Exclusive Premiere: Electronic Producer Grain and Singer/Composer Komorebi’s Mind-Bending Collaboration ‘Dream’
The New Delhi duo’s cross-genre experiment includes a starry guitar solo from Mumbai’s Warren Mendonsa aka Blackstratblues and keys from multi-instrumentalist Karsh Kale
Dream artwork by Archan Nair
When singer/composer Tarana Marwah aka Komorebi met electronic producer Gaurav Raina aka Grain (one half of New Delhi electronica duo Midival Punditz) at a gig in New Delhi last year, the two got talking about digital audio and started comparing their writing techniques. It wasn’t until Raina heard some of Marwah’s upcoming material that he realized Marwah ”“ a singer also part of electronica band Tankbund and folk trio RIVER ”“ was one versatile voice. Raina ”“ who also collaborated with Mumbai singer Monica Dogra on her solo album Spit ”“ invited the singer to work on his upcoming yet-to-be-titled third album, showcasing their different musical styles on their new track “Dream.”
The seven-minute track kicks off with Marwah’s delicate vocals, ukulele parts and a laidback synth progression. “Dream” piles on heavy synth and contemporary grooves, dives into a solo from bluesman Warren Mendonsa and closes with Marwah’s lush vocals and a beautiful string section that complement the electronic elements of the song to the tee. Says Raina “I asked Tarana to use the concept of a dream and talk to it in the lyrics, address its mysterious, vivid and strange nature.” He adds, “She came up with some beautiful words to complement the eclectic nature of the music.”
“The song’s basic structure was laid out in a single day at the studio. The idea was to find the perfect cross combination of our varied styles of electronic music. The compositional process involved a lot of writing and rewriting, it took about a month to pen down the exact feeling, all in all however I think the song does its duty and transports the listener to a special place,” says Marwah.
“Dream” was recorded at Raina’s own Village Studios in New Delhi. “A lot of analog synths and real-life sounds were thrown in, to create a sort of freestyle ”˜organic – electronica’ feel,” the producer says. The track was mixed by Raina himself with the help of Marwah, he says, “She has a very strong sense of pitch and tune which helps in the tracking, composition and mixing process.” The song was eventually mastered at Startdelta Mastering Studios in the U.K.
The single gets a visual face courtesy of astonishing artwork done by New Delhi-based digital artist Archan Nair. Says Marwah, “I think Archan Nair was a perfect choice for the artwork, since he is so in tune with fantastical elements of the psyche.” She adds, “The video itself is a graphical journey of Nair’s stunning collection and a peak into his gifted mind.”
The collaboration between Komorebi and Grain doesn’t end here, though. Marwah is set to feature on a total of three tracks including “Dream” on Grain’s upcoming album, slated to release later this.
Listen to “Dream” below:
