BANED and A.R. Rahman
Today I have music which comes from two different worlds of music- American rap and Bollywood. A seemingly interesting pair, the world of mashups and remixing has grown so much within the past few years. Now today's song is one that I have been pretty much obsessed with for a while, but for some reason, have never written about. Why, you may ask? I don't know. I genuinely have no good reason. So why not talk about it today!
Let's start with the DJ himself. DJ BANED is an artist out of Dallas and has done some major work within the Desi Dance Network, an organization which connects Indian dance teams across the United States. The organization has flourished since inception, and this has left room for many aspiring DJs to test their skills and showcase their talents and mixes. Now BANED has been around on this circuit for quite some time, but I'd like to think he started his mixing career before this organization really took off. Stylistically, I have heard him remix music across many genres, creating sounds that span those genres and sounds. But interestingly enough there are two prominent places in BANED's soundscape where he really flourishes. The more widely known side of his music tends to be more on the "hype" side of the music spectrum. The music is high energy and intensely exciting. Whether he aims for a more trap sound, rap sound, or revels in the fun nature of Bollywood, these songs carry and infectious rhythm and sound.
On the other hand, BANED has also released some chilled out and smooth jams. These tracks tend to fall under the genres of chillstep, synth pop, and the likes. BANED has released some mix tapes which focus on this style of music,a departure from the normal high impact energy we get from DJs in general. This style is full of chill vibes and gives a bit more of an atmospheric and even ambient environment.
Today's track seems to fall somewhere in between. I have to admit, there is a very seductive element to this song, which primarily comes from the Bollywood half of the track. Kendrick Lamar's flows layer perfectly over the Bollywood back beat, adding to this intense and concentrated sound. There are smooth transitions between the songs and languages, something which isn't always heard from artists who try to create cultural mashups. BANED masterfully establishes the mood and tone of the song from the get go. He starts the song with a Bollywood introduction, the beginning of both this track and the Bollywood track interestingly enough. From there, he seamlessly "drops" into Kendrick Lamar's track, which immediately establishes a dark and powerful kind of energy. From the get go, BANED establishes that this track is a fierce anthem. And the layering in this track is absolutely stellar. There is a deep but subtle bass which supports the entirety of the track, and we can hear how both Kendrick Lamar's song and the Bollywood track are intricately woven together in the surrounding instrumental. Sitting atop it all is the back and forth between the Hindi singers and the English rapper.
I absolutely love the way BANED seamlessly brings two huge and popular sounds together in a way which is contagious. I do think it was a bit risky to tackle two extremely popular songs. Kendrick Lamar is a rap icon here in The States, and the Bollywood track comes from one of the most beloved movies and soundtracks ever. But there is so much precision and complexity in this track, and a lot of it can be found in the subtle details and nuances. The attention to detail is what makes this track works so well, and I commend BANED's desire to highlight the two styles of music. He has released quite a few tracks and mixes, and I highly recommend checking it out!
Today's instrumental song is by one of the greatest composers of our time, A.R.Rahman. Actually, the Bollywood song from the remix was written and composed by Mr. Rahman himself. The man is a genius, not only in the world of Indian cinema, but around the world. His work is creatively beautiful, unique in every way, carries an emotional power which has only been captured by a handful of artists. This song comes from the same film, Taal, which the first Bollywood track comes from. This movie is one of the most popular in A.R. Rahman's repertoire, and to this day, remains one of my favorite films. The music is vibrant and passionate and powerful. This track is a fully instrumental which was composed for the film, and used in a performance by the lead actress. This is a step in a different direction for Mr. Rahman, but is equally as incredible and riveting. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!
Let's start with the DJ himself. DJ BANED is an artist out of Dallas and has done some major work within the Desi Dance Network, an organization which connects Indian dance teams across the United States. The organization has flourished since inception, and this has left room for many aspiring DJs to test their skills and showcase their talents and mixes. Now BANED has been around on this circuit for quite some time, but I'd like to think he started his mixing career before this organization really took off. Stylistically, I have heard him remix music across many genres, creating sounds that span those genres and sounds. But interestingly enough there are two prominent places in BANED's soundscape where he really flourishes. The more widely known side of his music tends to be more on the "hype" side of the music spectrum. The music is high energy and intensely exciting. Whether he aims for a more trap sound, rap sound, or revels in the fun nature of Bollywood, these songs carry and infectious rhythm and sound.
On the other hand, BANED has also released some chilled out and smooth jams. These tracks tend to fall under the genres of chillstep, synth pop, and the likes. BANED has released some mix tapes which focus on this style of music,a departure from the normal high impact energy we get from DJs in general. This style is full of chill vibes and gives a bit more of an atmospheric and even ambient environment.
Today's track seems to fall somewhere in between. I have to admit, there is a very seductive element to this song, which primarily comes from the Bollywood half of the track. Kendrick Lamar's flows layer perfectly over the Bollywood back beat, adding to this intense and concentrated sound. There are smooth transitions between the songs and languages, something which isn't always heard from artists who try to create cultural mashups. BANED masterfully establishes the mood and tone of the song from the get go. He starts the song with a Bollywood introduction, the beginning of both this track and the Bollywood track interestingly enough. From there, he seamlessly "drops" into Kendrick Lamar's track, which immediately establishes a dark and powerful kind of energy. From the get go, BANED establishes that this track is a fierce anthem. And the layering in this track is absolutely stellar. There is a deep but subtle bass which supports the entirety of the track, and we can hear how both Kendrick Lamar's song and the Bollywood track are intricately woven together in the surrounding instrumental. Sitting atop it all is the back and forth between the Hindi singers and the English rapper.
I absolutely love the way BANED seamlessly brings two huge and popular sounds together in a way which is contagious. I do think it was a bit risky to tackle two extremely popular songs. Kendrick Lamar is a rap icon here in The States, and the Bollywood track comes from one of the most beloved movies and soundtracks ever. But there is so much precision and complexity in this track, and a lot of it can be found in the subtle details and nuances. The attention to detail is what makes this track works so well, and I commend BANED's desire to highlight the two styles of music. He has released quite a few tracks and mixes, and I highly recommend checking it out!
Today's instrumental song is by one of the greatest composers of our time, A.R.Rahman. Actually, the Bollywood song from the remix was written and composed by Mr. Rahman himself. The man is a genius, not only in the world of Indian cinema, but around the world. His work is creatively beautiful, unique in every way, carries an emotional power which has only been captured by a handful of artists. This song comes from the same film, Taal, which the first Bollywood track comes from. This movie is one of the most popular in A.R. Rahman's repertoire, and to this day, remains one of my favorite films. The music is vibrant and passionate and powerful. This track is a fully instrumental which was composed for the film, and used in a performance by the lead actress. This is a step in a different direction for Mr. Rahman, but is equally as incredible and riveting. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!
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