Jaya

Akom, from Jaya

JUNO nominated Indo Jazz fusion band, Raagaverse, celebrates the journey and personal triumphs of Shruti Ramani, a young, queer, Indian immigrant in Canada. Raagaverse highlights Shruti’s cultural background, her forays into and admiration of multiple musical genres, and her ever-growing relationship with music and the music community.

Raagaverse’s music exposes you to vibrant tapestries of the Agra Gharana, a tradition in ancient North Indian Classical (Hindustani) music, and Black-American Jazz traditions. Through her dedicated training and practice, Shruti was accepted into the Agra Gharana’s musical lineage by her guru Dr. Ritu Johri, an esteemed and knowledgeable keeper of the musical tradition. Shruti gratefully acknowledges the huge influence of Black-American music on her work after she immigrated to Canada to study Jazz.

Shruti Ramani (vocals) Jodi Proznick (bass) Noah Franche-Nolan (piano) Nicholas Bracewell (drums)

Tracks

1. Saagan
2. Akom
3. Khaabon Ke Parindey
4. Naina
5. Akhiyan
6. Ghoongharva
7. Moh Ke Dhaage
8. Mandirva

STRING QUARTET

Meredith Bates (violin)
Cindy Kao (violin)
Parmela Attariwala (viola)
Shin-Jung Nam (cello)

BRASS QUARTET

Feven Kidane (trumpet)
Jocelyn Waugh (trumpet)
Holly Bryan (french horn)
Casey Thomas-Burns (trombone)

Saajan and Akhiyan were composed by Shruti Ramani.
Brass section for Akhiyan was arranged by Noah Franche-Nolan.
Akom was composed by Martin Brugger, Simon Popp, Matthias Lindermayr, Paul Brändle, Sebastian Wolfgruber.
Ghoongharva and Naina were co-composed by Shruti Ramani and Dr. Ritu Johri.
String section for Naina was arranged by Noah Franche-Nolan.
Moh Ke Dhaage was composed by Anu Malik and arranged and performed by Shruti Ramani and Noah Franche-Nolan.
Parindey was composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy with lyrics by Javed-Akhtar and arranged by Shruti Ramani.
Mandirva was composed by Sadarang and arranged by Shruti Ramani.

Co-Producers – Shruti Ramani and Jodi Proznick
Recording Engineer – Sheldon Zaharko/Zed Productions
Editing – Noah Franche-Nolan
Mastering – Chris Gestrin
Artwork and Design – Kushiaania
Photography – Michele Mateus
Digital Media/Marketing – Rhea Records
Administration – Diana Kadota Arts Management

Jaya was recorded at the Monarch Studios in Vancouver, BC on July 9 & 11, 2022

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.