Kiran Ahluwalia & Rez Abbasi

World Indian Music

Singer-songwriter Kiran Ahluwalia and multifaceted guitarist Rez Abbasi are a real-life couple and music world duo. One of Indian origin, the other Pakistani, they perform love and breakup songs with equal conviction, exhilaratingly mixing Indian rhythms with West African Bluesy riffs, languid Jazz and Indian improv. The result is a merging of elegance and crispness, all with an easy, inviting charm. The music sounds raw and fresh, and yet familiar, a rarity in these times.

Born In India, brought up in Toronto, Kiran studied Indian music since childhood. Winning two JUNO Awards (Canadian Grammys), over the course of seven albums Kiran has created a style uniquely her own. The beautiful harmonies and addictive guitar riffs of partner Rez Abbasi, and their shared love of trancy rhythms masterfully played on drum kit, tabla and djembe have shaped the songs on Kiran’s latest release 7 Billion (Six Degrees). Both a lyricist and composer, Kiran’s songs speak of cultural intolerance, fighting civil wars within ourselves and realizing female desire by throwing away shame.

Born in Pakistan, raised in California, Rez Abbasi is considered one of the foremost modern Jazz guitarists performing today. ?Rez studied jazz and classical music at the University of Southern California and the Manhattan School of Music, supplementing that with a pilgrimage in India under the guidance of master percussionist Ustad Alla Rakha. As a composer and guitarist, Abbasi’s music is a vivid synthesis of many influences. Having released fifteen albums, winning multiple awards, he also recently composed and released his first film score. Rez has frequently made the ‘Top-Ten Guitarists’ list on the influential DownBeat International Critics Poll.?

From their home in New York City, Kiran and Rez have established themselves as some of the music world’s most compelling and distinguished cross-pollinators. Their reworking of the classic Qawwali tune Mustt Mustt with the Malian super group Tinariwen has racked up nearly 3 million views online.