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
Koyal
Nitin Sawhney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aur sawan mude amber mein
Piya milan ki bela mein
Kyun rut badle be-mausam mein
Kyun kali raton ke pat par
Rang chhidakata hai jam kar [unverified]
Haan paa kar tumko saajan mere
Sun mitwa kyun man matwaara
Naach raha tan man saara
Gunje sargam payal chalkara
Sangit ka naata tumhara
Kyun rut badle bemausam mein
The lyrics of the Nitin Sawhney's song "Koyal" is a contemplation on the changing seasons and the inexplicable emotions that accompany them. It starts with a question about why the nightingale sings in the fall while the monsoon dances in the clouds, and why the season changes in such an unpredictable way. The singer of the song wonders why the colors of the leaves come and go, leaving the trees bare and naked for the winter months. The slow tempo and drawn-out notes give the song an introspective and melancholy feel, like the singer is pondering the mysteries of life.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more figurative, describing the changing of seasons as a metaphor for emotional changes. The poet wonders why love is so elusive and is always slipping away when it is so close to being within reach. He wonders why, in the midst of his joy, he always feels a sense of sadness creeping in. The metaphors of peacocks dancing in the rain and bells ringing in the feet of dancers add texture to the themes of changing seasons and love.
Overall, the song is a poignant contemplation on the transient nature of life, emphasizing the ever-changing environment and the murky, uncontrollable emotions that accompany it.
Line by Line Meaning
Kyun koyal bole patjhad mein
Why does the cuckoo sing in the autumn season?
Aur sawan mude amber mein
While the rainy season passes by in the sky above?
Piya milan ki bela mein
Is it in anticipation of meeting its loved one?
Kyun rut badle be-mausam mein
Why does the weather change unexpectedly?
Kyun kali raton ke pat par
Why do the colors burst with vibrancy on the petals of the night flowers?
Rang chhidakata hai jam kar [unverified]
Like a cup overflowing with color.
Haan paa kar tumko saajan mere
Oh my beloved, why do I feel so complete when I'm with you?
Kyun zoom utha mera kan kan
Why does my whole being tremble with joy and anticipation in your presence?
Sun mitwa kyun man matwaara
Oh dear friend, why is my mind so enchanted?
Naach raha tan man saara
Why do my entire body and soul dance with happiness?
Gunje sargam payal chalkara
As the anklets jingle with the music.
Sangit ka naata tumhara
It is your connection to the music.
Kyun rut badle bemausam mein
Why does the weather change unpredictably?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NITIN SAWHNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scruffy01100000
It has that Portishead vibe but it’s something different at the same time. Love it…
@shivangisharmamariam
Remainders of a love lost to time come to haunt you with this music. The songbird sings relentlessly... Will her voice touch her beloved?
@flyleafandparamore10
Love this song. It took me forever to find this. Thank you for uploading it!:)
@ritaskitchenlifeandgoodvib2647
B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.... I'd love to learn to play this on my Native American Flute.
@lissygirl532
Will forever remind me of Lacey and Sabra! :]
@snackjackish
This is just so beautiful song.
@VisnuHawaii
Here is a translation: Why the cuckoo sings in the Autumn season and why the rainy season darkens the sky when I meet my beloved. Why the weather changes why colour is fully sprinkled during balck nights. Yes, after meeting with you my every limb trembles. Look, my dear, my body and soul is dancing. The bracelet on foot tinkles and produces a song. There is a link with you in this song. Why weather changes in this season.
@mai3791
Hello! Could you tell me in what language is this?
@VisnuHawaii
@MF GS hindi
@Poodle_Gun
It's weird, I don't know this language, but the way it's composed make the visualizations still come through.