Rahman gives Indian music tech spin20 North American and European dates setBy
Gary Graff, BillboardMay 5, 2010, 06:00 AM ETA. R. Rahman. (Getty)DETROIT --
Iconic Indian film score composer A.R. Rahman said he's looking forward to
bringing East and West together with his upcoming "The A.R. Rahamn Jai Ho
Concert: The Journey Home World Tour."
"We wanted to get the best of both worlds -- the finest team from America and
the soul of the music and the traditions of India and all that stuff," Rahman
said about the tour, which begins June 11 at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island and
will play at least 20 shows in North America and Europe. Staged by American
creative director Amy Tinkham (Madonna, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Paul
McCartney), the two-and-a-half hour show will feature a cast of musicians,
dancers and acrobats, plus changing sets and an extensive video production.
"What is added is a new dimension which nobody has ever seen, the Asian
audience has never seen," added Rahman, who won a pair of both Academy and
Grammy awards for his 2008 "Slumdog Millionaire" soundtrack. "Normally what
happens is we go and sing and there's some dancers and some kind of visual
effects. But this one is so integrated, and every (musical) bar and every
second is integrated with technology and stuff which moves around and it's done
with so much passion.
Rahman himself will be playing keyboards and singing during the show, as well
as speaking to the audience to explain the meanings and creation of the songs.
"We're looking at a universal appeal to this," he explained. "There's some
songs in English, of course, but even for those that aren't you can still come
and enjoy the musicality and the whole culture and colorfulness and the
vibrancy of Indian stuff. That's all going to be there.
"
Though the show is keeping him busy, Rahman is still busy working on new
music. He's just finishing up his 10th soundtrack for his original employer and
mentor, Rajat Kamal, and Rahman has also started work on a non-film album of
original songs that will target the North American markets he conquered with
"Slumdog Millionaire" and the single "Jai Ho." "It's a work in progress."
Rahman reported, "I've had three or four sessions already. The music is
probably an extension of what 'Jai Ho' did but going more friendly in terms of
English audiences. It's retaining the same kind of magic, hopefully."
Rahman
says he's also been approached about collaborations by "most" of the artists he
joined for the "We Are the World: 25 for Haiti" single earlier this year, but
"I'm taking it easy. I want to finish my album first."
