Austin-based artist Nagavalli just released her single, “Jhini Re Jhini”, from her soon to be released album, Immersion which is due out January 15, 2019. To celebrate her album release, Nagavalli is performing at the One World Theater January 20, 2019 in Austin, Texas.
Nagavalli describes her music as Eastern Soul, with delicate touches of pop, rock, trance, and pure Eastern tradition. Immersion, which was recorded at Austin Signal by Jon Niess and Don Harvey, with Harvey co-producing the album with Nagavalli, is a fusion of traditional Indian sounds with western influences featuring Shlokas/Sanskrit chants and Bhajans (devotional songs). “I composed the melodies on the album,” said Nagavalli. “The album was recorded as one continuous piece of music, even as it strings several different Shlokas/Sanskrit chants and Bhajans together using, primarily, instrumental interludes. The album also brings together western instruments such as keys, synth and pedal steel with traditional Indian vocals, sitar and percussion instruments.”
This unique musical fusion is notable in “Jhini Re Jhini”, which Nagavalli says is a Sant Kabir bhajan (Kabir was an Indian mystic poet and saint whose writings influenced Hinduism’s Bhakti movement and his verses are found in Sikhism’s scripture Guru Granth Sahib). The song is enchanting and vibrant, giving way to Nagavalli’s pure, spiritual vocals throughout.
Nagavalli grew up in Mumbai, India, bringing the rich, soulful music of her home to Austin, Texas. She has worked with musicians from a variety of genres such as Latin, American rock and jazz to middle-eastern, Indian classical and folk music. Nagavalli was named one of the Top 10 Female Vocalists and World Music artists at the 2015-2016 Austin Music Awards, and has become a staple in Austin music circles, recording and performing with such artists and bands as Oliver Rajamani, Atash, Govinda and Ginger Leigh. Learn more about this phenomenal artist on her website: nagavalli.com
