Watch: This duo pays a tribute to Varanasi’s uniqueness with electronic music and funky visuals
The scenes aren’t exactly new, but the soundtrack certainly is.
Varanasi’s association with music has usually been with the Indian classical variety. Some of the finest classical musicians of the 20th Century – among them Ravi Shankar, Bismillah Khan, Siddheshwari Devi, and Girija Devi – were from the city.
But a new video of Varanasi by Audio Addicts (above) offers an entirely different soundtrack to explore what is arguably India’s most sensorily intriguing city. The electronic music duo’s track is titled Banaras Blues.
The duo, comprising Kashish Parashar and Prem Pratik, have kicked off their planned 12-part series, featuring 12 Indian cities, with Varanasi. And while the visual montage presents scenes that even those who have not visited the city have seen many times over in films and on television, it is the energetic soundtrack that makes a distinct difference.
The musicians told The Music Essentials, “We recently visited Varanasi and realised the city has its own rhythm and if you look closely you too can feel its song.” Their evenings in the city often ended up with impromptu sessions on the ghats, using traditional instruments like the sarod or sitar. It’s certainly a new, 21st Century way to listen to Varanasi.