Duniya Kya Hai
Duniya Kya Hai is a collection of beats composed almost exclusively with sounds from India and Pakistan. The title loosely translates to "What is this World?" in both Hindi & Urdu. This shared phrase resonates with the artist by questioning his sense of wonder and awe at the beauty of the world, and at other times the exasperation and callousness, endemic to human relations.
The project was conceived after Lapgan was exposed to familiar sounds and music originating from the Lahore film industry with which he formed an instant connection. Expressing his unfamiliarity with ‘Lollywood’ he began digging deeper, into both Pakistani and Indian films from the 60’s and 70’s. These soundtracks were crafted in the wake of British colonial control of the region. During this period, both India and Pakistan were struggling to manifest their political footing in the Cold War geopolitical order, resulting in constant military and cultural conflict. On both sides of the border, governments would actively ban each other's films. Nevertheless, the sonic and thematic similarities could not be more clear.
Whilst experimenting with new found sounds, the tyranny of India’s current nationalist regime went to new levels revoking Kashmir’s constitutional claims to autonomy. Lapgan began to imagine a world where these lands and their people could peacefully coexist, and in the process brought this project to fruition — an attempt to showcase the beauty of our shared cultures and the pursuit of harmony that can still be realised.
Duniya Kya Hai wishes to document the shared history and bridge the gap generated by the callous, adversarial and portioned politics of the region. Asking the question ‘Duniya Kya Hai’ — what is this world, who makes it, what is a border? — with the hope that the listener will perceive and embrace the unity of the human experience that lies beneath national and cultural conflicts.
credits
released January 29, 2021
Mixed by Lapgan
Mastered by Simon Lancelot
Durga Doesn't Approve Mixed and Mastered by Zeroh
Artwork/Concept: Sachin Bhatt
Design: electrocaïne
Selected Tracks
Mixes
Badmaash
Beats from the Bharat
Out now
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