Rusha & Blizza on Why They Reimagined Nusrat’s ‘Sanson Ki Mala’
The folk-informed electronic duo took on the legendary qawwali artist’s voice on their new song
Folk-electronic duo Rusha & Blizza. Photo: Courtesy of the artist
When you’re working with the voice of a renowned legend like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan like New Delhi duo Rusha & Blizza did for their take on “Sanson Ki Mala,” there’s understandably nerves and excitement alike.
The duo says in an email interview after the release of their new song, “We are overwhelmed and grateful for the positive reception. It’s fulfilling to see how the song resonates with people on a spiritual and emotional level, which was our primary goal.”
Calling it “both an honor and a responsibility” to interpret Khan’s vocals for a reimagined take on his performance of “Sanson Ki Mala,” Rusha & Blizza say their starting point was approaching the rendition “with deep respect and understanding.” The duo adds in a joint response, “We began by immersing ourselves in Nusrat saab‘s music, studying his vocal nuances and the emotional depth of his performances. From there, we crafted a musical arrangement that complements and enhances his vocals without overshadowing them. Our aim was to create a harmonious blend that respects the legacy of Nusrat saab while bringing our own unique touch to the piece.”
The song arrives on the back of Rusha & Blizza’s discography being bought by Universal Music India earlier this year. The duo hails the deal as a “significant milestone” in terms of now having more resources and a wider platform to reach new audiences. They add, “This partnership allows us to focus more on our creative process, knowing that we have strong support for distribution and promotion. It also opens up opportunities for collaborations with other artists within Universal’s network. Overall, this move enhances our ability to innovate and expand our musical horizons.”
To that end, Rusha & Blizza have “several new projects” in the pipeline. One of them is Vision One, a “dance theater music video series” that will also be compiled and released as a full-length album that follows 2023 EPs Sutra, Mudra, Mudra 2 and Better Future Frequencies. The duo says about Vision One, “This ambitious project will push the boundaries of our music and visual storytelling. We also have a few collaborations in the pipeline, although we can’t reveal all the details just yet. However, we can share that we are working with some incredibly talented artists from diverse musical backgrounds, and we can’t wait to share the results with our fans.”
Listen to “Sanson Ki Mala (RxB Edit)” below.
