Kapil Seshasayee – Laal
With Laal, Kapil Seshasayee has shown himself to be an innovative talent, with a compelling future-forward vision
Electronica and R’n’B converge on Laal, the conceptually daring second instalment of Kapil Seshasayee’s Desifuturist trilogy. Critically interrogating ‘hidden’ aspects of Bollywood’s legacy and present, the Scottish-Indian artist’s work is underpinned by an uncompromising hunger for justice, with tracks shining a light on various oppressions. Legacies of casteism are explored on track I Whitewash the Old West, while on The Pink Mirror, the censorship and dehumanisation of queer and trans Indians in mainstream Indian cinema is highlighted.
Elsewhere, standout track Rupture of the Wheel, featuring a guest verse from Pakistan rap outfit Daranti Group provides a searing and timely critique of hypernationalism. Despite the heaviness of topic explored, the hyperpop influence keeps the track defiant and hopeful: anger is catharised towards hope for a better future.
Sonically synth-laden, Seshasayee’s vocals float and converge into the instrumentation to mesmerising effect. The lo-fi production adds a raw edge, but in areas the album’s scope of ambition feels restrained by its form – it would be interesting to see how this could be upscaled and expanded upon in future works. Nevertheless, with Laal, Seshasayee has shown himself to be an innovative talent with a compelling future-forward vision, both sonically and thematically.
Listen to: Rupture of the Wheel, The Pink Mirror