Hear U.K. Jazz Crossover Band Yaatri’s Debut Fusion Single ‘Waiting on the Sun’

While studying at Leeds College of Music, Indo-Brit guitarist Liam Narain DeTar had to form an ensemble during his third year Jazz Bachelor of Arts course in 2018. He would go on to put together a band comprising vocalist Bethany Herrington, keyboardist Felix Bertulis-Webb, bassist Joe Wilkes and drummer Jona Tromp. The jazz crossover band who now goes by the name Yaatri has recently released their dynamic debut single “Waiting on the Sun.”

DeTar says, “I put the band together based purely on people I enjoyed playing with the most in my first two years of study, with the goal of exploring my compositions as a group and trying to create something new together.”

The new track includes everything from prog-rock elements, jazz, Indian classical parts, clever dynamics as well as some raspy vocals by Herrington. “I spent the subsequent months [of 2018] in India listening to a lot of Indian Classical music which inspired me to write a melody over the rhythmic pattern in my head using a raag,” says DeTar.

Herrington explains about the song’s lyrics she penned, “’Waiting on the Sun’ is about those moments where you’ve become lost in the mental pressures of modern society and find yourself completely wrapped up in the stress of day to day with no visible way out.” She adds, “We forget that the answers to these problems are always the most simple, reminding yourself of what is around you and getting in touch with the littlest of things, things which are so apparent when you’re having a good day.”

Also featured on the track is New Delhi-based tabla player Zuheb Ahmed Khan who was put in touch with DeTar by music production teacher Bhupinder Chaggar at Leeds College of Music. “I was going to be spending the summer of 2018 teaching music in Delhi and wanted to learn about Indian rhythms and konnakol which I find very fascinating. He [Khan] encouraged me to learn tabla while I was there as the two go hand in hand.” DeTar tells us that once he was back in the U.K., he had a couple of Skype sessions with Khan as “rehearsals” before the tabla player recorded his parts at Mumbai’s Island City Studios and sent them to the guitarist.

The rest of the band recorded their parts at The Nave in Leeds with engineer Andy Hawkins. DeTar even tracked some of his guitar parts at the recording studios in Leeds College of Music. The song has been mastered by Dave Draper. Next, Yaatri is readying for the release of their second single in late November as well as their debut EP which is scheduled to come out early next year.

Listen to “Waiting on the Sun” below: