About Silsila
Silsila is a collaborative studio album by Indian classical guitarist and composer Shahbaz Hussain and British-Iranian santur player and composer Helen Anahita Wilson. The artists released the album on July 22, 2022 as a digital media project under an official capacity. The release marks a fusion of North Indian classical traditions with Persian and Western contemporary influences.
The album comprises seven original tracks that explore improvisational dialogues between the guitar and santur. Notable compositions include Azar, a rhythmic piece rooted in Hindustani raga structures, and Merkaba-là, which integrates microtonal phrasing with harmonic layering. Barakaat features a slow, meditative progression, while Incarnation II employs dynamic tempo shifts and percussive interplay. The track Faridah draws from Sufi poetic themes, and Anjali incorporates melodic motifs reminiscent of Dhrupad vocal traditions. The closing piece, Niratara, emphasizes sustained drones and minimalist textures.
Hussain contributed guitar performances and compositional frameworks, blending elements of khayal and tappa styles with modern fingerstyle techniques. Wilson provided santur arrangements that intertwine Persian dastgah systems with contemporary harmonic experimentation. The production process involved live recording sessions, preserving the spontaneity of the performances without overdubbing.
The album received distribution through digital platforms, though the specific label remains undisclosed in available sources. Critical reception highlighted the interplay between the instruments and the cross-cultural synthesis of the compositions. Further details regarding recording locations, additional personnel, or physical release formats are not documented in public records.