Exclusive Premiere: Ambient Producer Nicolas Sávva Teams with Monsoonsiren for ‘White Hotel’
Hear the lightheaded, lush new track featuring the Indian singer-producer, off Sávva’s upcoming debut EP ‘Panacea’
Berlin-based ambient producer Nicolas Sávva (left) collaborates with Indian singer-producer Monsoonsiren on "White Hotel." Photo: Courtesy of TRIX PR
If you had to map out producer Nicolas Sávva’s breathtaking debut EP Panacea, it would go from his native Australia to Germany (since he now resides in Berlin). If you added collaborators, you get an even bigger picture. Sávva says, “We ended up with instrumentalists from Sri Lanka, Greece, Germany, America and Australia on the record.”
He also gives specific mention to Bengaluru-based singer-producer Monsoonsiren aka Nathan Menon, who lends his almost cherubic voice to the ethereal opener “White Hotel.” Sávva says, “Before I even finished writing the first harp compositions, I knew I wanted to approach Monsoonsiren to collaborate on the record. I had always been interested in his music and felt that he had a really similar emotional point of view to me.” Menon, who has collaborated previously with American electronic duo Odesza and Australian dance/ambient producer Tom Day, says he only collaborates if he “feels compelled too.” Menon adds, “Nicolas got in touch with me regarding the record, he sent me two ideas and both of those ideas really spoke to me.”
Layered over with harp from Berlin-based Anastasia Sissy Markopoulou and North Carolina-based hammered dulcimer artist Joshua Messick, there’s a sadness to “White Hotel” that covers ambient and neoclassical with subtle electronic elements. Sávva says Panacea deals with themes of “sorrow, hope and transcendence ”“ unfolded in a linear plot.” Created entirely over email, it was a straightforward collaboration that might lead to another pairing for a Monsoonsiren project. Sávva adds, “Monsoonsiren really helped a lot with constructing this universe and taking the themes and feelings to new places.”
Panacea, which has been in the works for two years, releases on November 30th via NVMPHS. It also features Sri Lankan flautist-composer Kasun Primal, fellow Australian-born Berlin artist Kris Vango and Berlin-based cellist Natasha Jaffe. “I ended up meeting so many like-minded people who felt the same way about music as I did, and who encouraged me to express myself in new ways,” Sávva says.
Pre-order ”˜Panacea’ here.
