Sukhmani

We invite you to learn more about the story behind 'Here' and Sukhmani’s musical journey.

The art of tabla is a centuries old, rich, and mystical tradition. It has been enjoyed since the 18th century by millions of people, reverberating through the courts of kings and emperors, gracing the greatest stages in the world, grounding the prayers and poems of many spiritual traditions, and echoing through rugged loudspeakers from house concerts in the village alleyways of Northern India.

"Not Your Exotic” is a powerful song that carries a message of embracing diversity in humanity, as we do with all life forms, trees, and flowers. Honoring our differences, the richness of our roots, cultures, bodies and the color of our skin.

I wanted to share some of their story with you, in the hopes that the song and video can carry you to the place it holds in my own heart and imagination.

Sukhmani was born with a rhythm that is undeniable. You feel the heartbeat of her music before you realize it is pulsing through your body. As one of first female tabla players to emerge from the U.K, she has toured and recorded as a percussionist for years, playing on stage at the 2019 Grammy Awards.

After the loneliness and isolation of months in the pandemic, many of us began trying to find ways to connect safely with each other from our homes. For musicians accustomed to life on the road, meeting new people, and sharing music, the change of lifestyle was big. Creativity needs to be fed and that spark is often lit by playing with other musicians and feeling the communication between voices and instruments. Ajeet spent the first winter of the pandemic in the snow covered