An influential name in the genre of world fusion, South African guitarist Guy Buttery’s first introduction to Indian classical music was when he heard the tanpura in a Hollywood film, as a teen. “It pulled me into a space both strangely exotic and simultaneously familiar,” the artiste tells us. Guy, who has worked with 
legends like Dave Matthews and Jethro Tull, just released a world fusion album Nadi, in collaboration with sitar player Kanada Narahari. The artiste makes his India debut while on tour with his new album. He performs with musician Konarak Reddy this weekend.

Nadi translates to ‘channel’ or ‘internal river’ from Sanskrit. Guy describes the tracks on Nadi as invocations to the inscrutable depths of the Indian ocean — that body of water that stretches between both the artistes’ respective homelands. “Kanada opened my world up to Hindustani classical. We went deep into a process of recording for two years,” says Guy. At the event, Guy will play a mix of tracks from this album, as well as some older material. 

Guy’s work also incorporates a lot of South African musical elements. “I love all kinds of music from both South Africa and the African continent. Having never studied any traditional forms in a major way, most of my influence is by osmosis,” he shares. 

Post the tour, the guitarist will head to Varanasi. “I plan to spend time with sitar player Anand Mishra to study the instrument further and bring in my birthday along the Ganga,” he signs off. 

Rs. 499. Nov 22, 9 pm. At The Chamber, Radisson Blu Atria, Palace Road
anagha@newindianexpress.com 
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