ALBUMS

It’s no coincidence that Nancy Kaye , Ireesh Lal and Carmen Rizzo chose to name their groundbreaking new group after the ancient Sufi folk song, “Lal Meri,” which closes the trio’s seductive and refreshing Six Degrees Records debut. “The message of the song is unifying different people from different cultures and beliefs,” says Nancy. “Why can’t we basically be together as one? It’s a beautiful message.”


If ever a band represented such ideals, it’s Lal Meri, with each musician coming in from different backgrounds, cultures and musical sensibilities, all combined into a unified whole. Nancy’s singing and writing have powered her forays in pop (a 2002 debut album for Island/Def Jam Records) and jazz (her recent, saucy tour de force Luckiest Girl). Ireesh’s multiple instrumental, composing and arranging talents have been spotlighted alongside Kid Rock, Smashmouth and others as well as in his own bands Hot Sauce Johnson and Animastik. Carmen’s global-conscious sense has brought him to the forefront as a writer, mixer and producer with Seal, Coldplay, Paul Oakenfold, Pete Townshend and countless others, while his expansive vision is at the core of his own wide-ranging albums and his work as a member of the groundbreaking world-fusion act Niyaz.


On their self-titled debut album, these distinctly creative musical minds and strong individual personalities form a whole new world. Nancy’s voice intertwines with R&B punches and angelic Indian vocals, while Ireesh blends reggae & jazz on the trumpet. Seductive trip-hop beats mix with oud and tabla. From the soulful bounce of opener “Dreams of 18” through the closing title song, Lal Meri is three artists inventing a new common language.