On Folk Radio, we have always been drawn to artists that follow creative paths off the beaten track and Balladeste, a collaboration between violinist Preetha Narayanan and cellist Tara Franks, are a duo that falls into this category. While their music may be difficult to categorise, I like the description given in their bio: Indo-Baroque meets alt-folk minimalism.
In September, they release their sophomore album ‘Beyond Breath’, described as holding a stillness and contemplative quality, never undermining the attention to detail and intricacy of the instrumental songwriting – Part song, part narrative, part modal imagery. Sometimes we recognise an Indian sensitivity; at other times, it just sounds like ‘ancient’ music, something before cultural stereotypes made us judge and attach everything.
Drawing on a set of Indian devotional songs from the Sathya Sai Lineage, some tracks reveal devotional melodies in their entirety. Some play with fragments, and others explore the concept of collective breath, the sacred space that we all inhabit.
Talking about Dina Dukhio, their first single, which is accompanied by a video below, they tell us:
This first single from our new album ‘Beyond Breath’ is inspired by a raga-based Indian devotional melody from the Sai Lineage, which in essence translates as ‘overcoming sorrow.’ We wanted to explore the idea of ritual and letting go in this film following the experience of the last year and a half. In collaboration with beautiful filmmaker and artist Tamsin Elliot, we were able to bring a new visual narrative to life.
On the video’s opening, Tamsin’s clever use of the camera’s shallow depth of field creates beautiful dreamy bokeh, giving the video an ethereal stillness, a quality Balladeste’s music exudes. Their long notes are gentle and caressing, and those warm tones immediately set you at ease. However, this is just the prelude, for their vocals totally transform the piece. I was happily lost in the moment; it is quite an extraordinary and beautiful listening experience…and thanks to the video, it’s like forest-bathing without leaving your chair. This will leave you wanting more so make sure you pre-order the album.
Find out more about Balladeste here: https://www.balladeste.co.uk/
Beyond Breath is produced by Fred Thomas (who also provides additional viella, banjo, double bass) and is released in September. Pre-Order via Bandcamp: https://balladeste.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-breath