Daszi Mixes Ambient Soundcapes & Folk Music From Kerala's Forest On EP 'Ft Nature'

While also rising as a singer-songwriter with major labels, London-based Kerala-born artist Vishnu Das aka daszi has passionately exercised his experimental itch with the EP 'Ft Nature'.

The 6-track release, as its title suggests, brings the soundscape of nature to the centre. daszi uses recordings from regions like Attappadi and Karuvanchal in Kerala like a composer, slotting their subtle rhythms and moods in with vocal takes, violins and ancient instruments like the Kogal with the help of various collaborators. In the process, 'Ft Nature' features a bit of lo-fi hip-hop in its drums on the opener 'Yathra - (Start of journey)', desert blues-like plucked rhythms on 'Pallivaasal - (The wandering)' and acid-like 303 basslines on 'Kaadukeri - (Deep inside the forest)'.

Despite all this stylistic variation, the EP remains cohesive because, unlike other producers who borrow from Indigenous cultures or their roots only to use the material like a general element of dance music or the like, daszi lets his subject matter guide the way. For instance, the foreboding sombre mood of the vocals defines equally menacing synth lines on 'Kaadukeri' than the other way around, while 'Onnam Maari - (Essence of nature)' has all the contemporary elements take a supporting role to the ambient chants. daszi assumes a role more akin to a conductor bringing the best out of the elements on his palette than overpowering them with his own performances.

Listen to 'Ft Nature' below and follow daszi for more information.