Karma Sheen are London Hindustani classical psych-rockers – who are fusing the 600-year old lineage of musicians from Pakistan, with a modern avant-garde twist on their self-titled debut.

Featuring traditional instruments, alongside analogue synths and the sounds of the theremin, Karma Sheen is an album that has gained numerous plaudits during its release this month and has been enhanced by the band’s scintillating live shows. The band are as accomplished as a range of globally minded superstars, such as Altın Gün and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.

The fuzzy 60s rock influences of Jimi Hendrix and Sufi-inspired lyricism is spearheaded by Sameer Khan, who studied Hindustani classical music in Pakistan as a teenager at the Shaam Chaurasi Gharana school. Sameer founded Karma Sheen in London in 2014 to unite his passions for 60s/70s western psychedelia with his South Asian musical heritage. Formed alongside sitarist Rod Bourganos – who studied the instrument at esteemed sitar schools in Brazil and Singapore –  the pair were later joined by childhood friend Amad Chima (guitar), with bassist/visual artist Grisha Grebenikov completing the line-up.

The lyrics, the majority of which are sung in Urdu, portray Sufi poetry, a form of mystical Islamic devotional literature that metaphorically expresses themes such as divine love.

The band released final album teaser Without You (Raag Jog) last month to praise from Backseat Mafia, The Most Radicalist, and Post Brexit Pop, to support previous backing from Shindig! magazine, NTS and The Giles Peterson Show (BBC Radio 6Music), on which frontman Sameer Khan appeared on a special episode alongside Nabihah Iqbal.

The album progresses through a range of styles – including melodic compositions of Hindustani music, different ragas, a rejuvenating rainsong and culminating in the final song, Malkauns – a soothing song for late night/early morning.

Excelling in the live arena, the band have impressed audiences at Shambala, The Great Escape, Boomtown and Brighten The Corners festivals, bolstering prior support slots for premiere acts such as Somalian supergroup, Dur Dur Band International; Brazilian Tropicalia legends, Os Mutantes; all-female psyche-soul combo, Say Say She; Bongo Joe discoveries, YĪN YĪN; Zamrock royalty, WITCH; and the sublime percussionist and Indian-jazz innovator, Sarathy Korwar.

Having wowed on-stage, Karma Sheen have been selling out venues on a UK tour, with Bristol and Norwich being sell-out shows.

Get the new album direct – https://karmasheen.bandcamp.com/