sister, idea (Ropeadope)
Ganavya & Munir Hossn
Released April 7, 2023
DownBeat Four-and-a-Half-Star Review
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lD44WV9QADsyeBVnW_qJyZxHemDbnxpiY
Spotify:
About:
The world we live in is one of patterns; pulses of energy with spaces in between. Our consciousness is designed to scan the field for danger, so we often find ourselves focusing on the negative. Some find a way to move beyond this trap, to focus attention and intent on the beauty of our planet and our lives. Munir Hossn and Ganavya are two such people; their very presence is grounding, and their music carries a very recognizable feeling of love.
Munir and Ganavya met while working with Quincy Jones’s production company. Munir has had a long, successful career in Europe and Brazil, and a the start of the pandemic had no plans to move to the States— but now is currently happily married and living in Miami, FL, and is beginning to build roots in the United States after decades of only coming here to tour. Ganavya has been touring since she was twelve, but comes from an Indian pilgrimage and spiritual tradition that tends to shy away from public performance. Her trust and love in Munir led to this album, that was originally just a collection voice memos to each other on WhatsApp. sister, idea is a welcome break from our fast paced ecosystem. One can feel the gentle and deliberate intent of the artists – to bring a feeling of peace, and joy, to the listener. Take a break, take a listen.
Track Listing:
1. esperança 03:25
2. brother, idea 01:53
3. what do you do? 03:28
4. quizas, quizas, quizas (para Patricia Camacho) 02:44
5. el juego 01:00
6. sister, idea 02:46
7. hope is the thing with feathers (for Camille Colatosti) 04:27
Personnel:
Munir Hossn: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric bass
Ganavya: voice, double bass
Recorded at Daredar Studios, Miami, FL and Unity One Studios, Miami, FL
Engineering, mixing, and mastering by Munir Hossn in Daredar Studios, Miami, FL (4, 5, 7)
Engineering by Mateo Añez in Unity One Studios, Miami, FL (1, 2, 3, 6)
Engineering by Vishal Nayak, Brooklyn, NY (8)
Album cover art by Guillaume Saix, Webmyart Designs
Review:
sister, idea is an achingly vulnerable record that captures the lived experiences, cultural traditions and spirituality that Munir Hossn and Ganavya bring to their artistry. Born from voice notes that the two shared with each other over WhatsApp during the pandemic, the album is a mix of call-and-response and mind-meld compositions that give us an intimate look into their creative and personal relationship. Hope is the overarching theme, with “esperanca” (“hope” in Portguese) and “hope is the thing with feathers” (named after the poem by Emily Dickenson) bookending a series of songs on which Hossn and Ganavya support each other through heartbreak, isolation and grief during the pandemic. In “brother, idea,” Ganavya holds space for Hossn as he navigates a series of difficult losses in his life. “Do you see yourself as divine?” she asks (reminds) him, her voice a persistent bright light floating atop Hossn’s lilting acoustic melody. The foil to this song is “sister, idea,” where Hossn’s plucky, folk harmony elevates Ganavya’s ethereal vocals. Ganavya spontaneously sings in Tamil, her mother’s native tongue, in their rendition of the popular Cuban song “quizas, quizas, quizas (para Patricia Camacho).” Her expressive vocals and Hossn’s heavy, somber guitar move gracefully through pain, loss and acceptance as grief gives way to hope and light. sister, idea is a series of intimate letters between kindred spirits. It tackles love and loss and how we connect with the world. Gananvya’s devotional vocalizations and evocative lyrics complement Hossn’s soulful melodies influenced by his African, Italian, Middle Eastern and Brazilian roots.
Ivana Ng (DownBeat)
