Karma Sheen

Hailing from cosmopolitan London, the music of Karma Sheen merges Hindustani Classical, fuzzy 60s Rock à la Jimi Hendrix, and Sufi-inspired lyricism, deeply rooted in cultural heritage. Spearheaded by Sameer Khan, who's formally trained by a 600-year-old lineage of musicians from modern-day Pakistan, the group aims to bring timeless tradition to new realms. By daring to embrace the Hindustani format while drinking from retro aesthetics and resignifying it all with the avant-gardism of neo-psych, they create something both recognizable and new. 

From a very young age Hindustani classical music has been a part of Sameer Khan’s education; in particular, the Shaam Chaurasi Gharana. Gharana is a school of thought, linking artists by lineage or apprenticeship, and by adherence to a particular style and ideology. At the age of 16 Sameer underwent informal training with Ustaad Shafqat Ali Khan and sat with him and his sons as part of a backing band. Later on, Sameer began formal training from Ustaad Shafqat Ali Khan’s older brother Ustaad Latafat Ali Khan, both sons of legendary singer Ustaad Salamat Ali Khan.

Despite not coming from a South Asian background, Rod Bourganos initiated his Sitar studies at the age of 12 in Brazil and later took classes in Singapore with Maestro Shri
Chandranath Bhattacharya of Senia Gharana, believed to be the most researched school in Sitar and dates back to Ustaad Masit Sen of the 17th century. Avid fans of 60s and 70s Rock music, Sameer and Rod joined efforts with bass player and visual artist Grisha Grebennikov, guitarist and Sameer's childhood friend Amad Chima and guest drummers to merge the Hindustani template with electrifying psych rock music.

Their self-titled debut album is set to be released in October 2023, supported by a UK tour. Despite not having released an album yet, the group became known for their captivating performances fuelled by a plethora of electrified folk instruments, and increasingly gained space in the live circuit since 2021, playing festivals such as Shambala, Boomtown, The Great Escape and supporting established acts such as WITCH, Dur-Dur Band, and Sarathy Korwar. The Karma Sheen album encapsulates the concept of the group while capturing the allure of their live performances. 

The songs of the group are based around Shaam Chaurasi Gharana "bandishes", which are melodic compositions in Hindustani music set in a specific raga (scale/musical mode). Intertwined by the songs are the Alaps, the prelude or prologue to a Raga. The lyrics, mostly in Urdu, portray Sufi poetry, a form of mystical Islamic devotional literature that metaphorically expresses themes such as divine love. The traditional instruments are blended with analogue synths and theremin sounds, creating sonic landscapes that are unique to Karma Sheen.