Ireesh Lal

This is what I’ve been searching for. Ever since Jazz was beginning to be heavily incorporated into Electronica back in the early 2000’s, I saw a bright future for Jazz as well as electronic music genres. Though back then the albums consisted of mostly covers of Jazz standards and these days we have more original Jazz coming out.

So think Miles Davis with his famous Harmon mute, a sound he’s famous for, toss in Indian rhythms as well as beautiful sitar playing, and finish it off by infusing EDM into it. If you complete this mixture you’ll get an interesting result, you’ll get an artist named Ireesh Lal and his debut EP Ethnotronica!

Ireesh Lal has earned critical acclaim in his involvement with the Los Angeles – based music trio Lal Meri. With Lal Meri he is signed with Six Degrees Records and was featured on NPR‘s All Things Considered and Public Radio International‘s The World. But now he’s branched off with his solo EP Ethnotronica. And he’s getting a lot of good attention on the influential CMJ‘s charts, reaching number five on the World Chart and number fifteen on their RPM chart.

The mixture I addressed above should entice those Miles fans who want more from him but don’t get enjoyment from just hearing trumpeters cover his old hits (Miles hated to and never played his past songs when he performed), then Ethnotronica is the way to go because this is where I imagine Miles Davis would be sounding like if he was still around today.

Below I have the tracks streaming from the EP as well as a few videos for you to enjoy.

Buy Ethnotronica here on iTunes. - The Global Bass Experience

Trumpeter Ireesh Lal brings out six tunes here that mix disco synth grooves with some lyrical melodies. He’s got a muted horn with layers of electronic that is layered like a German Chocolate cake on ”ElectroLounge,” with Central Asian beats and harmonies creeping in, as on the riffing “Liftoff.” Some tablas and electric sitars add atmosphere on the danceable “Novacane” and “Shooting Star” and an Indian flute gives a hint of moody atmosphere on “Spirits.” Mostly, though, you’ve got sounds for the background of a late night Saturday party in Westwood or Dehli.

www.ireeshlal.com - Jazz Weekly

Jim Fusilli is the rock & pop critic of The Wall Street Journal, for whom he has written about popular music since 1983.

SOUNDS
"Ethnotronica"
Dec 9, 2014
East Indian Music Meets Jazz, EDM in "Haunted," a track from Ireesh Lal's debut EP. - re:new music (music for grownups)

Ethnotronica is the title of the debut EP by Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist and programmer Ireesh Lal. As the title indicates the concept here is the combination of various musical elements, including electronic dance music, world music and jazz.

Throughout the EP, Ireesh Lal generates irresistible electronic dance beats that are interweaved with Miles Davis-style jazz trumpet and Indian and Middle Eastern musical instruments (tabla, oud, bansuri).

“Ethnotronica is my interpretation of electronic dance music blended with East Indian instruments and vocals, plus a little bit of jazz thrown in,” says Ireesh. “I am so grateful that amazing musicians who play with my band, Lal Meri, recorded on this debut solo EP. A special thank you to my cousin, Pooja, who sings lead vocals in Hindi on three songs: “Anjani Raah”, “Humsafar”, and “Raahein.”

Ireesh Lal is presently based in Hermosa Beach, California. He cites Thievery Corporation, Miles Davis, and Ravi Shankar as three of his influences. Ireesh Lal is a member of Los Angeles-based trio, Lal Meri with whom he recorded the critically acclaimed Lal Meri on Six Degrees Records (2009). - World Music Central

The tunes played between segments on The World for November 11, 2014 include:

SONG: Spirits
ARTIST: Ireesh Lal
CD TITLE: Ethnotronica
LABEL: Self-Released - PRI's "The World"

Ireesh Lal is an innovative electro-fusion musician with a knack for South Asian influences, jazz infused concoctions, and electronic music that is deliciously wrapped around a world music core. The six-song EP contains lush electronic blurbs, atmospheric washes, bubbly dance elements, and punchy trumpet sounds. The diverse instrumentation and song palettes are immensely addictive and enjoyable. The programmed grooves, trip-hop percussion, and contemporary beats elicit favorable responses from all who listen or move to the music. The pulsating sounds ebb-and-flow with such ease and adventure that nothing is the same here. There are hints of 1960's and 70's spy film scores, too. At any rate, Ireesh produces a beautiful recording with cover art inspired by the sounds of the album. This is a great project that is a must-have this year. ~ Matthew Forss - Inside World Music

IREESH LAL/Ethnotronica: This veteran of the world beat wars cuts right to chase on his new ep where the title really tells you all you need to know. With more creativity and thought than the usual EDM set, Lal has been around enough to know his business and deliver more entertainment bounce to the ounce than you are accustomed to. Yep, you could pick this set out of a line up and that gives it extra points right there. - Midwest Record

Ireesh Lal is a multi-instrumentalist and programmer whose debut solo EP– ETHNOTRONICA – combines original electronic music with exotic East Indian elements alongside the distinctly Western tones of the jazz trumpet, creating a captivating new sound. Currently based in Hermosa Beach, CA, Lal sites Thievery Corporation, Miles Davis, and Ravi Shankar as three of his influences, and you can hear traces of each artist on his newest release.

Notable tracks from the EP include, “ElectroLounge”, the opening number that begins with an aggressive, driving bass line immediately drawing the listener in. After layering an electronic dance beat with multiple synths, oud and tabla, Lal showcases the trumpet, playing the theme and improvising a solo later in the song. “Spirits” is built on top of a brisk programmed groove made irresistible with lush Eastern dimensions of tablas, ouds, and guitars. Lal lays down a commanding trumpet line to convey the melody, taking the lead amongst the cool, heady swirl of the tune. The trumpet steps back around the halfway mark, as the flute-like bansuri takes center stage for an incredible solo. “Shooting Star” is the final track on ETHNOTRONICA, showcasing Lal’s natural tendency to write in a melodic fashion. All the while, the ballad contains instrumentation that is beautiful and fascinating without a dull moment to be found as the song and EP ends with a virtuosic solo featuring the oud.

The video for ETHNOTRONICA is taken from a web series called Artronika which features performance art videos set to an eclectic mix of music from around the world. Legendary LA artist, Norton Wisdom, paints to Lal’s music on a wet-erase board, and we watch as he continuously alters the canvas, creating picture after picture, one into the next, with great detail and otherworldly ease. Lal’s soundtrack lends a sense of magic to the affair. Between Wisdom and Lal, there is an almost overwhelming amount of creativity exploding from each video.

Ireesh Lal is also a member of LA-based trio, Lal Meri. His debut release with the band on Six Degrees Records (2009) received positive critical acclaim, including a feature on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered and Public Radio International’s The World. Influential radio station, KCRW, also invited the group to perform live on its program, Morning Becomes Eclectic.

Tracklisting:
ElectroLounge
Liftoff
Haunted
Novacane
Spirits
Shooting Star - VENTS Magazine

The tunes played between segments on The World for October 31, 2014 include:

SONG: Haunted
ARTIST: Ireesh Lal
CD TITLE: Ethnotronica
LABEL: Self-Released - Public Radio International's "The World"