Exclusive Premiere: Midival Punditz Get Futuristic and Dark on ‘Nukhta’ ft. Kutle Khan
The EP features remixes by music producers such as Jitter, Sickflip, Juno Reactor and more
Midival Punditz - Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj (from left). Photo: Arsh Grewal
After releasing the vibrant song “Rootha Yaar” featuring singer Sukanya Chattopadhyay on July 30th, New Delhi electronica duo Midival Punditz launch the second of three monthly singles/EP packages, called “Nukhta.”
While “Rootha Yaar” was much more emphatic, producers Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj enlisted longtime collaborator, Rajasthani folk powerhouse voice Kutle Khan to traverse murkier yet grand-scale terrain on their latest. Like their previous single, Midival Punditz adapted poetry by 17th Century Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah.
While there’s a low, rumbling bassline and sinister synth work, the duo notes that this is an optimistic song in terms of lyrics. Kutle Khan’s refrain of “Alfat in bin un bin an bin nukta yaar banaya” is a metaphor for Bulleh Shah celebrating his love and discovery of the almighty, dancing in merriment now that he’s “free from the shackles of ignorance,” according to a press note.
In a video accompanying the making of the track, Khan explains that he was working on his album with Raina, the singer was asked if one of the songs could be used for a Midival track, based on its demo version. Raina says, “Working with Kutle is always a breeze. He comes with such a huge repertoire and experience of Rajasthani Folk that we find it tough to not use any of his vocals he puts forth.”
While Raina has been working with other producers and musicians like Komorebi aka Tarana Marwah to score music to web series Made In Heaven, Midival have worked in film often enough for us to gauge there’s a certain cinematic flourish to “Nukhta.” Raj says, “We usually don’t work on our tracks thinking of where it would end up in terms of a soundtrack or something similar. However this particular song has a melodic structure and lyrics that have a larger than life feel to it. This is why it’s got a cinematic vibe.”
Like Rootha Yaar EP, this new accompanying EP features remixes of “Nukhta” by electronic music producers such as Sickflip, Jitter, Asymetrik and Juno Reactor. Stay tuned for the full release tomorrow.
Listen to “Nukhta” below.
