Watch: Maati Baani’s Globe-Trotter Video ‘Jao Piya’

Maati Baani vocalist Nirali Kartik and Bharatnatiyam dancer Mubina in front of the Gateway of India, Mumbai. Photo: Courtesy of the artist.

Mumbai-based folk rock duo Maati Baani have a reputation for being serial collaborators, bringing on board lesser-known talent on many of their compositions. But their latest track seems to be the mother of all collabs. On “Jao Piya”, Maat Baani [comprising vocalist Nirali Kartik and guitarist Kartik Shah] have roped in 17 different artists from various countries. The video itself could well be an anthem for multi-culturalism. It features many of the musicians performing their parts in the song at iconic landmarks in their native cities. While Kartik is seen singing at Mumbai’s Gateway of India, French percussionist Julien Nérée is captured playing the cajon against the backdrop of Eiffel Tower in Paris and Max ZT is filmed playing the hammered dulcimer in New York’s Tompkins Square Park. Mumbai-based Bharatnatyam exponent Mubina is also a delight to watch in the video, gracefully dancing alongside Kartik on city streets.

Percussionist Julien Nérée playing the Cajon. Photo: Courtesy of the artist.

“Jao Piya” is the third track in the duo’s Music Yantra series which had previously featured the Women’s Day special track “Moko Kahaan”. Incidentally, “Jao Piya” was released on World Heritage Day [April 18^th]. “It happened completely by chance. It seemed like a perfect example of total synchronicity,” says Kartik.

Kartik Shah of Maati Baani performing at Times Square, New York. Photo: Courtesy of the artist.

Maati Baani worked on the song and video for an entire year, painstakingly managing the logistics and taking difficult creative calls. “We had to figure out how to do everything in a streamlined way,” says Kartik about the production process. “Everything had to be uniform- the quality of the audio and video, direction, even though it was all happening in different countries.” Reaching out to artist at the earliest stage was a different ball game altogether. “We spent months on research and connecting with musicians,” Kartik shares, adding, “We shortlisted artists who fit, and if they wanted to collaborate, we would have multiple Skype sessions to explain their parts to them.” Each artist then recorded the parts in their own country before sending it back to be mixed and mastered by producer Devang Rachh.

Percussion group Stickstoff perform in front of the Tinguely Fountain, Basel. Photo: YouTube

Apart from Maati Baani, the other artists featured on the track include clarinet players Bart De Kater and Jesse Faber aka the Duo Valkuil of Amsterdam and Swiss percussion group Stickstoff. In addition to these names, an Ahmedabad-based Indian classical trio also makes an appearance in the track.

Filmed at iconic landmarks in each of the artists’ hometowns, the video also showcases Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Sabaramati river front in Ahmedabad and the Tinguely Fountain in Basel.

Watch Maati Baani’s “Jao Piya” below