C The album is due to be released on her own label Gryphon Records on CD and all major streaming platforms on 15th October 2021. Part- inspired by groundbreaking essay collection, ‘The Good Immigrant’ and Tagore’s Nobel winning poem exploring borderless identity, the album features revolutionary use of her trademark electric sitar and four octave vocal range. Originally commissioned by National Sawdust, in Brooklyn, it’s co-produced by Bishi and Jeff Cook. The album features sampled interviews from Nikesh Shukla, Salena Godden and Darren Chetty. The album’s themes focus on dual-identities, anti-racism and a call to find empathy in a divided world.
“Bishi is Art”
– Miranda Sawyer, Run Riot
BISHI is a singer, electronic rock-sitarist, composer, producer, and performer born in London of Bengali heritage, One of the most iconic London born musicians & multi-instrumentalists, she has been trained in both Hindustani and Western Classical styles, studying the sitar under Gaurav Mazumdar, a senior disciple of Ravi Shankar. During the album’s recording she trained on voice retreat with Meredith Monk, a titan of the New York avant-garde.
“If you don’t know Bishi, you need to get to know because the woman is incredible”
–Gemma Cairney, BBC Radio 6 Music
BISHI is celebrated for the use of ground breaking technology in her performances, from interactive bodysuits, controlling sound & vision live onstage to live coded audiovisual environments.
BISHI started off as an alt-folk artist with The London Symphony Orchestra performing her debut album, has recently released music produced by Tony Visconti, and recorded with the likes of Sean Ono Lennon and Jarvis Cocker. She’s performed on the Southbank for Yoko Ono’s Meltdown, and with the City of London Sinfonia as a soloist on Jonny Greenwood’s ‘Water.’ As an indie artist, fiercely charging her own path, she has released two solo albums, on her own label, Gryphon Records, to much critical acclaim.
“BISHI’s interest in pop mediums exists through a fundamental understanding of the experimental, avant-garde, performing arts traditions of many centuries. I live for her”
– Nico Muhly, composer
Check out the full Q&A with BISHI below
We are almost through 2021, how has this year been for you so far?
This year has been a year of accelerated creativity & personal survival
How would you describe yourself in three words?
a focused, resilient, supernova
How did you get into your current career?
By practicing my instruments, following my dreams and applying myself
How would you describe your work?
A music polymath who’s sonic bed of layered vocals and lush Sitars, are equally as inspired by London subcultures as it is my ancient folklore
What do you want people to take away from it?
I wanted people to feel moved and to see that British Asian women can be seen as so much more that how they are stereotyped
What inspires you and who are your influences?
Iconoclasts who build worlds; artists like Bowie, Kate Bush, Grace Jones, Bjork, Missy Elliott, St. Vincent, Thierra Whack
What advice would you give to your younger self?
That people in their 30s insulting and throwing shade to you, a teenage girl, are extremely jealous. Move away from them quickly.
What’s next for you? What are you most excited for?
Rest, renewal, followed by the release of my 3D sound installation ‘Reflektions,’ which I recently composed.
Full Album listing
- Language Is An Ocean feat. Nikesh Shukla
- Passport is a Palace
- Teardrops
- Shade feat. Salena Godden
- Good Immigrant feat. Darren Chetty
- Let my Country Awake
Full Live Tour dates across the UK and EU
- 13 Oct Album launch, The Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, London
- 3 Nov Anoushka Shankar’s Reflektor Festival, Hamburg
- 11-14 Nov Ludic Rooms, Coventry City of Culture
- 17 Nov support slot for Garbage, Bournemouth NEC
- 30 Nov Spitalfields Music, London
- 2 & 3 Dec Music Mark Festival, Brighton
Stay up to date with BISHI on her website and socials.
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