Donn Bhat + Passenger Revelator to Perform in Sri Lanka

(from left) Ashwin Andrew, Donn Bhat, Sarosh Nanavaty, Suhail Yusuf Khan and Sankarshan Kini. Photo: Courtesy of Donn Bhat

Mumbai electro rock band Donn Bhat + Passenger Revelator’s first show outside India is a study in globalization ”“ they’re an Indian band booked to play four shows this week as part of Sri Lanka’s Galle Music Festival, which is co-organized by Royal Norwegian Embassy and Concerts Norway. For Bhat, who played for the now-defunct Delhi rock band Orange Street, it’s just another chance to play music that has only been heard inside his studio since he moved from Delhi to Mumbai in 2007.

Passenger Revelator, Bhat’s live band, currently comprises bassist, vocalist and trumpet-player Sankarshan Kini, drummer Ashwin Andrew, vocalist Sarosh Nanavaty [from electro rock band Vega Massive] and sarangi player and vocalist Suhail Yusuf Khan. The band made their stage debut in November 2012, and now includes three core members, Bhat, Kini and Andrew. Guest collaborators who have featured on Bhat’s two albums, One Way Circle (2012) and Passenger Revelator (2013), include Ashhar Farooqui from electronica act Teddy Boy Kill, Orange Street frontman Anirban Chakraborty and Hindustani vocalist Sukriti Sen. Says Bhat, “I still always love to jam with Suhail, though. He’s amazing ”“ he can fit in anywhere and we can incorporate a lot of sarangi in our sound.”

Passenger Revelator will perform “Electro Sajna,” with Khan, which Bhat and the sarangi player had composed over a year ago. The band’s setlist in Sri Lanka will also include songs such as “Samson Delilah,” “80’s Boy” and “Was An Animal.” They will perform on March 15th at the Galle Music Festival in Galle and on March 17th at the Colombo edition of the same festival. Bhat adds that the band will also play during two workshops on March 12th and 14th. Says Bhat, “I’ve never done a workshop before, I’m a bit nervous about it, but we’ll probably just play a very short set.”

Bhat has two albums and a few new compositions such as “80’s Boy” and “We Don’t Press Play” but are in no hurry to enter the studio yet, given the changing lineup. Says Bhat, “I’ve written a lot, but it’s only now that we’re evolving into electro-rock, a sound [which works] more for clubs. We spent time reworking songs when I put the live band together.”

Donn Bhat + Passenger Revelator perform at Galle Music Festival on March 15th at Moon Bastion, Galle Fort and on March 17th at Galle Face Green, Colombo. More details here.

Listen to Donn Bhat + Passenger Revelator here