kaaareeegar Journals The Pandemic With 15-track Album 'Selfie-Nationalism'

Ahmedabad-based multi-disciplinary artist Dhruv Dhakan recently finished releasing his 15-track political album 'Selfie-Nationalism' as kaaareeegar, sampling (from the channel PeeingHuman) political speeches and public lamentation during the COVID-19 crisis in India and underscoring them with musical emotionality to create a poignant abstract journal of the last year.

kaaareeegar oscillates between stiff rhythms of programmed drums and synthesized basslines, and the softer beds of noise, drone and ambient. However, the key spots are given to the juxtaposition of speech samples that attain heightened emotionality through their association with different phases of the ongoing pandemic, plucking at the tiredness and relentless struggle of the listener as an individual and as part of the wider community. The footnote-worthy 15-track release fills itself with criticism towards the current administration through literary references and ironical comments.

Listen to the album 'Selfie-Nationalism' below and head here to check out the accompanying video work. Dhakan will donate 80% of the proceeds from the digital sales to a local sale. For more information, follow kaaareeegar on Instagram.