Maati Baani's Musical Mission: Recording India's Heartbeat
It demands an extraordinary level of dedication to venture into India's remote interiors with a backpack loaded with recording equipment, locate a musician in a distant village who has never performed on a formal stage, and then spend an entire day spontaneously composing, performing, and recording a song together. For Kartik Shah and Nirali Kartik, the husband-wife duo behind the acclaimed musical project Maati Baani, this is not merely an occasional adventure—it is their profound calling.
Ahmedabad: The Foundation of Their Musical Universe
We connected with the duo following their recent performance in Ahmedabad. Nirali Kartik shared, "Both of us began our individual journeys in Ahmedabad. This city forms the very foundation upon which we have constructed our entire musical universe. It is always an immense honour to perform in our home city."
The Genesis of Maati Baani: A Fusion of Worlds
Kartik Shah's path started with composing advertising jingles and assisting prominent Bollywood music directors, including collaborations with artists like Pritam. Concurrently, Nirali received rigorous training in Hindustani classical music at the prestigious Saptak School of Music in Ahmedabad. After their marriage, they made a pivotal decision to merge their distinct musical worlds, giving birth to Maati Baani.
"We were driven to create something uniquely our own and to discover the most captivating sounds from across the globe," Kartik explains. "To date, we have collaborated with over 300 musicians spanning more than 35 different countries." He elaborates on their distinctive approach: "Our uniqueness stems from seamlessly blending local and international musical elements. For instance, if the vocals are in Rajasthani, the background score might incorporate a European Balkan-style arrangement, a jazz influence, or feature a musician from the New York subway playing a unique instrument. We frequently collaborate with international artists remotely."
The Backpack Recording Philosophy
Describing their immersive process, Kartik states, "I consider myself a backpack musician and composer. We travel extensively with our portable recording gear. Whenever we encounter something special or uniquely authentic, we immediately jam with the local artists, compose, play, sing, and record the piece live on the very same day."
He further highlights the impact on the folk artists they work with: "We often tour alongside the rural and folk musicians we record. Through Maati Baani, these artists find a platform to express their art. Once a song gains popularity, audiences actively seek out these performers. Remarkably, some of them become the first person in their entire village or family to ever perform on a stage."
Nirali's Classical Foundation and Creative Process
Discussing her personal musical discipline, Nirali expresses, "Indian classical music is my true home. My day both begins and ends with practicing ragas. During composition, I select a raga that aligns with the emotional essence of the lyrics and build the entire piece from that foundation. For example, our song 'Baawariya' is based on the Darbari raga, while 'Boondan' draws from Miyan Malhar."
She acknowledges the challenges of fusion: "An experiment can easily falter if pursued merely for novelty's sake. Fortunately, Kartik possesses an innate talent for blending diverse sounds and dedicates immense time and care whenever two vastly different genres converge in our songs."
Introducing Kahat Nayika: A Concert for the Modern Woman
Speaking about their upcoming new concert, Nirali reveals, "'Kahat Nayika' is a celebration of the contemporary woman through the lens of Indian classical tradition. It features my original compositions written from the perspective of the modern woman, including bandishes that explore themes of self-belief, friendship, resilience, motherhood, and more. These are subjects one rarely encounters in the traditional classical repertoire. The concert is scheduled to debut in March."
Sustaining a Creative Marriage
On navigating a creative partnership within marriage, Nirali reflects, "When two creative individuals work in such close collaboration, differences are inevitable. Over the years, we have developed effective ways to resolve creative disagreements without causing harm to each other. We are currently in a positive phase, functioning as a cohesive team and, most importantly, consistently releasing music while steadfastly preserving the integrity of our art."
She adds their philosophy on audience reception: "We release songs that genuinely resonate with us. If our listeners connect with them, it brings us profound happiness. If a song does not immediately gain traction, we do not view it as a setback. Interestingly, some of our songs have gone viral two or even three years after their initial release."
Perspectives on AI in Music Creation
Addressing the role of artificial intelligence in music, Kartik offers his perspective: "The AI revolution is undoubtedly upon us. We will witness millions of songs being generated daily—people may become overwhelmed by the sheer volume. However, our rich folk music, our folklore, and those raw, rustic voices emanating from India's heartland will always provide an irreplaceable sense of returning home. There is a fundamental human need to reconnect with one's roots, and that enduring truth remains unchanged."
Nirali adds a nuanced view on AI as a tool: "AI can indeed serve as a meaningful and powerful tool when applied correctly and thoughtfully. For our 'Kahat Nayika' project, Kartik utilized AI to design my visual concepts. It added a beautiful, complementary layer to the compositions, significantly enhancing the overall ambience, music, and the concert's immersive effect."
