The Album
Described as ‘mesmerizing, deeply textured with subtle overlays that transform the listener into a timeless space’ - the music of Holiwater project has been created as a collaborative process.
Conceived and researched by the project’s director/ producer Andrei Jewell, as a strategy to develop a score and narrative for the Holiwater live installation–show and documentary format the album has its foundation as a filmic score.
Vikash Maharaj a contemporary maestro of the sarod was introduced by Andrei bin New Zealand 2002 to Tom Bailey, acclaimed UK producer (formally of The Thomson Twins and dub artist of International Observer). The magic between the two became apparent immediately as Tom’s western classically trained skills were brought to the fore on the keyboards and ‘hand sonic’ as a study in classical raag stucture was introduced and developed as a duo by Vikash. The pair are supported by Vikash’s son, Prabash - a 14th generation tabla player- and James Pinker, percussionist. (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan / Michael Brook, Dead Can Dance , SPK).
The project has gone on to record an seminal album and performed at festivals around the world to not only give voice to the plight of the Ganges but to humanity’s impact on water environments worldwide. The album by The Holiwater Project group plays a central roll as a score to the narrative of the Holiwater documentary component as it has been initially recorded on the banks of the Ganges and then produced and performed live and in the studio in New Zealand – the structure is loosely based on the story of the river through the voice of the people who live there. With the impetus on a live performance as a component to a video installation the formula for the album was created.
The album and live show-installation has been described as ‘ meditative yet dynamic’ ‘ as the raag structure floats with an electronic accompaniment through ‘a day in the life of the Ganga as she floes through the ancient spiritual capital of Varanasi’. With the raag structure based on a very ancient ‘garana’ tradition held by Vikash’s family who are Shavite Brahmin’s his original compositions are both melodic and complex yet simplified down to a concise time frame for contemporary audiences. Tom’s accompaniment is inspired from his diverse background. Classically trained in his early years he developed masterful skills later as a singe-song writer – notably with the 80’s chart topping pop group The Thompson Twins and compositions for bands like Blondie as well as producing remixes for artists such as Lee Scratch Perry. Recently his dub sound International Observer has caught the attention of K & D’s Richard Dorfmeister on the Different Drummer label featuring 2 of Tom’s tracks on a best of album as well as 2 solo dub albums.
The duo of Vikash and Tom is accompanied by Vikash’s son Prabash – one of India’s hottest young tabla players ( awarded a Gold in a national competition recently) He is a 14th generation descendant in the Maharaj clan and his skills on the skins are testament to Vikash’s classical training and forays into the international jazz circuit playing with luminaries as diverse as Herbie Hancock, John Mc Loughlin, Bootsy Collins, Paul Horn and John Handy amongst a host of others.
James Pinker also plays percussive additions tempering the raags with an array of instruments that lends an organic flavour in a more ambient manner. His work on the seminal albums of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Micheal Brook for the Realworld label are evident in their adroit lightness of touch. James background is evident on his work with artist’s such as Dead Can Dance, The Pogues and SPK while hanging out and performing with producers such as Brian Eno, Roger Eno, Laraji and Peter Gabriel.
James influence on the evolution of the project has been formative from the get go when Andrei first evolved the concept for the project of ‘tradition meeting technology’ with the dymanic pairing of Tom and Vikash. Through working with music as a ‘participatory process’ to raise awareness about the Ganges and plight of water worldwide, the sound track for the live show and the documentary acts as thread for a narrative exploration touching on both contemporary and ancient themes.