Nitin attended Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School and studied law at Liverpool University for a short time. He then went to London, where he met Sanjeev Bhaskar. The pair became friends and created a comedy double act, The Secret Asians, together. The show sought to turn absurdly dated Asian stereotypes on their heads. It led to a contract with BBC radio and eventually grew into the award-winning BBC TV sketch show Goodness Gracious Me.
During that time he met up with an old school friend, acid jazz keyboards-player James Taylor. He joined Taylor for a 40-date tour in as part of The James Taylor Quartet. It introduced him to the jazz club scene and provoked him into forming his own band, The Jazztones. He moved on to join forces with tabla master Talvin Singh to form the Tihai Trio and, after that collaboration ended in 1993, released his debut album, Spirit Dance on his own label. Shortly afterwards, he signed with Outcaste Records.
Sawhney's music is intensely political, commonly approaching themes of multiculturalism, empowerment, identity, immigration, poverty, and spirituality. He is active as an artist in residence for five different performing arts organisations in Europe and Asia, and along with George Martin is a patron for the British Governments Access-to-Music Program which brings music education to the inner-city students.
Sawhney's skills include classical and jazz piano and flamenco guitar. He has released six studio albums, as well as countless remixes and collaborations. After releasing Beyond Skin on London's Outcaste Records in 1999, he was signed by V2 to do six albums. His first album with the Virgin subsidiary, the millennial/apocalyptical Prophesy, in 2001 won a MOBO Award and a BBC Radio 3 Music Award.
Sawhney's music is influenced by his roots in India, utilising and featuring Urdu and Hindi lyrics, Qawwali singing, tablas and other instruments from the subcontinent, and Raga phrasings in music which is often primarily meant for the dance floor.
Sawhney's work in production and arrangement has led to his working in film and television scores. He has scored television ads for Sephora and Nike, as well as more than 25 films from his London-based Spirit Dance Studios. He was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award for Film and TV Composition in 2004 for his music on Channel Four's film, Second Generation. From there, he has begun to see acceptance from the "classical" community, and in 2004 he was commissioned by the city of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Britten Symphonia to compose new performance works. London's Royal National Theatre invited him to write, direct, and score a work to be opened in 2005.
For photographs and additional information visit Nitin's official site, www.NitinSawhney.com
Homelands
Nitin Sawhney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sa da pa ma pa da
Ga ma pa ma pa da
Ga pa ma sa ni ni
Sa da pa ma pa da
Ga ma pa ma pa da
Sa da pa ma pa da
Ga ma pa ma pa da
Ga pa ma sa ni ni
Sa da pa ma pa da
Ga ma pa ma pa da
Ga pa ma sa ni ni
Sa da pa ma pa da
Ga ma pa ma pa da
Ga pa ma sa ni ni
Tudo o que quiser
Tem que entender
Nas palmas da mão
Se tiver porquê
Frágil nessa terra
Fácil derrubou
Quando jogou fora
Tudo acabou
The lyrics to Nitin Sawhney's song Homelands contain a mixture of Hindi and Portugese words, creating a unique and diverse cultural blend in the track. The first few lines, "Ya no malmite nadi, Sa da pa ma pa da, Ga ma pa ma pa da, Ga pa ma sa ni ni," are in Hindi, and are essentially meaningless phrases. However, they do contribute to the overall atmosphere and tone of the song. The use of Indian music and instruments is prominent throughout the track, and the Hindi phrases add to this.
Moving onto the Portugese section of the song, "Tudo o que quiser, Tem que entender, Nas palmas da mão, Se tiver porquê, Frágil nessa terra, Fácil derrubou, Quando jogou fora, Tudo acabou." The Portugese lyrics suggest a concern for the fragility of a homeland, and the ease at which it can be lost. The line, "Quando jogou fora, Tudo acabou" translates to "When you threw it away, everything ended" highlighting the importance of valuing and protecting one's home.
Overall, the lyrics to Homelands convey a powerful message about the fragility of a homeland and the importance of valuing and protecting it. The use of both Hindi and Portugese phrases add to the unique cultural blend of the track, and the Indian music and instruments that feature prominently throughout the song further enhance this cultural mix.
Line by Line Meaning
Ya no malmite nadi
The flowing river is no longer what it used to be
Sa da pa ma pa da
Playing a note progression on a musical instrument
Ga ma pa ma pa da
Continuing the note progression on a musical instrument
Ga pa ma sa ni ni
Ending the note progression on a musical instrument
Tudo o que quiser
Everything you desire
Tem que entender
You must understand it
Nas palmas da mão
In the palms of your hand
Se tiver porquê
If you have a reason for it
Frágil nessa terra
Fragile in this land
Fácil derrubou
Easily knocked down
Quando jogou fora
When you threw everything away
Tudo acabou
Everything ended
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Nina Isabela Rocha Miranda, Nitin Sawhney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arianaverde
Indians Part:
Vocal percussion
Calo language (gipsies language) Part:
Ya no malmite nadi
Second Indian part:
Sa da pa ma pa da
Ga ma pa ma pa da
Ga pa ma sa ni ni
(indian musical notes)
Portuguese Part:
Tudo o que quiser
(Everything you want)
Tem que entender
(You got to understand)
Nas palmas da mão
(In the palms of the hand)
Se tiver porquê
(If there is a reason)
Frágil nessa terra
(Fragile in this land)
Fácil derrubou
(Easy it fell)
Quando jogou fora
(When you through it away)
Tudo acabou
(Everything ended)
@rosamontrose-690
Went to see Nitin at the Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow at the weekend, and he was excellent as usual. I've seen him plenty of times, but this was even more special since he had a heart attack recently and it brought home to me just how lucky we are to have this absolute genius in the world.
@oldsalts3415
The absolute undisputed genius of Nitin Sawhney brought me here. Again and again and again. What a gift in our lifetime to have this man expressing himself through this craft.
@RosaFelix
When I die, I will die rich, I have listened to Nitin.
@savinajn
❤️
@kplayz778
Who else is watching this coz their music teacher sent this
@katethecaronaut
@@kplayz778 Me. its beautiful
@spaceflightfox8494
@@kplayz778 heard it on the radio three years ago and found it today
@ahmetenverkayhan6951
Me as well....
@mangostained
This is my favourite version of my favourite piece of music by Nitin Sawhney. His music does not require a person to understand any language. All you have to do is close your eyes and let it take over. It is not only music, it is an amazing piece of art.
@mdameenahmed3211
Sa me