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Mynta: Nordic Ice with Indian Spice

The World Music Thespians Mynta, hailing primarily from Sweden and India, are back in India for the seventh time in eight years. Globally acclaimed for their versatility, they have delved into everything from Rock, Jazz, and Funk to Latin American and African rhythms, Indian vocals, Cuban and Arabic influences, and all kinds of classical forms. Their lengthy tenure has been the inspiration for hundreds of acts across the world that have delved into fusion music. With the members coming from diverse backgrounds, Mynta, which is Swedish for ‘mint’, draws its influences from traditional sounds worldwide. The band is Santiago Jimenez on violin, keyboard; Dallas Smith on Indian flute, soprano saxophone, clarinet; Christian Paulin on electric bass guitar, Fazal Qureshi on tabla, kanjira; Max Åhman on acoustic guitar and Sebastian Printz on drums.

‘‘The members of Mynta love playing in India.  We love the audiences, which are very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the music.’’  

Now, with the latest Indian tour, we see them pit-stopping at the newest Stormfields, in Sarjapur, Bangalore. They will play a set with brand ambassador of Storm Festival, Shankar Mahadevan, on the World Music stage. soundplunge_test caught up with the band and quizzed them on their future prospects and the special collaborations they will be bringing with them on their latest tour.

soundplunge_test: Having collaborated with some of the most versatile artists like Vikku Vinayakram and Louiz Banks, who else can we expect to see play with you on your upcoming tour of the country?

Mynta will be performing with guest tabla players for those concerts for which Fazal Qureshi is not available.  Classical Singer Sniti Mishra will also be a guest with Mynta on 1-2 shows this tour.

Watch Ghatam-master Vikku Vinayakram’s dazzling 2013 performance at Fusion Fiesta, Kolkata with Mynta.

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soundplunge_test: Some of your experimental work has been in collaboration with Shankar Mahadevan.  What kind of setlist have you thought up this time?

Shankar Mahadevan has the musical equivalent of a “photographic memory.”  That means that he remembers perfectly any song that he previously performed with Mynta.  He also has “huge ears.”  That means that if he is hearing a piece for the first time, he comprehends and remembers it instantly.  Thus, it’s not necessary to prepare a special setlist to perform with Shankar.

soundplunge_test: Having moved far from the Singapore Jazz Fest of ’85, where do you see your live act in the future?

Mynta’s music continues to evolve in terms of adding new compositions to our repertoire and finding new ways to refresh the older compositions.  Also, when Mynta performs with special guest artists, the result is always a new sound never heard before.

This freshness of appeal that is evident in Mynta’s sound is one that will endure. With such an extensively versatile array of influences, and armed with the best of Fusion, Jazz, Classical and Funk, the band is all set stun audiences across India on their latest tour.

Mynta plays at the Storm Festival, happening from 31 January 2014 to 2 February 2014.

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