A Melange of Melodies

From an acoustic sound to an electronica twist, Delhi-based trio Adi, Suhail, Tarun has come full circle this year.

In 2011, when old friends Aditya Balani and Suhail Yusuf Khan came together to finish off some songs that they had been working on for years, they chanced upon a sort of musical harmony. So what started off as a pastime culminated into the formation of Adi & Suhail — a duo act that found solace in Sufi, jazz and Hindustani classical music.

Their first track, Laage re, was an instant hit, and it got them a fan following too. A few months later, however, when jazz drummer Tarun Balani joined them for a session, the vibe changed completely. The boys rechristened themselves as Adi, Suhail, Tarun (AST), and toyed with electronica and Sufi. Now, the trio is considered to be one of the most unpredictable outfits in India's independent music scene. While Aditya plays the guitars and manages the arrangements, and Suhail pens down the lyrics and plays the sarangi, Tarun handles the percussion.

"Earlier, as Adi & Suhail, we were going with the singer-songwriter tag but with Tarun's entry, the path has changed. We were confused about the transition and thought that maybe, we are lost — from the acoustic Laage re to the electronica Zindagi that we created with Tarun," says Suhail, 25, who also plays the sarangi for Delhi-based band Advaita.

All this confusion is now a thing of the past. Eclectic guitar riffs, the sweet strains of the sarangi, the unbeatable energy of the drums and the electronica twist — this is signature AST sound. Now, the three are working on an EP, have a few gigs lined up for the coming months and their fan base is gradually increasing. Tonight, AST will perform at Blue Frog in Delhi along with pianist Sharik Hasan and bassist Gaurav Balani.

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