'Pen Pal' is a project where we combine our Indian and French influences to create original music with the help of traditional Indian instruments, synths, guitar and drum machine. In addition, we also play bandishes (tunes) from the Indian classical system in our own style’
It all started as a musical correspondence.
We first sent each other a picture. Based on this picture we wrote and recorded a melody and lyrics that we sent back to the other. After two weeks, we would send a harmony and a basis of rhythm for the melody that we received. Again, two weeks later, we sent an idea of arrangement for the melody that we started to compose.
When the two songs took a shape that we both really liked, we decided to meet and continue further composition, with the idea of creating an album together.
Our first residency took place in Delhi, India. The days started with peer to peer learning of both European traditional songs and Hindustani classical bandishes. In between composition sessions, we watched concerts, movies, and traveled in India.
The second residency enabled the project to be out there, with some shows in Paris, in social centers and bars. We also continued the composition of songs that would be gathered in a first opus.
We are currently preparing a residency for December 2024 in France with Raphaël Hardy, double-bass player from France and Sebastian Pinto Rojas, percussionist from Chile. We asked Inês Lapa, composer and violin player from Portugal to accompany us in this process as artistic director. The recording of the album will then happen in spring 2025.