The next generation of Canada’s Toronto Tabla Ensemble are front and centre in the multi-award winning and JUNO Award-nominated group’s newest single and video, “Dream Symposium” — available now!
Serving as a preview for their seventh and forthcoming album, “Dream Symposium” also lands ahead of TTE’s attendance at WOMEX 19 — the World Music Expo — in Tampere, Finland this October. The group recently won both a 2019 Global Music Award and 2019 Independent Music Award, and were nominated for another.
For over 25 years, Toronto Tabla Ensemble (TTE) has produced groundbreaking music that crosses cultures and borders. Led by award-winning and critically acclaimed Artistic Director and Canadian tabla master Ritesh Das, TTE compositions have been licensed for numerous commercials and films, including CBC Radio’s daily Metro Morning theme music, and screened at film festivals around the world.
The group have been long-lauded for introducing a myriad of musical styles to the mainstream public via Das’ groundbreaking, pioneering blend of world music influences — from Japanese Taiko, to Celtic, to Flamenco, to rock n’ roll with the Tea Party — all with traditional Hindustani instruments.
But to the newest members of Toronto Tabla Ensemble — featured throughout the song and video, it’s all just music — full-stop, plain and simple.
“They do not see themselves in a box of ‘Indian music’ or ‘World music’…,” says TTE manager, and music video director Melissa Das-Arp. “They are just regular, Canadian kids who love playing music and having fun.
“They are the next generation in the making for Toronto Tabla Ensemble. Watching them develop their skills and become artists in their own right is something I wanted to project on film.
“I wanted to show these kids being themselves, playing their instruments,” she adds. “But also daydreaming and being a bit mischievous… There’s a real sense of fantasy and humour throughout.”
“It’s based on a traditional Tabla composition that is usually taught at an early stage of learning,” says Das on the track’s origin. “I was influenced by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, so it features many different percussion instruments which creates an orchestral feeling…”
