Falu

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Falu, born Falguni Shah in Mumbai, is a New York-based singer and songwriter whose music blends Indian classical traditions with a contemporary rock style. She is a longstanding disciple of legendary musician Ustad Sultan Khan, and currently serves as an ambassador of Indian music from Carnegie Hall. She is best known for her Indian classical vocals and for her "Indie Hindi" musical hybrid style.

In her early years in Mumbai, Falu was trained rigorously in the Jaipur gharana musical tradition. She later continued studying under the legendary sarangi/vocal master Ustad Sultan Khan. Falu moved to the States in 2000, and joined the Boston-based Indo-American band Karyshma as lead vocalist. In 2001, she met up with Asian Massive leader Karsh Kale, and hit the nationwide university, club and festival circuits. After fulfilling a 2-year Indian music visiting lectureship at Tufts University in Boston, Falu moved to New York where she formed her own band of the same name. They began performing at music venues throughout New York, quickly garnering the attention of fans across the city. In 2004 Falu was invited to perform as a soloist with Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project. In 2005 she was asked to serve as one of Carnegie Hall's Musical Ambassadors to New York City. In May of 2006 she became the youngest South Asian vocalist to deliver a solo performance at Carnegie Hall (Zankel). In 2006 she joined the Born Into Brothels Ensemble (from the 2004 Academy-Award winning film) and in early 2007 she collaborated with Wyclef Jean, lending her vocal style to the score of Angelina Jolie's directorial debut A Place in Time. In January of 2008, Falu and her band were featured on FOX channel's Fearless Music, where her original song Rabba became the first Hindi song ever to be aired on the network.^[1]

In August of 2007, Falu released her self-titled debut CD.^[2] Soon afterward, her "Indie Hindi" musical style made its mark in the Wall Street Journal as representative of a new class of musical hybrids.^[3]

Falu's band of the same name includes musicians who draw from Indian classical, alternative rock, contemporary pop, and electronic styles to create a mix of East and West. The band members are Gaurav Shah (vocals / harmonium), Mark Tewarson (guitars), Borahm Lee (keys), Justin Wallace (bass), and Ramsey Jones (drums).

[edit] Discography (including contributions as vocalist)

Global Noize (Shanachie, 2008) with Jason Miles, DJ Logic and others
Falu (Self-Titled Debut, Monsoon Records, 2007)
Asana OHM Shanti (Meta, 2006) by Bill Laswell
Rare Elements (Five Points Records, 2004) with Ustad Sultan Khan, Thievery Corporation, Joe Clausell, Ralphi Rosari
Nearly Home by Karyshma (2003)
Melodies of Cirumstance (Dharma Moon, 2003)
Liberation by Karsh Kale (Six Degrees, 2003)
Om Yoga Mix (Dharma Moon, 2003)
At Ease (Dharma Moon, 2003)
Realize by Karsh Kale (Six Degrees, 2001)