Sounds from the Desert: Asin Khan Langa brings rural Rajasthan to Mumbai with his Sindhi Sarangi

Langa’s performance is the first of a series called Sounds of the Soil, a dedicated folk music series curated by the G5A Foundation for Contemporary Culture. The series aims to connect talented folk musicians who already have a presence in their region to interested audiences, and encourage dialogue between different traditions in music and the arts.

The Sindhi Sarangi, which Asin Khan Langa plays, is an instrument that is seldom used even amongst sarangi players. It is made out of tali or sheesham wood, and comprises of 26 strings. The material of the strings varies, some being prepared from the intestines of a goat, and others made of steel and brass. What emerges is a yearning, mournful sound, which Langa turns into rural desert songs of life, love, and loss. For the show in Mumbai, he will also set to music the spiritual poetry of Kabir, Mira Bai, and Shah Latif.

“At home, the lyrics that are sung are better understood. On the other hand, in cities or abroad, my music is appreciated more because it’s different from anything the audience has heard before,” says Langa, when asked where he enjoys performing. Langa plays solo but also collaborates with other musicians. Recently, he performed alongside playback singer Kavita Krishnamurthy in Chennai. “I play with the same amount of focus and pleasure whoever the audience may be. Their enjoyment is key.”