Exclusive Premiere: Experimental Acoustic Duo Yaksha Interpret Raagas By the Ocean in ‘Bhairav’ Video

Out in Marve, Mumbai, experimental music duo Yaksha – acoustic guitarist Aditya Mohanan and handpan artist Ishaan Zaveri – interpret raag bhairav with the ocean and breeze for company in the music video for their second single “Bhairav.”

The single – which follows their debut release “Jungle Blues” – strengthens their nature-entwined artistic statement when they started out in 2020. The aim was to explore “improvisational instrumental music in a modern Indic context,” Mohanan says. He adds, “Each performance works best when performed in a particular ecological setting. ‘Bhairav’ is most effective when performed by the ocean, wherein life was created and is ultimately dissolved.” Sonically, “Bhairav” keeps the arrangements intricate and lofty at the same time. Zaveri adds, “We strive to embody the inherently fluid nature of music through improvisation, which basically means, no rendition of ours is played twice. That, in a way ensures that we’re almost never in our comfort zones, but that is precisely where we’re the most at ease with ourselves.” The music video is captured by filmmaker Mehran, with David De Menezes helming recording.

Part of erstwhile death metal band Killchain and currently part of prog band Midhaven, Mohanan – also a historian by profession – teamed up with multi-instrumentalist and poet Zaveri for Yaksha and they have more singles in the works. Mohanan adds, “Since the music happens quite spontaneously, our producers are usually on their toes, attempting to capture every bit of nuance and interaction. And in that I would say lies the actual feel of what we are trying to achieve, musically — making the process pure, instinctive and experiential.”

Watch the video for “Bhairav” below.