guitarist, composer, producer and educator.
ridley road
coming soon
about ridley road
Ridley Road is inspired by the renowned marketplace of the same name in Hackney, East London. This vibrant market, a fixture since the late 1880s, embodies the area's rich history of immigration and cultural diversity. Ridley Road Market has often been a focal point of cultural and political clashes, notably between immigrants and right-wing groups, and has been a stronghold for anti-fascist movements such as the renowned 43 Group.
In recent years, the market has faced the threat of closure due to its highly desirable location for property developers. This project aims to raise awareness about the ongoing battle against local councils, the market's significant history of political struggle, and the destructive and impoverishing effects of gentrification.
Ridley Road is a place run by people, for the people, where diverse cultural expressions harmoniously coexist, embodying the rich diversity, historical struggles, and unique resilience of this market, evolving into its own distinct internationalist reality. In times of division and fear-mongering, celebrating such diversity is essential and inspired the creation of this album.
The inspiration for this project stems from my many years spent in Hackney and its vibrant life. Wandering through Ridley Road, I immersed myself in its unique atmosphere, where reggae and dub tunes echo from one stall while classical and folk Indian melodies emanate from another. This accidental blend/clash of musical traditions captured my ears.
The album tracks feature traditional Hindustani classical vocal compositions known as ‘bandish’ (common in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan), performed by the talented Hindustani classical singers Suhail Yusuf Khan and Kaviraj Singh Dhadyalla. Each track intricately combines the melodic structures of ragas with heavy dub-inspired grooves and contemporary electronic productions.
Over years of exploration and study, fueled by my fascination with raag music's intricate melodies and rhythms, alongside a deep passion for dub productions and soundsystem culture, I have immersed myself in these genres and collaborated with numerous artists from these rich traditions. This album represents an experimental and personal exploration of my two most significant musical influences, using them as ingredients to create a new entity that embodies the internationalist spirit of Ridley Road Market.