Young artists are infusing modern melodies with traditional folk music to bring life into Kashmir’s age-old musical heritage. One such effort can be found in the recently released “Kehwa Beats,” Kashmir’s first music series of its kind, which displays the fervour and passion of burgeoning local musicians for folk music and unwavering love for the Kashmiri language.
What is Kehwa Beats?
Kehwa Beats is a platform designed especially to revive Kashmir’s rich folk music and promote the Kashmiri language internationally. It was launched by Kashmir Originals. Jammu and Kashmir is renowned for its rich and fascinating cultural diversity throughout the world, according to Sanna Bhatt, the founder of Kashmir Originals. Music, especially folk music, is a significant component of this culture. One of the most colourful facets of Kashmir’s unique culture has been its folk music.
Songs performed in Kehwa beats, a record label based in Srinagar, is a combination of pop and hip-hop music with folk songs. The record label described it as an effort to preserve and revitalise a rich musical heritage by fusing traditional folk music with modern styles. As per The Chenab Times, six songs from the first season, which was posted on Kashmir Originals’ official YouTube channel, are currently available for listening on several worldwide music services including Spotify, Apple Music, etc. The feedback from online users to all of the songs has been overwhelmingly positive. Locals are referring to it as “Kashmir’s own Coke Studio” in recognition of the efforts of the region’s natives.
The songs played in Kehwa beats are the essence of Kashmiri folk music, and the performance takes its name from the traditional Kashmiri tea known as Kehwa. Traditional instruments like the Rabab, Sarangi, and Tumbakhnari have been expertly merged with modern instruments like the guitar and bass to connect folk songs with today’s youth. This not only makes the song modern but also gives it the genuine feel of intelligent fusion.
Kehwa Beats uses contemporary music to preserve the songs and poetry of the past’s greats. This performance showcases the efforts of a young generation of Kashmiri musicians who have broken down social barriers and turned to music as a means of preserving the Sufi culture of the area, which is very different from the bullets, bombs, and militancy that are typically associated with Kashmir.
Kehwa Beats, which originally produced by Kashmir Originals, features well-known voices and tones from some of Kashmir’s most well-known singers, including Kabul Bukhari, Ishfaq Kawa, Waqar Khan, Sonali Dogra, Master Saqib, Zartashaa Zainab, Rishab Raino, and Shahbaz Gul. The songs featured in Kehwa Beats not only showcase the diversity of Kashmiri music and language, but also convey a message of safety and security to the entire country by giving Indians and people all over the world a true picture of Kashmir.
Anzer Ayoob is the Founder and Chief Editor to The Chenab Times