Kula Shaker: “Sanskrit is the language of the gods. English - for communication with horses "

The London rock band Kula Shaker is one of the main characters of Brit Pop, who in the 1990s were popular at least the “Holy Trinity” Oasis, Blur and Pulp. Their debut album “K” became one of the bestsellers of 1996, not only in Britain, but also in the States, despite the fact that the version of the new British rock proposed by the group sounded extremely exotic-they played neopsyedelia involved in the rhythms and melodies of Indian music and texts on Sanskrit. In 2016, 20 years after a loud debut, Kula Shaker released an interesting album “K 2.0”, where they again took up Citar, and performed a concert in Moscow. Lyudmila Pogodina talked with the leader of the group Chrispian Mills about traveling to India and the global spiritual revolution.

- Why did you go to the pilgrimage to India in 1993 and, as a result, not only changed the musical course, but also completely devoted their work to the theme of Indian mysticism?

- This was the logical conclusion of my long hobby of Indian culture and the result of my worship George Harrison. I was 19 years old when I went to India alone. And the purpose of my trip was mainly a study of the traditions of Krishna - as it later turned out that it was the nature of the riddle that was shrouded in the culture of this country. My interest in Indian music was formed a little later, but, oddly enough, it goes root in the Krishna traditions of Northern India. One way or another, I never felt exclusively “indie-dependent”. When I returned west, I was imbued with deep ties between our cultures. India is like a mystical hereditary matriarch. Its influence can be seen in many world cultures. If we plunge deep enough into the past, it turns out that we are all from India.

Kula Shaker - "Hush"

- What advantages did you find in Sanskrit over the English language when the lyrics began to write on it?

- Sanskrit is the language of the gods. English - for communication with horses. I love horses, if that.

- Why, of all the characters of Hinduism, did you choose the Tamil King Kulakuhara to name the group in his honor?

-Well, actually he chose us. As soon as I heard his name, I immediately understood everything. It is also important that he is not a fictional, but a real historical character. The great poet and Raja Rishi is the Holy Tsar. Imagine the king with all his boundless power, wealth and reputation, and at the same time - no self -love. He did not care about himself. He was a modest servant of his God and his people.

- Now India is more like an exotic office for the remote work of ITSHNIKS; Has it changed a lot from the 90s?

- (Laughs.) A good remark. Twenty years ago, when I first went to India, there were no mobile phones. Now much has changed. But all special places remained as before. The Himalayas are still where they should be ... at least they were exactly in the same place at the time of my last check.

Kula Shaker - "Govinda"

-And what were the 90s in London? Tell us a little about how you managed the Psychedelic Night Club Mantra Shack .

- It was a handmade club. Alonza and I (Alonza Bivan - the bassist Kula Shaker . - Ed. ) It was 15 years old, we came to the site, which was located on the backyards of the ice rink, and dragged the scene - this is 20 pieces of heavy wood - up to three stairpread spans. We ourselves had to chop and dismantle it every night. The same concerned all musical equipment, lighting equipment and soap bubbles. God! We were skinny teenagers, and this overwhelming work ruined us every night, but we were very proud that we turned this terrible closet behind the skating rink into such a colorful time machine! We played music from the 60s, dance tracks from Manchester, psychedelia, and our club was packed by teenagers from local colleges, which were “wandered” with mushrooms and drank cider. It all lasted six months. As soon as the employees of the rink found out what was happening, we quickly had to turn the bench.

- Groups such as Sonic Youth and Velvet Underground have influenced Kula Shaker or your music, rather, Jimmy Hendrix and The Grateful Dead ?

-All these groups were incredibly influential, each in its own way. You can’t play on the Stratokaster without being in the shadow of Hendricks. At the same time, The Grateful Dead not so much had a musical effect on us as our ideals formed; In this sense, they were more than a group, they became a place of meeting of like-minded people, their concerts were something supernatural.

-Are there any interest among modern musicians who causes you to lively interest?

- There is such an amazing North African guitarist named Bombino .

Luck, karma, fate - call it what you want, but our ups and falls depend on it.

- How easy it is for you to change the musical course, despite the fact that you knew that not all colleagues in the group can agree with you?

- Our first album “ K” has achieved great commercial success, but it was a stick about the two edges. Success gives rise to powerful pressure and expectation, which can lead to serious difficulties in the working process. On our second album, we consciously began to record a more complex and dramatic rock, which many of our pop fans could not digest. But this helped us attract the very close -knit and devoted audience that remains with us so far.

- By the way, how is your music perceived in India itself?

- They say that the composer Alla Rakha Rahman is our fan. This is an honor for me.

-In the 1990s, your albums were well sold. How do you feel in the new world - not analogue, but digital?

- From the point of view of the "industry", this is the world after the apocalypse. It is very difficult to sell a lot of records, unless millions have not heard of you. If we take into account that the industry itself was halved, advertising money is invested only in a limited number of artists - such as Ales or Beyoncé. One way or another, live performances have now become much more important than notes. And the groups who have something to say, which have a unique sound, write their own songs, most likely will cope and establish contact with their fans. It’s just that now you need more time.

- How much did it affect you?

-We survived independently for ten years and now we are finally ready to conquer new peaks. But we had an initial advantage. Others had much more difficult. The only thing that has not changed for all the time is that in our business a lot still depends on good luck. You can be bad or good, you may have marketer and sponsors or a penny behind you, but if you are not lucky, you are in a deep ass, a guy. Luck, karma, fate - call it what you want, but our ups and falls depend on it.

Kula Shaker - "Infinite Sun"

- There was a case when you turned to your fans with a request not to buy a reprint of your entries, initiated by a label that wanted to help out a little money to reunite the group. What did your experience with labels have taught you?

- Labla is only interested in money. A couple of people in show business are interested in cultivating talent and the formation of his career. The music business has never had anything to do with art. Unfortunately, everyone has to learn from their own mistakes, thereby gaining experience "how to preserve the mind in the crazy world." No need to take everything too close to heart. It is necessary to find out for yourself who you are, find confidence to stand on your feet. Live for love.

- Knowing that you are seriously interested in spirituality and mysticism, - I wonder what emotions you have a modern world? Do people lose their souls in pursuit of the benefits of civilization? What will win in the end: matter or spirit?

- A lot of terrible is happening now, but people cannot lose their souls. No one can take away his spiritual principle from a person. It is you, your true, unsuccessful, internal nature; What you have always been and what you always will. We tend to forget about it - this is what we all should be afraid of. Despite the signs of world madness, I am full of faith in the possibility of a global revolution of people who will abandon the dead, materialistic version of reality, the “Machine Cosmos” model, for the sake of something based on higher love and universal spiritual connection.

-After the debut in the 1990s, Kula Shaker lasted 4 years, and after reunification in the zero-for 12 years. What is the difference between the group of the first version and version 2.0?

- We have changed incredibly and at the same time remained the same: Achintya- Bheda- Abheda- Tattva .

Kula Shaker - "Tattva"

Kula Shaker album "K 2.0" on sale on iTunes