir drops a set with bandish projekt, bbc, and bassfoundation.

git yer shoes on.

Goodbye Cruel World Lyrics

2009-10-26T06:38:00.000-07:00

As per fan request...

Goodbye Cruel World - Shaa'ir + func

Goodbye Cruel World
Think I might have had enough of you
It's time for you to go
Goodbye Cruel World
Think I might have had enough of you
It's time for you to know

You're just an illusion

You'll grant my dreams
Let me make my own reality
The powers that be
Directed by my creativity
The peace in me
Is ready to be unleashed and free
The fall has passed
The rise has arrived with the upswing

And I see
This world holding my hand tomorrow
I see us all
Moving on passed the sorrow

Goodbye Cruel World
Think I might have had enough of you
It's time for you to go
Goodbye Cruel World
Think I might have had enough of you
It's time for you to know
You're just an illusion

YUCK NESTLE

2009-10-01T00:19:00.000-07:00

Over 25,000 people like me wrote to Nestle telling them not to sell genetically-contaminated food in India.

Hundreds of phone-calls have been flooding their voicemail.

Hundreds of people have returned their Nestle products to the company.

And 98% of Nestle customers just polled by Greenpeace say they do NOT want to eat genetically-contaminated food.

Nestle's response to all this? It doesn't sell genetically-contaminated food in India because it is prohibited by local authorities.

Indian companies like Ruchi Soya, MTR and Britannia have already committed to selling GE-free food in India, then why can't Nestle? After all, this is the same Nestle that dare not sell genetically-tainted food in Europe, Russia or Brazil.

Are Indian people less human? Are we guinea pigs and lab rats? Are we less deserving of safe food than citizens of other countries?

This has got to change, and it has to change now! That's just why I've told Nestle Chairman Antonio Waszyk to come clean on the products his company sells in my country.

join me in demanding safe and genetically-unadulterated food from Nestle. For now and forever.

COME TOGETHER. BAN NESTLE PRODUCTS AND ENCOURAGE YOUR NEIGHBORS TO DO SO AS WELL.

fashion

2009-09-21T02:30:00.000-07:00

Attended Kunal Rawal's show at Lakme Fashion week in Mumbai yesterday. S+F ties have been made by the GP with Fashion - something we are not opposed to...we like threads...we put effort into it.

Our favorites in the industry right now are Narendra Kumar and Manish Arora. Pioneers - and damn good at what they do.

Kunal Rawal was a very pleasant surprise. His earth color pallet - of beige, cream, pale blue linens - detailed jackets/waste coats/ and nehru kurtas - all very wearable...which I like...and sexy.

Beyond that, I can't really talk much about fashion hoo-ha this that and the other. All in all fun because my friends Sid Coutto, Ankur Tewari, Warren, and Pozy played the outro to the show. Sid is just fantastic fun to watch play...and you know what? I think it's great that the fashion world and the music world are colliding. Cuz us musicians run IT.
Oh and Acquin. I want your t-shirt.

too much to talk about!

2009-09-14T03:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I've been on the road...and I'm sure many of you are asking "why hasn't monica written a million years?? if she doesn't write...we're gonna stop checking her blog..." and then this whole s+f blog will go kaput before it even begins! but, i know you won't do that because you are too kind.

basically, S+F was in Delhi (we played at Shalom...as the first ever live band to EVER play there...something that we are discovering is an honor...but maybe not the best idea...when a venue isn't meant for live performances...which luckily, Shalom is a positive environment for a chill set to be played)...then we flew to Ladakh to play the Confluence.

The confluence is going to need a whole separate blog. It was an odyssey in many many ways...and deserves more time than i have right now to write about it.

Then we got back and I hosted this months Open Mind night...which I am hoping to pass the torch onto P-Man the khiladi man himself...who is actually a really effing great guy. surprisingly enough.

Open mind wasn't as epic as last month - but there was a decent turnout...and minus the stupid Ad agency guy who thought he knew everything being obnoxious and making an ass out of himself and ruining the vibe of the evening...I was pretty impressed with Retrospect - this extremely young band...that has grown a lot...and performed an original that was actually pretty good! good going guys. so all in all...time spent wisely. not in vain.

THEN - phew - we went to hyderabad and played at this AWESOME (for real) new venue called P-Matka. And why I feel it was awesome is because it doesn't mess around, or try to hard to be anything but a dope little laid back venue with a stage and room to rock out- a pool table on the side...and cheap enough drinks for audiences to get their rocks off. And I think we played a pretty damn good set.

The new material is feeling more and more at home inside my body...and i feel like i can do what i wrote justice.............almost.

so, i will write about the confluence later. have you been to ladakh? it's otherworldly and you must go.

signing out...only to see you soon.

Last Week - open mind, acoustica at bonobo

2009-08-17T01:44:00.000-07:00

Last week was insane.

Let's start at the beginning - We've been juggling between our Acoustica set and our full set up (featuring Anand Subaya on bass, and Lindsay D'Mello on drums) - so after playing with the full band at a UV lit Blue Frog last week, Randolph and I started preparing for the Acoustica set.

Open Mind Night - This night was a great combination of good friends, great musicians both in the audience and in the contributors bracket. Have to mention a new artist by the name of Alisha, whose songwriting and band shows a lot of promise. My friends and fellow musicians Raghu Dixit, Luke Kenny, PMan, Shadaab Khadri (Scribe), and Sidd Coutto came out...and unfortunately there wasn't enough time for all to play because SO many people came out to perform. It must be mentioned that Pman did an S+F cover of the song Love Love Love which was highly emotional and brought myself and quite a few others to tears. We after-partied until 7 AM. rock show!

S+F ACOUSTICA at Bonobo - I had never performed at this venue, but heard quite a bit about it. Must say, it shows when the owner is an ex-event planner/DJ himself. Neville knows what the scene needs and I think Bonobo is a step in the right direction. Our set consisted of mainly tracks from our 1st and 2nd album - rearranged and jammed with lengthy solos - and me on some percussion. I've been practicing :) Bonobo's brunch offers unlimited food and booze to those who come and it was an aussie's birthday party as well - so the scene was fairly rowdy for 1PM on a sunday afternoon.

In other news - Due to the Swine Flu scare, S+F's gig at High Spirits this Friday has been canceled. Please stay safe and healthy everyone.

6th AUGUST GIG

2009-08-08T21:14:00.000-07:00

It was mad previewing our new material - some people were totally digging it...I saw some knowing smiles in the crowd with our lavani dance opening - and our dubstep bass lines further into the set with unpreviewed songs like "Shine".

We took further and greater license to experiment.

The nice thing was I felt a sense of community with the people who came out - many faces I recognize as "fans"...more like "MY PEOPLE".

We put a lot into this show as it's our last full on set for quite some time. We're ducking low and still playing the Acoustica set...until our full on launch mid-November.

The plan as of now is to be in Europe Mid-October and get back in time for the album launch. Nerves are already high--we got a lot of work to do.

Shaa'ir and Func on Facebook

Much Love to those who came out and supported. We love you long time.

ALBUM NAME COMPETITION

2009-08-03T04:22:00.000-07:00

OK. Thursday August 6th S+F plays at Blue Frog...

We are offering free entry + 1 guest to the best 5 submissions of Album names to INFO@SHAAIRANDFUNC.COM

entries close at 12 AM on Thursday morning :) (wed. night)

please preview the record before you send something in
www.myspace.com/shaairandfunc

PUNE GIG

2009-07-24T11:28:00.000-07:00

THIS WEEK BACCHUS in BANGALORE

2009-07-20T03:11:00.000-07:00

The rains have been a time for extreme self-contemplation...lots of house arrests which then lends itself to bouts of manic creativity - because some kind of movement is needed. Looking back on it, New Day: The Love Album was written in the monsoon's. And now, our untitled third album, is still in it's creative stages during this beautifully reflective time.

This Thursday, S+F launches it's Acoustica tour - we are using some newly acquired tools, to play an S+F exploratory set with Acoustic sounds. So, it's not fully "unplugged" as such...but instead our version of acoustic/electronic production.

I'm really excited about how it's coming along. For me, it's an opportunity to show off the song aspect of S+F writing. I feel like we've already played quite a few sets that show how we can get a party started, and we can navigate our way through the rock and roll arena - but, stripping them down and improving with the songs that we've written is something we had yet to do...and now's the time.

So, Bangalore, we're coming to you first on the 23rd at a venue called Bacchus. details on myspace.com/shaairandfunc

Hope to see you guys soon.

GIGSINTOWN and NEXT MUMBAI GIG

2009-07-14T04:31:00.000-07:00

Woke up today and started to arrange the studio...bought a new desk...set up my line6 toneport bad boy sound-card with really fun vocal preamps...gonna get to know my processor better. Been blowing my nose a lot. Chai, Daal Chawal, blow nose, sit at computer, listen to music, blow nose...

Wrote two new songs yesterday!!! hurray hurray. that always feels nice. treated myself to some parles G's and chai. I'm sick which puts a slight damper on the already damp environment that is Mumbai Monsoon Season. hence the repetitive blow nose reference.

SO, more importantly, gotta write about this wicked new site called GigsInTown - www.gigsintown.com basically you can join right now for free and post all your gigs...get informed about all gigs happening around India.

Sign up for it.

We did.

On another note, our Bombay fam keeps asking WHEN IS THE NEXT BOMBAY GIG!?!?!?! It's the 6th of August people. Do you visit our Myspace page??? Cuz if you don't...You totally SHOULD! We are working every day on beefing up the live set so that you come to Blue Frog at 10 PM on the night of August 6th, 2009, strip down to just your skivvies cuz your clothes won't let you dance as hard as your gonna want to, sweat, and prove that Bombay is probably the coolest city on the planet because the people are freaky, the food rocks, and the music is like sex personified...or um...musicafied.

Love you lots.
Pace Regazzo

Random but TRUE

2009-07-13T05:26:00.000-07:00

So, guess what I just read in this incredible book with facts about the industry...

ABBA was offered a billion dollars to do a 100 concert reunion tour and they refused.

Morrissey and The Smiths were offered $5 million to play 1 show at Coachella - and Morrissey was quoted saying he would rather eat his own testicles! Needless to say, they didn't play the show.

out of control.

We updated our myspace page with all of our upcoming shows.

check it.

http://www.myspace.com/shaairandfunc

PUNE July 10th

2009-07-11T06:12:00.000-07:00

WICKED SHOW. full stop.

but, i will say more...

we left mumbai in an innova in the pouring rain. got stuck in a land slide and i thought i had never seen the planet in a more beautiful condition. we are so tiny compared to the powers of this great earth. it's majesty and it's power humbled me.
rain, the giver of life...the destroyer too. hundreds of cars sat parked on the three lane highway...a guy came around selling chikoo...Anand (S+F bassist) was playing Ozric Tentacles on the sound system. We got out of the car and sat on the subdivider...the edge of the mountain...it was beautiful. chaos tends to initiate peace. or so it seems.

so, the clouds hung low, and we reached pune just in time to sound check. we had to be quick because there was a namaaz happening right next door and we aren't exactly the quietest band in universe (break yo face)- so even sound check is quite the raucous. instantly i was infused with that larger than life high i get from making music live with the ingredients present. the chemistry between lindsay d'mello (our drummer), anand subaya (our bassist), and randolph correia (also known as funk)is bloody brilliant - it had been a while...i've been in new york for almost two months and i haven't taken so much time off from the band in over two years. vacation did me good - but i'm well in need of getting back to the grind that keeps me full of fire...life gets dull - and if it's dull than what's the point?

So we played for an hour and a half - and I feel that other cities in India (Delhi, Bangalore, Bombay, I love you - but Pune knows how to jump!) could take a little lesson from Pune folk. Fire-starters I say. It was ablaze.

If I may ask, WHY IS PUNE SO FREAKING GOOD-LOOKING!?! It was a well attended good-lookin' folk fest for god sakes...is it something in the air out there? Share the wealth people.

Also, at least half the room knew all the lyrics to our tracks. That could be the single most gratifying feeling for me.

oh...and we tried out some new stuff from the album. That went down well.

This really sweet girl told me that our music makes her believe in love.

All in all a great homecoming. Got lots of work to do now - get back into fine form for the upcoming events we have going on.

So, next up, we have a gig on the 1st of August in Pune at the new Opus - and the preview is up on myspace of the new album. PLEASE CHECK IT OUT RIGHT NOW.

3rd album inspirational reading

2009-07-01T10:55:00.001-07:00

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion.

-Thoreau

Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

Today the whole world is talking about you. Every club, every channel, every radio station, every man, woman, and child...because you are gone.

You remind us, in your absence of the tremendous power that music has over every soul on the planet. You are immortal. Nothing can touch how you made people FEEL - through sound. I cried over you. Never met you, never had the privilege of seeing you live. But you are branded on my heart by your words, your songs, and what they represented to me in my life. every memory capture by "i'm bad" - every freaky dance move. You are the face that launched a thousand dreams.

Thank you.
We will all miss you.

picasso face twisted

2009-06-12T15:36:00.000-07:00

Emotions rival television. They are stuffed with drama - chaos - destruction...all the good things that keep everyone flipping channels for more. Addicts of tragedies.

It's been raining for four days in New York. I always used to think that the sky was crying. I wonder about Bombay. I miss it most moments. I miss the heat. I wonder if the sky is crying there... ?

Music videos are in the works at the moment. Randolph is still at hard work on the acoustica album. I am putting my thoughts to paper and already planning for the 5th baby. I think it's become like breath for me. The blood to this life. I just went to a yoga class taught by an american girl named Linda. Her american accented pronunciations of things like "Shakti" and "kirtan" - make me giggle...but, she knows probably more about yog than the average Indian in India. Makes me think about the planet, and how we are really becoming one people, cross-cultured and mixed breeds - all of us.

Not sure if I mentioned that I played at Hiro Ballroom in New York a few weeks ago. That venue is japanese in it's fair, but the home of some of the greatest gigs to grace the city of New York. People really came through for the show - so many new faces out of the wood work. Many who have seen S+F play in Bombay. T'was a great show. S+F fans, you are the made of solid stuff.

also. The Human Be-In's we staged in Kolkata and Bangalore were amazing. Here's an article about the one in Cal. Think it was really well written for a change.

--------------------------------------------
THE HAPPENING

The idea and the name is borrowed from an event which reinvented American counterculture — in January 14, 1967, the hippie culture came into being in San Fancisco’s Golden Gate Park thanks to an event called Human Be-in, which aimed for personal empowerment, cultural and political decentralization— but Monica Dogra can still be considered a trailblazer. By providing an open platform to all kinds of art forms to aspiring musicians of the city, Dogra who is a part of the Mumbai-based electronica band Shaair and Func, is doing something that has possibly never been attempted in the country before. “I hope this allows talented performers to engage, explore and ultimately collaborate with other artists. The idea is to nurture these talents, give them the opportunity to explore their forms and possibly to even be discovered,” she says. In Someplace Else this Friday, Kolkata’s first Open Mic night , the Be-In was launched. “It is open to all people who love to perform. Be it musical performers or stand up comedians. As an artiste with political concern and reasonable means, this is the least I could do,” says Dogra. The Friday launch of Be-in was just the beginning of what Dogra hopes is a “revolution”. “I hope this platform encourages pluralistic expression. We would like to provide and open and equal platform to share ideas and thoughts,” she says.

The Be-in will be a monthly event at Someplace Else

SUPERMAN

2009-06-08T23:01:00.000-07:00

I'm in New York right now. It's tripping me out. Even though this is where I am from - I have a whole new perspective on the planet and am seeing my home through "bombay eyes". I couldn't believe it. I went to duane reade and found a 30 foot aisle of JUST shampoo. SO MANY COLORS! trippy. right?

S+F fans have been writing asking about the 3rd album. when will it be released. is the version that is up on our myspace page (we put a preview up on www.myspace.com/shaairandfunc) the final version?

well basically, we are still in the polishing stages - simultaneously working on an acoustic "best of" album as well. We are aiming to release officially in Sept/October of this year. Meanwhile, there are some serious talks of summer tour schedules - i'm still taking my human be-in open mic shindig on the road. meeting lots of you personally which is tremendous fun. And, I'm sure you wouldn't be surprised to know that travel and other such things actually ends up seeping into the music...and what everything ends up feeling like at the end.

I suppose we are all time sensitive.

SO - back to the loca vida. may a pillow of truth cradle your head.

INDIAN UNDERGROUND PODCAST

2009-05-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

http://cache.mypodcast.com/cached/iup_20090429_1249-423853-203609-2-25.mp3

recommend you support and download and listen.

No, S+F isn't featured on this one - but, i'm sure we will be soon.

In any case. PROPS chuddy buddy ashish. you done good.

love and light.

ps- S+F at hardrock this thursday. sharing the space with them clones.

! see ya.

reminiscing.

2009-04-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

It's Probably This video of a live performance we did on the Dance Tent at the Legendary Big Chill Festival.

I sometimes hate the sound of my speaking voice. So feel free to ignore that rubbish...however true it is.

Politics of Humanity

2009-04-11T00:36:00.000-07:00

It's an extremely fragmented world of politics within this complex and beautiful country. The more knowledge we try to obtain, the more lack of cohesion and obstruction of information is faced. What's more are the layers and layers of corruption that one must sift through in order to uncover some semblance of truth.

All that being said, what's happening politically world over is this exciting feeling of an uprising. The battle is near, or are we in it? Who is real? Who is not? What is fictional - what is just a marketing campaign? Who are the old politicians flexing their tattered muscles, paan stained teeth, basking in the glory of a sea of manipulated innocent minds. Too innocent to think, perhaps? Too innocent to confront? Or is it too afraid? We've all witnessed innocents getting beaten by laathis for wearing the wrong cap, or maybe they had features of a UP'ite? Who knows? But I know that I felt pretty powerless. I know I felt scared. And who is responsible? In such a fragmented democracy such chaos is inevitable...and within such chaos is opportunity...a smell...a different kind of "V for Vendetta" freedom. You can always throw your shoe at someone who pisses you off?

Today, the rallies look different. At least to me they do. More T-shirts and jeans. More notebooks and DV cameras. More college education and correct syntax. More questions. More thought. More action.

I recommend this website for really interesting and informative blogs about what's happening politically right now in India.
www.IndiPepal.com

Also, an FYI, video interviews of the candidates are said to be posted on the site...
www.mumbaivotes.com
Although it looks like a lot of videos so far are missing or haven't been posted yet.

I just want to feel informed...and my tendency is to ignore mass media - which is what the news feels like. What turns me off the most is how I've noticed people watching/discussing news as if it's gossip - with the same fervor and removal from reality as Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.

And I feel like throwing up.

AWARDS! - what do they even mean?

2009-04-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

Been thinking a lot about this in recent months. Interestingly enough, I'm on the favorable side of "awards" - something I always wanted, always dreamed to have-and i am very grateful for what i have received...and don't get me wrong, I still dream the grammy dream (ex through the impossible word-that shit belongs in cheesy broadway numbers...)so it's not as if the dream is over, but every time another award label comes my way "most blah blah blah band...top 10 emerging artist...India's favorite so and so" I just wonder what it actually means.

It feels good. Most definitely. And it's nice to be acknowledged. Because sometimes ego rubbing feels like chocolate on a sugar deprived tongue. You get me?

Like recently, for the AVIMA awards, Shaa'ir + func won the title of "Most mind-boggling, genre-bending track" - and I have to give these guys props for coming up with a category called "most mind-boggling". What fun. But I'm biased, I love the word boggle. Just say it. Felt good, didn't it? Don't lie. Boggleboggleboggle.

I really want to know what you think.

What do awards even mean. Do you give a second glance to artists just because they are "award-winning"...do you think I should start my own awards? Shall I write a list of superlatives right now...
1. Band/Artist most likely to break shit on stage
2. Band/Artist most likely to get the audience naked
3. Band/Artist most likely to have Mallika Sherawat guest on the flute for their next tour
4. Most under-produced but still effing awesome TRACK
5. Band/Artist most likely to succeed in Antarctica
6. Most Prolific Band/Artist
7. Best song that mimics the human condition
8. Band/Artist most likely to give up music and become a Jew for Jesus uniting the ongoing disparity between catholics and jesuits in India.
what? i know. i don't get it either.

okay, done for now. anxiously awaiting your response.

MEDUSA

2009-03-31T04:00:00.000-07:00

I went to one of their first ever legitimate gigs, and I was really really happy to see how many people came out for these guys. I felt, as I often do, a sense of community and responsibility bouncing from body to body in the room. It always feels nice when I can feel that way.

I need to write about these guys and give them major big ups for sticking to what they love and believe in...the maturity of their sound which I know for a fact they have worked very hard on. It's also nice to hear beautiful songs, plain and simple. You can hear the echoes of some John Leckie on a couple of the tracks.......that nice, clean, sound of Indie. I've always taken a liking towards that. Raxit has a purity about him that cannot be taught...it cannot even be learned - you either have it or you don't.

After the gig, I went up to the guitarist to give him some love - congratulate him - he thought i was going to offer some tips or criticism.

A. I don't think it's my place to criticize.
B. I think the priority here is first to develop a living breathing scene with healthy audiences before we go trying to compartmentalize and minimize the people who are actually doing something
C. I sound like a broken record, but I won't stop saying this until I actually see a change
D. My only complaint are the audiences. Loosen up. Have a drink. Do what you gotta do...Dancing feels good...so does letting loose. And it's one FREE way you can repay the artists you watch, since you probably just download their music for free off the internet anyway!

p.s. - i love you.

RAINED OUT and going to MARS

2009-03-16T05:32:00.000-07:00

This passed weekend we were scheduled to play the Sula fest. We were actually really excited about it, as we played the festival last year and it was beautiful-although under-attended.

More people came out to support it this year, though it was still a pretty weak turnout. Problem was, there was a HUGE STORM! So, only one band got the opportunity to play....and I was actually so happy I got to see them live. Shridhar & Thayil are an absolutely superb band! Definitely one to watch out for.

The rest of the live sets were canceled. Bummer.

Jalebee Cartell still played an indoor set and the wine and food overflowed. Ouch in the morning. All well worth it. WE MUST SUPPORT FESTIVALS AND LIVE MUSIC.

Happy Holi by the way. Big love and big ups to Jeet Zitar for his effort with the ELEKTROHOLI FEST. Which was also pretty awesome although underattended. Bombay!!!! WHERE ARE YOU!?!?!?!?!?

This weekend, S+F opens for the band MOUSE ON MARS. We're excited. We like them.

Signing out.

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Mid February - Show dates and Special Happenings

2009-02-12T02:54:00.000-08:00

Spent three days in Goa. Where I met myself. A combination of an earlier version, and a me I'd like to be. It felt great knowing I was coming back to madness - a job I love so much. And recently, have been under-appreciating.

Shaa'ir + func has been nominated by the Jack Daniel Rock Awards for

Band of The Year
Song of The Year
Album of The Year
Female Vocalist of The Year

Because the awards ceremony is tonight - I (Monica) will not be able to host Open Mind Night. I was trying to get them to push the date so I could host...but, it just wasn't working out. So regretfully, I will miss Open Mind. I am very grateful for the nominations and feel pretty damn special about the female vocalist thing. Never really won an award before as such. I never liked competitions - or encouraged them. I think art is supposed to be varied and it's difficult to compare.

To answer many questions as well, yes, the Hyundai ad is my voice but NO it is not an S+F track. :o)

"Reviewers have every right to knock an album if they don’t connect with it. But the fact that they use a tone of voice that is supposed to be the GREAT TRUTH is utterly useless in a time when we need art more than we need non-artists to tell us what art is good and what is not. Reviewers tend to think they are the “end all be all” of opinion and this makes most artists (and readers ) sick.
You can’t use phrases like “splitting headache”, and “falls flat on its face”, and then find some solid parts of the record to praise…..it doesn’t make sense to pan and praise within the same paragraph. This review is proof there are too many online reviewers out there and not enough artists taking the risks to stick their art and their necks out there." - Written by a lad named Todd in response to a pretty cruel review we got about our 2nd record Light Tribe.

But, it looks like a lot of people seemed to like it eh? I have never met an artist who hasn't met with resentment, hate, and disapproval...the important thing is to just dust yourself off and keep going.

I wanted to post what Todd wrote because I think it was intelligently written and bang on. Yes, we need art more than we need non-artists to tell us what art is good and what is not! I love that. So, Jack Daniel Rock Awards are awesome for bringing us all together...and in my mind, any musician who is waking up every day and doing their thing...pushing forward...writing their music...and laying themselves on the line...i think we're all fucking winners.

All that being said...WE ARE PLAYING THE FOLLOWING SHOWS

13th - Opus, Bangalore
14th - Chrome, Kolkata
21st - SAARC Festival, World Music, NEW DELHI Connaught place
24th - Lakme Fashion Week, MUMBAI

ok
bye

:)

RESPONSE

2009-01-31T21:21:00.000-08:00

to...the tragedy. some people wake up every day...and they are who they want to be...or at least shaping themselves to be so. i watched a lot of people try and capitalize on the tragedy...turning it into their marketing machine to launch some sort of artistic purpose.

to those...
i wrote this...

S+F Naked

2009-01-31T00:36:00.000-08:00

That's how we were introduced. Didn't make it so easy for us. But, he was correct in saying so. Indeed. We all remember the first time we are seen naked...how scary it is. Funny, when you are a child, it is easy. Your mom gives you a bath, your aunt, your uncle, you don't have a swim suit...no problem! - take your clothes off and jump right in! Then something changes, and the world becomes uncomfortable with YOU. So you protect yourself in lycra and color - until that fateful day comes when you show yourself to some lucky witness.

I feel lucky that so many people arrived at our gig, despite the hefty cover charge, which we were unaware of (so sorry for that). And those who did come, actually listened. I felt connection. A bright pink light blinded my sight - but this was different because I could FEEL people.

We decided to play with just guitar and vocals, instead of adding colors like djembe, or even electric guitar, pedals, etc. We made that choice for a very specific reason. We wanted to see if we could take out all viable "entertainment" elements, and still play an hour and a half long set like ancient story tellers would. And engage! Most importantly.

I know that we are a fast food nation (in all areas of culture-lights disco drumnbass) And I am not ANTI! But I do feel that 2009 is a time for solid grounding - so as to achieve the higher consciousness that we so desperately seek.

So, without saying too much...it actually went down perfectly. I shocked myself at the things I so openly spoke about. Catharsis. Yeah, it happened.

We will do this again. I know it.

STRIPPED DOWN. soul spill.

2009-01-28T03:27:00.000-08:00

So, I promise that from here on out, I will write more on this blog. If you promise, that you will let me know that you are actually reading.

It's been a trying and difficult year, you know...2008. Was hard. We toured more than ever before...We worked our butts off every day. And most days, we barely had a moment to even consider how we felt...or what we wanted. Obviously, the greater goal has been to spread the message across borders. Connect the world through music. Play slamming shows. Be inspired. Try to make people feel things...connect...burn a fire.

Burn.

I don't know. I still need a moment to think about what the hell transpired over the last year. So, more on that to come.

But, tonight, we are playing our first ever unplugged set. I'll be sharing my poems...my thoughts...we'll be opening ourselves up in the most raw and vulnerable way.

Tonight at DEL ITALIA - IL TERRAZO (top floor) 9:30 pm. in Juhu. BOMBAY.

In the midst of all this happening go go go stuff...I'm eager. For a spare moment to consider what it all means.

I wonder if tonight will offer some clarity.

Love and light. still... 'cause even now we need it.

COLOGNE video of LORD INSIDE

2008-12-26T03:19:00.000-08:00

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.

2008-12-07T02:57:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-03T21:24:00.000-08:00

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??

2008-11-02T23:47:00.000-08:00

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...

2008-10-29T01:45:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-26T03:41:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-22T04:39:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-03T01:39:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-12T01:20:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-10T10:54:00.000-07:00

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??

2008-09-03T01:08:00.000-07:00

WHO IS SHAAIR + FUNC?

Back in Bombay - Rock On

2008-09-03T00:35:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-25T09:12:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-25T08:57:00.000-07:00

14 days, 4 countries.

2008-08-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-22T02:11:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-09T01:34:00.000-07:00

Light Tribe Launch

2008-05-27T02:51:00.001-07:00

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!!!!!!!

2008-05-16T06:05:00.001-07:00

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

2008-05-14T09:22:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-27T06:36:00.000-07:00

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 !!!!!!!

2008-04-22T01:49:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-04-09T22:48:00.000-07:00

imminence

2008-04-05T02:34:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-26T06:34:00.001-07:00

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

2008-02-28T08:02:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-02-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-06T23:28:00.001-08:00

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!?!?

2008-01-31T12:14:00.000-08:00

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.

2008-01-19T05:32:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-15T03:59:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-01-14T02:09:00.000-08:00

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.

fond memory

2007-11-30T22:24:00.000-08:00

It's about 2 AM, on the Knitting Factory main stage in New York City. Shaa'ir + func has already dropped their set, and a massive jam of exemplary musicians is taking place. I get off stage for a second of down time, though I'm vying to get back on with an urgency that is only felt when energy is so highly elevated that a source energy from the earth's core itself must be feeding it. func is killing it, driving through dense sound with continuous flow...offering a spine to the body of sound in the room. I get back on stage, let my feet ground me into where the six musicians playing are at...my ears take over, my mind shuts off...and I sing about stormy weather. Whatever parts my lips, I have no more than a second to realize and release. That's what's so amazing about a jam. It's inception, and it's demise are simultaneous. I speak about the musical mandala we are creating...I see friends, fans who are future friends, beautiful women, conscious men...I see people unafraid...I see people excited.

....and I think of Dylan Thomas...I think of how beautifully preserved our light is...I think of how we are NOT jaded...how we are NOT conformists....of how we are NOT haters...of how the middle finger is a lovely sign to hold up in unity for a brutal ('cause sometimes you got to be strong about what you believe) NO THANK YOU. So, I sing, we will not go gentle into that goodnight...I sing, that we rage against the dying of the light...I sing, that what happens in this room tonight will seep out into the world outside...I sing, that I raise my middle finger up in the air, not in hate, but in a brutal no thank you to that which compromises my individuality. I see a sea of middle fingers up in the air, and giant smiles stretched from ear to ear......
maybe a tear drop falls my passion finds it's way out of my body somehow
so i don't internally combust

Do not go gentle into that good night

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears,
I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

- Dylan Thomas

BACK IN BOMBAY

2007-11-29T09:52:00.000-08:00

It's been a crazy ride. We've been abroad for the last five months and now we are back in Bombay. It's all part of the master plan. One of the things we would love to do through this blog, is stay connected to our people. Whoever you are, wherever you are.

Often, we speak of a universal tribe. Conscious minds, who have things to say...dreams they want to realize...and parties they'd like to attend. But, seriously, this universal tribe of like-minded individuals, are brethren...perhaps born on different soil, and products of different cultural backgrounds, but one soul and intersecting destinies.

Every day we have to ask ourselves what we are about. Probably this definition is fluid and ever changing. But one thing is for certain, we are all pursuers of happiness.

In any case, I'm not too certain this post has a point, past the fact that as a band we want to connect with you...and I'm going to do my best to post a couple of times a week. Just basic updates on where we are and what we are doing. Maybe if we need a suggestion or two, or we just want to tell you about our upcoming gigs. In the mean time, we hope to see you at the Sunburn festival in Candolem in Goa. It's a really exciting time in India right now...and we are so psyched to be a part of the movement.

Much love.