Kutle Khan: Fusion Sufi

Having performed in over 60 countries, Kutle Khan is unarguably India’s finest folk music icon today.

You might not have heard of him or maybe you only have a vague recollection of his collaborations on the popular tv series Coke Studio and The Dewarists, but Kutle Khan is still making waves on the international music circuit. We find out why…

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FHM: When did you start learning music?

Kutle: I was born in a family of musicians. My father was a great musician and was also my mentor. I started learning music from him almost 18 years ago.

FHM: Which was the first instrument you learned? Any specific reason for choosing this instrument?

Kutle: The first instrument I ever learned to play was the kartal. My father was a very dignified kartal player and I grew up watching him play the instrument everyday. Thus, I fell in love with it and aced at playing it.

FHM: How many instruments can you play today and which is your favourite one?

Kutle: I can play 8 instruments including the sarangi, kartal, dholak, harmonium and bhapang. Since I love making music, I try to delve into every instrument’s rhythmic aura, but my favourite instruments are the kartal and morchang.

FHM: How many countries have you travelled to till date? How has performing there been different from performing at home?

Kutle: I have travelled to more than 60 countries till date. Since music is so close to my heart, I make sure every performance feels like my first performance and hence, it never feels different whether I’m playing abroad or infront of a homegrown crowd. More over, Rajasthani music has its own grace and charm, which never seems to fade out for both listeners and performers.

FHM: Is it easy or difficult to collaborate with artists who are not from the same background as you?

Kutle: Performing with artists from different backgrounds has never been difficult for me. Today, fusion music has found its own niche and listeners are always open to hear rhythmic vibes. Hence, it has never put any sort of pressure on us.

FHM: What’s instore for the coming year?

Kutle: I have many more performances coming up this year. I’m going to France this month for a show and later to the US, Singapore and Bangalore for more performances.

FHM: You’ve performed on shows like The Dewarists and Coke Studio, so how was the experience? Did you take home any skills from the shows?

Kutle: These shows have been a great learning experience for me. In fact, you could say they were a turning point in my life. I collaborated with one of the most sought after artists, understood their styles, jammed my skills with theirs, and produced great tracks. I have taken back a lot from these shows.

FHM: With artists like you finding more acceptance, how do you see the scope of folk music growing and do you ever think the popularity of folk music has gone down over the years?

Kutle: I really don’t think the popularity of folk music has declined over the years. Folk music has its own grace and people love listening to it as it takes you back to your roots and hence, will never fade away.

FHM: Which artists would you want to collaborate with in India and why?

Kutle: I would love to collaborate with Zakir Hussain as I’m a big fan of his. It will be a great learning experience for me and will certainly add new layers to my style of music.

Kutle Khan was performing at Seagram’s 100 Pipers Box Concert.

From the March 2014 issue of FHM India.