The indomitable chief of Wind Horse Records, Hamza Rahimula, returns with yet another incredible work of aural art with the ‘Tibet’ edition of his long running Banjara Series. The 10-track album is a collection of House music works inspired by the spiritual mountain territory with collaborations alongside Tibetan singer-songwriter Yungchen Lhamo & multi-faceted singer, songwriter, and composer from the USA - David Hykes.

The album begins with the track ‘Dakini Tales’ with a catchy-guitar riff that reels you in from the get-go. As the track develops, a simple kick drum coupled with a punchy bassline construct and elaborates the formative parts of the track accompanied with expertly arranged percussions. A light & breezy pad accompanied by samples of euphoric vocals adds more vibe to the tune. 

The second track is aptly called “Wind Horse Rising” & welcomes Yungchen to the WHR family of talented musicians & singers. Meant to make you move, the track has an addictive groove that has psychedelic elements amalgamated with Yungchen’s amazing, energetic voice and mysterious, uplifting atmospheres that could easily paint a sonic picture of snow-capped peaks in the minds of its listeners. 

Next up is the track ‘Surya Love’ which translates to “Sun Love” in English. Staying true to form, the bassline and rhythms are groovy, tight & encased in a proper house music package. Detroit/Chicago inspired organ stabs accompanied by utopian vocals & sounds influenced by the mesmerizing Himalayan Kingdom give form & structure to another awesome original by Hamza. 

‘Karma Tech’ is a fun, bouncy & playful tune that follows next. A proper tech-house dance floor heater, this track is functional and minimal, focusing on groove and flow. A phat bassline and snappy percussion lend a formidable character and persona that gels well with playfulness of the track. Whether it’s for a peak time set or a warm-up, this one is sure to have many takers. 

As we reach midway, ‘Lhama Grooves’ makes its presence felt with its musical alchemy. Combining elements of dub, exotic vocals & that house music throb that we all love, the composition is expertly crafted to deliver a unique dance floor experience. 

Made for intimate after-hours, ‘Lhasa Casa’ from Hamza spews & oozes class as a relentless, acid-tinged zinger that skews a bit toward the darker side. With a tight bassline, hazy & obscure samples coupled with intelligently mixed vocals, this track is one to have in your bag for those late-nights or early mornings. 

‘The Feeling’ is another tune, which is construed to cause dance-floor damage. A phat and heavy bassline takes you & leaves you wanting more with a no-nonsense approach to rhythm and composition. Soft vocals & an acid-influenced bassline make the track more interesting and powerful. 

Hamza returns to his deeper roots with ‘Temple of Shakyamuni’, which is deep, sophisticated & delicious. The track has an underlying tropical vibe along with dubby pads, expansive atmospheres & a slick groove. This one’s fit for all occasions. 

American musician extraordinaire - David Hykes marks his debut on Wind Horse alongside Hamza with “Dusk”. Soulful, groovy, and loaded with influences from Tibet. Expertly layered with organic elements, squelchy synth goodness & scintillating vocals, this one might be on repeat quite a few times. 

‘Enlightenment’ rounds off the Banjara Series LP, as Hamza & Yunchen Lhamo combine once more along with the incredible Niels Lan Doky for a mesmeric and enchanting ambient composition. Yunchen’s voice, beautifully constructed aural soundscapes & subtle elements of jazz lend itself to a track that quite fittingly forms the finale of this album.

Hamza Rahimtula - Dakini Tales (Original Mix)

As World Beats Mature, it is truly and indelibly becoming an international phenomenon. Born out of warehouses in Chicago and New York, then cultivated in the clubs of London and Europe, house music culture has spread around the world with a determined influence. Thus the time has come for an important World Beats music scene to spring out of India, led by a striking young talent named Hamza and his exceptional Wind Horse Records label.

Wind Horse Records was formed in New Delhi in August 2009, earning the distinction of India's first house music label. Wind Horse was devised by prominent Indian DJ and producer Hamza. He dominated the label's artist roster so far with impressive releases that seamlessly meld house music rhythms, traditional instrumentation from Indian and other world musics, and admirably high production standards.

Wind Horse Records was formed in New Delhi in August 2009, earning the distinction of India's first World Beats music label. Wind Horse was devised by prominent Indian DJ and producer Hamza. Many of Wind Horse's releases feature Hamza collaborating with important talent such as Harmonic Choir founder David Hykes, well known Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi, and Yungchen Lhamo, a Tibetan singer who has recorded for Peter Gabriel's Real World imprint. In fact, collaboration and the merging of tradition with contemporary dance music can be seen as Wind Horse's mission, and yields exciting and unique results. 

Wind Horse's future includes increased interaction with musicians from 'the west,' as the label includes renowned remixers and artists from the electronic music world. Wind Horse's next step includes remixers such as Tom Middleton, Michael Mayer, Ricky Ryan, and Kosmas Epsilon tackling its exotic sound. The label also will continue to showcase the music of its region's up-and-coming producers, including new discoveries Kartech, from New Delhi.

The label's primary focus remains to expose the pool of talent from India and 'the east' to global dance music citizens. Wind Horse has been largely successful thus far, earning accolades from fans like Riva Starr, Dubfire, Peter Kruder, Roger Sanchez, John Digweed, Lauren Garnier, and Sander Klienenberg. Wind Horse's reach looks to continue to expand as Hamza and Vipul Angirish increasingly play gigs and festivals around the world. Wind Horse is also forming a live 'sound system' act which includes Hamza, Indian percussionist Latif Khan, Latin percussionist Manu Idhra, and a promising mix of dancers, visual artists, and globally based guest musicians. Wind Horse will also be exposing its sound to the world through the WHR Podcast Series, featuring two mixes each month from Wind Horse DJs and friends of the label.

The Wind Horse style and concept has worldwide reach, blasting its international vibe out of club systems and home stereos in nearby as well as far-flung cities. With its ambitious plans the label is sure to increase its profile, delighting house music heads, world music aficionados, and lovers of exotic electronic music with an abundance of top notch releases. Keep and eye and an ear on Wind Horse Records and its tight knit family of artists ‚ exciting and surprising things are soon to come.

For Demos & Licensing: hamza@windhorserecords.com

Hamza Rahimtula - Dakini Tales (Original Mix)

WIND HORSE RECORDS