'Adi Shakti' from Vidya, featuring guitarist Rob Luft

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As I was preparing for tonight's special episode of Harmonious World being recorded live in front of an audience with guitarist Rob Luft, I was delighted to be sent the latest album from singer, pianist and composer Vidya-Liselotte Sundberg, which features Rob.

Vidya with Magnus, Jon and Rob

Adi Shakti is Vidya's third studio album and it has a fascinating story. Building on the sentiment of her second album Papillon, Adi Shakti draws upon the singer's experience of having searched for, found and then lost her biological Indian mother, followed by the death of her adopted Swedish mother in 2022.

The Hindu mantra ‘Adi Shakti’ means ‘Primal Power’, and it was this alongside an extremely moving poem by the 13th century Persian scholar and mystic Rumi that inspired her new music.

“Out beyond ideas of right doing and wrong doing there is a field, I’ll meet you there. When the soul lies down on that grass the world is too full to talk about” - Rumi

Adi Shakti also features the exceptionally creative musicians Rob Luft on guitar, Magnus Bergstrom on bass, Jon Falt on drums and additional vocals from Lisa Rydberg.

Speaking about working with Vidya, guitarist Rob Luft says: “Co-composing a piece with Vidya and playing on this album was a real pleasure and a privilege. She’s a hugely talented singer-songwriter and I particularly love the way in which she has given each player huge amounts of musical freedom on this record. There’s ample space for master improvisers Jon Fält & Magnus Bergström to create inventive Nordic jazz textures and rocky grooves, and my own musical voice is ever-present from start to finish.”

Rob's voice really is ever-present. I'm used to hearing his guitar with vocalist Elina Duni, and this is different in style and Vidya's voice, too, allows plenty of space for the other musicians. From the start of 'Woman', there is interweaving lines between Rob, Magnus and Jon and Vidya's vocals. At the same time, there's a simplicity and a complexity - lyrically and melodically.

Listening to this album in preparation for interviewing Rob for the second time for my podcast - in 2020, at the start of the pandemic - reminded me why I was so pleased that he agreed to chat and play live for this special episode of Harmonious World tonight. His work with Vidya sounds deeply spiritual and creative and I'm looking forward to finding out more in our conversation. She is a singer of huge breadth in her songwriting and her singer, and it's clear she gathers around her people who will do her music justice.

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