Under the Raga’s Influence

New albums that take inspiration from Hindustani classical music

AROOJ AFTAB Vulture Prince

One of 2021’s best albums, Aftab’s Vulture Prince is based almost entirely on ragas and old ghazals. Though she won a Grammy in the Best Global Performance category, her nomination for the Best New Artist award has become a high watermark for musicians working with Hindustani classical and folk music.

ARUSHI JAIN Under the Lilac Sky

Initially composed for a sunset performance at the Magnetic Fields festival in Rajasthan, Under the Lilac Sky, a six-track suite, reinterprets four evening ragas—Des, Khamaj, Kafi and Durga—for modular synthesis, elegantly weaving together ancient tradition and new-age experimentation.

JAUBI Nafs at Peace

Lahore quartet Jaubi team up with UK multi-instrumentalist Ed “Tenderlonious” Cawthorne and Polish composer Marek “Latarnik” Pędziwiatr to create this exquisite collection of instrumental pieces that bring ragas into conversation with spiritual jazz, funk and hip-hop.