Soumik Datta
Soumik Datta (28) is a young British composer and one of the most acclaimed Sarod (muscular plucked Indian string instrument) players of his generation.Trained by the legendary Sarod maestro Pt. Buddhadev Das Gupta, he later studied Western Composition at Trinity College of Music.
Merging Indian improvisation with eclectic arrangements, he started his company Baithak Records and began to present concerts that revealed a contemporary idiom marking his style.
He has collaborated with Jay-Z, Beyonce, Talvin Singh, Akram Khan, Nitin Sawhney, Bill Bailey, Raghu Dixit and composed the soundtrack for the feature films ‘Life Goes On’ starring Om Puri and Sharmila Tagore and ‘Tooting Broadway’ TBR.
A winner of the prestigious Dover Lane Music Award, India, Soumik was an artist in residence at Southbank Centre, London. He will begin a residency at Rich Mix, London in April, 2012.
‘One of Britain’s most compelling star musicians’ (SBC), Soumik’s continues to develop projects which are progressive, risky and unpredictable.
Bernhard Schimpelsberger
Bernhard Schimpelsberger (aka Taalis) plays the drumkit like a tabla virtuoso. A unique drummer & percussionist in his own rights he seemlessly blends western groove drumming and complex Indian rhythms in his innovative drumming style.
Born and raised in Austria he started playing the drums at the age of 10. While still in his late teens he discovered his love for Indian rhythm and pursuit his passion of bringing them in tune with his Western roots through years of dedicated research.
Having studied Indian rhythm with Tablamaster Pandit Suresh Talwalkar in India and Percussion legend Trilok Gurtu, Bernhard plays a customized hybrid drumkit which enables him to push the boundaries between tradition and progress.
Bernhard maintains a busy touring and recording schedule. The list of his collaborators includes the pioneers of todays music industry. He has recorded and toured with Anoushka Shankar, Nitin Sawhney,Talvin Singh, Susheela Raman, Akram Khan and Niladri Kumar.
