In Indian religious tradition a rishi is an illumined sage, or wise seer of divine truths. There certainly seems to be more than a hint of a transcendent power at work when The Rishis, the local band of the same name, take the stage.
Ranjan Avasthi and Sofie Lute anchor The Rishis, around whom various luminaries in the local scene orbit, both members of the notoriously dynamic Elephant 6 collective and promising new musical voices. Their live presence is enthralling, the stage overflowing with musical collaborators representing every corner of the Athens music pantheon.
The folk-pop, revival roots of the original Elephant 6 vision shines through in the music of The Rishis, influenced by Avasthi’s history with Indian classical music. The end result in a live setting is a psychedelic, uninhibited wall of sound, palpable in its energy.
The band’s current live lineup is Nick Bradley, Craig Landry, Davy Gibbs, Marcel Sletten (Chairs), John Kiran Fernandes (Olivia Tremor Control), Robbee Cucciaro (Dog Person and MERGE Record’s Orbiting Human Circus) and Bryan Nuse (Wet Meadows), although that list is anything but set in stone. Expect to see unexpected faces, both new and old.
Avasthi, a longtime Athens resident, and Lute, who moved from Tacoma, WA in the mid-2010s, began collaborating on a batch of songs that Avasthi had written. They quickly found synergy as a duo, both musically and romantically.
In 2022, after nearly a decade of songwriting collaboration, Avasthi and Lute released their debut EP, August Moon, on John Kiran Fernandes’ Cloud Recordings label. Fans of August Moon will find a kindred spirit in the new self-titled record, the debut LP. The album seems to make its pilgrimage across similar sonic landscapes as August Moon, albeit with a new caravan of musical talent in tow.
The pace of politics these days means that, in some ways, the world has changed quite a bit from 2022. This change is reflected in the album’s content, which takes a decidedly more political stance than the previous record.
Neutral Milk Hotel’s Scott Spillane sings on “Buffalo,” a track on the new record that tells the story of the assimilation of Native American children in the now notorious “American Indian residential schools,” institutions in operation until the early 20th century that sought to erase indigenous culture and customs on a generational scale.
“Doing political songs makes people nervous,” Avasthi said, but he sees it as necessary to stand up for people whose voices have systematically been silenced. The record “tells stories of people who have lost their voices, identities and homelands,” but it also comes with plenty of hope for the future and the human will.
The album is a long time coming, to the extent to which time can be perceived linearly. Some of the songs date back to Avasthi’s early days in Athens, living in the big green house off Milledge Avenue, sitting in on songs being conceived during the popular heyday of the town’s indie lineage.
The Rishis themselves are proof positive that artists in Athens refuse to rest on the laurels of yesteryear. The band’s lineup is multi-generational, featuring artists like The Apples in Stereo’s Robert Schneider alongside Marcel Sletten, founder of the Primordial Void collective.
The collaborative spirit of the Athens music scene is what allowed The Rishis, beginning as a humble duo, to blossom into the diverse and eclectic outfit it has become. The open and accepting spirit of Avasthi and Lute has led to some interesting opportunities in regards to the creation of the album.
Through a serendipitous turn, Lute’s longtime friend, Colin Willard, is the co-manager of the legendary Shangri-La Studios, once used exclusively by Bob Dylan and The Band, and now owned by Rick Rubin. The overdubs for The Rishis were recorded at Shangri-La.
Clearly some magic was involved in this record, and it’s no coincidence. Avasthi and Lute are firm believers in the healing power of music, and even have their own theory about the power of Athens and its music scene. “It’s like a vortex. Like Sedona, or Rishikesh. It has a particular type of creative energy to it,” they said.
Rishikesh is a sacred town in Northern India where Avasthi would spend his childhood summers with his grandma, at the head of the Ganges where it breaks, deep blue and glacial, from the hidden valleys of the Himalayas. It’s also the name of the last song on the album, a hypnotic guitar instrumental that leaves a wonderful color in the mind.
WHO: The Rishis, Wet Meadows
WHEN: Saturday, Mar. 1, 7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show)
WHERE: Bolo Bolo
HOW MUCH: $10
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