Talvin Singh OBE closed the Science Museum’s Illuminating India season on 23rd March 2018 with a musical response to Illuminating India: Photography 1857–2017. The Mercury Prize-winning composer, producer and tabla player is known for fusing classical Indian music with drum and bass, with collaborations with the like of Madonna, Bjork and Massive Attack. His live performance on the night comprised brand new compositions inspired by the photography exhibition that tells the story of India’s modern history, pivoting around two key dates: 1857, the year of the Mutiny and 1947, the year of Independence and Partition. This performance was accompanied by a specially-produced visuals incorporating still images from the exhibition and archive footage.
Talvin Singh was supported on the night by Yorkston, Thorne & Khan. Signed to Domino Records, the trio are comprised of Scottish folk musician James Yorkston, double bassist Jon Thorne and sarangi player Suhail Yusuf Khan. Bringing together touches of jazz with traditional Indian classicism and British folk, they’re an improbable fusion but one that has been met with great acclaim, with performances at Glastonbury, Green Man, Latitude and BBC Radio 6 Music Festival this summer opening them up to brand new audiences across the UK.
About Illuminating India
Illuminating India, a season of exhibitions and events that celebrates India’s contribution to science, technology and mathematics at the Science Museum in London, opened on 4th October 2017 and has had its closure extended to 22nd April 2018. At its heart are two free major exhibitions: 5000 Years of Science and Innovation and Photography 1857–2017. Respectively they present a kaleidoscopic history of scientific breakthroughs in India and a unique photographic survey of the country’s technological and cultural development.
The programme of events accompanying the exhibitions has seen a stellar line-up including a Symposium on India’s Place in Photography’s World; an Indian Tea Blending Workshop; an IMAX screening of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ followed by a Q&A with film director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Simon Beaufoy; Sadhguru in Conversation; Nrityagram Dance Ensemble presenting ‘Sriyah’; Moumita Dutta, Project Manager for the Indian Space Research Organisation’s famed Mangalyaan Mars Orbiter Mission, in conversation with Maggie Aderin-Pocock; a Science Museum Illuminating India Lates, an adults–only, after-hours themed nights, with music, dance, food and yoga; screening of the film ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’ and a panel discussion, in association with the Royal Society and Illuminating India Family Weekends as well as the finale event featuring Talvin Singh and Yorkston, Thorne & Khan.
The ‘Illuminating India’ exhibitions are FREE and open daily until 22nd April 2018 at the Science Museum, Exhibition Rd, Kensington, London SW7 2DD.
Illuminating India commemorates 70 years of Independence and is part of the British Council’s UK/India Year of Culture. https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/illuminating-india
About Talvin Singh
Talvin SIngh is a composer and tabla player. The London-based innovator, having staged the tabla in the world of modern music, is known for his extraordinary skill in melding Indian classical music with contemporary sounds such as Asian electronica, incorporating elements of trip hop, electronic music and drum and bass. Singh is also known for his collaborations with artists as diverse as Siouxsie and the Banshees, Björk, Madonna and Massive Attack.
On 7th May 2018, Talvin Singh performs from his Mercury Music Prize-winning album OK & Beyond at London’s Southbank Centre, as part of Alchemy. Composer and tabla player Talvin Singh performs from his Mercury Music Prize-winning album OK. The cutting-edge album was recorded in London, Okinawa, Bombay and New York, and also won The South Bank Prize for Popular Music.
Talvin Singh plays OK & Beyond
7th May 2018
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 8XX
Tickets: £20 – £25 (concessions available). Box office: 0844 875 0073
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/124608-talvin-singh-plays-ok-beyond-2018