Mera Bhai

"a melodic, dancefloor-tuned track packed with classic Brazilian funk samples, velvety bass, and intoxicating keys and vocals that, as he puts it, 'make it feel a bit like you’re rushing/coming up'" DJ Mag (read HERE)

Mera Bhai AKA Karthik Poduval, is a multi-instrumentalist, producer & DJ also known as a founding member of Psych band Flamingods & member of the Internal team of Global Asian Underground collective Daytimers.  

Born in London, with roots in India, alongside time spent growing up in Italy, Albania, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Nigeria, this worldly influence seeps into his unique take on dance music.  

New single, ‘Evil Butter’ is out now and brings with it the announcement of his second EP Relax Into Yourself via his own imprint Morning Raga Records. 

The track is about how bittersweet self care can feel in our lives in today’s fast paced world. Using a play on words to pull focus onto how we feel about good and bad, should and shouldn’t, ‘Evil Butter’ is a musical exploration of these themes. You can hear this in the sweet and sultry, yet slightly ominous sounding vocals sung by chameleonic Liverpool experimental-pop trio Stealing Sheep. This takes place over a rising and falling, discordant, funk instrumental.. 

The words are an obvious juxtaposition. Butter is so delicious, how can it be Evil? Self care is so good, how can it feel so wrong? Taking time for yourself, healing, and caring for yourself can be a complex and confusing process with all of life’s pressures and expectations as well as media and social media influences. 

The track was an opportunity for Mera Bhai to delve into these (often nonsensical) juxtapositions through sound and lyrics based off of writings from self-help books from the 90s and 00s. 

“The point,” says Mera Bhai, “is that none of it is meant to sit quite right with the listener, I was very intentional in wanting it to feel that way. I kind of wanted it to mirror how we get fed all these fake messages of empowerment by the media trying to convince us what’s good for us; I think we become a bit hypnotised by it and start to align ourselves with it, when actually there is something about it that never quite feels right.” 

As ever, the musical inspiration is diverse - bringing in many different elements to create a journey.  

“There’s TB303 Acid lines, samples from 70s and 80s Brazilian funk records, drum breaks and rising chords intended to make it feel like you’re rushing/coming up.” 

The collaboration with Stealing Sheep came about as Mera Bhai had crossed paths with them while on tour with Flamingods several times and always had an inkling that some kind of collaboration could happen. 

“Stealing Sheep are amazing; their artistic vision is so strong. They have such a strong anti-establishment vibe to them and their tracks seem to always have coded messages and social commentary too, which very much fitted with the vibe on this.” 

Relax Into Yourself follows Mera Bhai’s debut EP Futureproofing which was released on Moshi Moshi Records in October 2020 and featured guest appearances and collaborations from Alxndr London, Andrew Ashong, Alex White (Fat White Family) & Charles Prest (Flamingods). 

Mera Bhai’s two year break from releasing music was what he calls an ‘enforced period’ of musical development. His ever-evolving sound takes influence from 80s and 90s House, Detroit techno and Jungle breaks, often borrowing from Classic Bollywood Soundtracks, Tropicalia and Disco. 

Despite his sabbatical from releasing music, Mera Bhai has held regular and guest appearances on: Rinse FM, BBC Asian Network, Melodic Distraction, Trippin World and Worldwide FM. He also played several DJ sets at this years long awaited Glastonbury Festival, in Croatia, and recently for Acclaimed Afro Futurist Collective Fulu Miziki’s one-off London show. 

Additionally, he has also been awarded the PRSF Open Fund for further upcoming releases. Previous awardees include: Actress, Afrodeutsche, Gaika, Wu-Lu, & Sarathy Korwar. 

Editors notes: 

Mera Bhai is a Hindi greeting which translates to ‘My Brother’ –  acknowledging the democratic nature of music and a statement of intent for Mera Bhai in how he positions his relationship with his audience. The welcoming implication speaks to the borderless nature of dance music, both in a global sense, as well as personal. Infused with a wide, authentic cultural understanding and appreciation for the way dance music brings people together democratically. 

Previous releases have been supported by Electronic Sound, Clash Music, Hyponik, Music Tech Magazine, London In Stereo, Trippin World, Ransom Note, iNews and was picked as Under The Radar magazines 'Top Tips For 2021' 

Radio support from Lauren Laverne at 6Music, Jamzsupernova at 1xtra, Don Letts at 6music, Naina at Applemusic, Jon Kennedy XFM, Worldwide FM, Janice Long BBC Radio Wales, Bobby Friction BBC Asian Network, Manara BBC Asian Network, Soho Radio, Reprezent, plus previous singles playlisted at Amazing Radio & Hoxton FM.