Returning to India -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 20

Long ago for Tracks From Abroad episode 3 we visited India for the first time, and today for the grand finale of TFA Season 2 we retraced our steps with the help of Deepayan, a PhD student at the University of Toronto. This is one of the most ambitious radio episodes I've ever made because it features multiple video interviews taken over several weeks with many songs in between. Interestingly, it was the first time a student guest has performed a song on TFA, and it won't be the last.

 

Deepayan's close friend Chris Hale is a Sitar teacher in Eastern Toronto's Little India, and one day during Winter vacation I visited Chris with our intern, Quinn, to film a short documentary. Along with Deepayan, our group of four went from Chris's music studio, to the Udupi Palace vegetarian restaurant, and finally to Kala Kendar where the sitar store's owner talked about the Indian music community in Toronto.

 

I want to thank all of my listeners as we enter into season 3 of Tracks From Abroad. If feels great to interact with Toronto's musical communities, and I'm feeling the love and recognition reflected right back at me. Stay tuned next week when TFA visits the country of Ukraine. -Jesse