Dabbling in genres ranging from Carnatic fusion, Malayalam rock, Tamil and Hindi too, ethnotronic is how they choose to best describe themselves. "We remember having sent out a mail with a little poll sort of thing. We swear by filter coffee anyway. But when a suggested why not 'Filter Coffee', we knew that was it," says Swarupa Ananth-Sawkar. Their live performances include a unique blend of Indian classical/folk, instruments and voices with electronic grooves.
The beginning
Their current line-up includes Swarupa on on the tabla and percussion, Shriram Sampat on flute and Jahnvi Shrimankar on vocals. Shriram and Swarupa produce music for the band as well. Swarupa is a disciple of Late Ustad Allarakha and Ustad Zakir Husain who also plays the drums, djembe, bagalbaccha and a variety of percussion instruments. Shriram specialises in playing the Indian bansuri. Apart from that, he's also well-versed with playing woodwinds like the Chinese dizi, bamboo saxophone metal flutes, penny whistle, didgeridoo, ney – Egyptian flutes. The idea of Filter Coffee is collaborations. This is the usual line up that they go with, though every gig features a new artiste.
Feathers in their cap
"We would not like to point out a single achievement but for us being able to quit our jobs and make Filter Coffee our full time career, which has been a great achievement. Another milestone has been doing successful tours in the UK for two consecutive years and now thrice since the band has been formed. Collaborating with artists from around the world has also been an achievement for us. From Australian producers Spoonbill & Sampology to traditional Rajasthani folk artists like Nek Mohammad Langa, from Indian Classical vocalists and instrumentalists to visual artists and rappers we have collaborated with a variety of great artists," proudly states Swarupa.
Influences
Since Filter Coffee dabbles into various genres of music, how did that happen? "Both of us (Swarupa and Shriram) are trained Indian classical musicians and that has been the strongest influence on our music. Again, being Tamilians comes the influence of Tamil folk, Carnatic classical and similar genres," informs Swarupa.
Sound of music
Some of their most popular songs are Slow Down Kalander and Konna Cool. Slow Down Kalander is their interpretation of the classic Sufi song Dumadum Mast Kalander. Most bands often speed up this composition but they have chosen to slow it down which is considered a refreshing rework by the listeners. This song is their frequent set closer. Konna Cool is an upbeat number which includes a lot of Vocal Percussion called Konnakol in Carnatic Classical music. They usually get the audience involved and get them to do a bit of scatting as well. They also usually collaborate with a vocalist on this one and get them to render an Indian classical bandish. The band is currently working on an EP which will feature collaborations with various artists, and should be out soon.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}