UNCONVENTIONAL AND unique in appearance — is the Oxford dictionary meaning of the word "outlandish". Interestingly, the latest hip-hop band to hit the charts has the same name. Listen to the album Bread And Barrels Of Water, and you know exactly why the band is called Outlandish. It's been quite a wait for music lovers to hear something like this, something that would appeal equally to hip-hop and commercial pop fans alike.
Though Outlandish is essentially a Danish act, the three members of the group — Isam Bachiri, Lenny Martinez, and Waqas Qadri — have their roots in Morocco, Honduras, and Pakistan, respectively. And according to them: "It is because of this bringing together of very different sources of inspiration, that the musical result is quite unique." The foundation is rap but somewhere along the line, the group tends to lean heavily towards hip-hop, and at times, soulful grooves.
According to the official website of the group, Outlandish was formed in Denmark in 1997, and the trio have known each other right from their early teens spent in Brondby Strand, a multicultural suburb of Copenhagen. "It's grown into a family business for us. It's not enough to say we're friends. We're brothers," they say in unison.
It is interesting to know that the trio got to know each other playing football in the same courtyard. Little did they know then, that they would be bitten by the same "hip-hop bug" that seems to be spreading to music lovers around the world.
An ideal way to describe Outlandish's music would be to consider a masala curry where the basic gravy is American style rap, with some Arabic pop and Indian soundtrack samples thrown in for flavour, and finally served in the form of English, and occasionally Spanish vocals. Their first album, Pacific to Pacific was a reflection of the band's experiences of growing up in Denmark, while their second album Outlands Official saw the beginning of some experimenting. With their latest album, Bread And Barrels Of Water (Crescendo Music, cassette, Rs. 150), they seem to be expressing their point of view on topics family such as spirituality, urge of conquest, and the good life.
"Aicha" has been one of the most talked about songs in the last couple of weeks. Inspired from the original Arabic song called "Ayesha" by Khalid (of "Didi" fame), the song by Outlandish has hit the number one spot in Germany and the U.S. The original version was a soulful tribute to Khalid's wife, whose name was Ayesha. The new version in English, however, is a tribute to the Arabic woman, her culture, and maturity. The tune is extremely infectious and the hip-hop groove gives it tremendous feeling and a breezy feel. The Spanish vibe in "Walou" has a hummable rhythm, while "Guantanamo" reflects a fusion of Spanish and English music. The remix version of this track has energetic Bhangra rhythms, making it danceable. An old Hindi chant-line runs through "Peelo", which makes it stand out in the album.
On the whole it is a mature album that blends in various genres of international music. Pick up this outlandish album before it disappears from the stores.
A. VISHNU
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Though Outlandish is essentially a Danish act, the three members of the group — Isam Bachiri, Lenny Martinez, and Waqas Qadri — have their roots in Morocco, Honduras, and Pakistan, respectively. And according to them: "It is because of this bringing together of very different sources of inspiration, that the musical result is quite unique." The foundation is rap but somewhere along the line, the group tends to lean heavily towards hip-hop, and at times, soulful grooves.
According to the official website of the group, Outlandish was formed in Denmark in 1997, and the trio have known each other right from their early teens spent in Brondby Strand, a multicultural suburb of Copenhagen. "It's grown into a family business for us. It's not enough to say we're friends. We're brothers," they say in unison.
It is interesting to know that the trio got to know each other playing football in the same courtyard. Little did they know then, that they would be bitten by the same "hip-hop bug" that seems to be spreading to music lovers around the world.
An ideal way to describe Outlandish's music would be to consider a masala curry where the basic gravy is American style rap, with some Arabic pop and Indian soundtrack samples thrown in for flavour, and finally served in the form of English, and occasionally Spanish vocals. Their first album, Pacific to Pacific was a reflection of the band's experiences of growing up in Denmark, while their second album Outlands Official saw the beginning of some experimenting. With their latest album, Bread And Barrels Of Water (Crescendo Music, cassette, Rs. 150), they seem to be expressing their point of view on topics family such as spirituality, urge of conquest, and the good life.
"Aicha" has been one of the most talked about songs in the last couple of weeks. Inspired from the original Arabic song called "Ayesha" by Khalid (of "Didi" fame), the song by Outlandish has hit the number one spot in Germany and the U.S. The original version was a soulful tribute to Khalid's wife, whose name was Ayesha. The new version in English, however, is a tribute to the Arabic woman, her culture, and maturity. The tune is extremely infectious and the hip-hop groove gives it tremendous feeling and a breezy feel. The Spanish vibe in "Walou" has a hummable rhythm, while "Guantanamo" reflects a fusion of Spanish and English music. The remix version of this track has energetic Bhangra rhythms, making it danceable. An old Hindi chant-line runs through "Peelo", which makes it stand out in the album.
On the whole it is a mature album that blends in various genres of international music. Pick up this outlandish album before it disappears from the stores.
A. VISHNU
Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
