“Liquid Reality” - Anupam Shobhakar
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
There are albums that blend genres, and then there are albums that tear the boundaries down completely, toss the pieces into the wind, and build something totally new. Liquid Reality, the latest offering from virtuoso guitarist and sarodist Anupam Shobhakar, definitely belongs in the second camp. This is not a fusion record for people who just want to sprinkle sitar over jazz chords—this is deep-rooted, high-level, no-holds-barred sonic architecture.
Coming off his groundbreaking 2023 release Raga Jhinjhoti on Fretless Guitar—a first-of-its-kind exploration of Indian classical music played on fretless electric guitar—Anupam isn’t just pushing the envelope; he’s printing new stamps. And with Liquid Reality, he takes a bold leap further into uncharted territory, weaving together Indian classical tradition, jazz, progressive rock, Sufi poetry, and atmospheric soundscapes into a vibrant, genre-fluid journey.
Let’s get something clear: this isn’t easy-listening world fusion. This is heady, heartfelt, and technically fearless music made by someone who knows exactly what he’s doing. Trained in the Senia Maihar Gharana lineage (the same that birthed Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan), Anupam’s roots go deep. But rather than treating tradition like a museum piece, he’s constantly in conversation with it—questioning, reshaping, and evolving it with every note.
He creates a sound that’s as cerebral as it is emotional, as grounded in centuries-old raga structure as it is open to the chaos of modern jazz improvisation.
“La Danse de Bonheur” kicks things off with an inspired reimagining of the Shakti classic, but this isn’t just a tribute—it’s a translation across lifetimes and influences. Anupam honors John McLaughlin’s pioneering spirit, but filters it through his own voice, his own wiring.
Then there’s “Anjaneya.” Named after the mighty Hanuman, this track explodes with energy. Thunderous drums, serpentine riffs, rhythmic trickery—Anupam’s phrasing here is fierce, fluid, and fiery. It’s the kind of track that makes guitarists sit up straight and wonder if they’ve been practicing enough.
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
“Formless” swoops in like a slow exhale. A minimalist duet between fretless guitar and the legendary Swami Selva Ganesh on kanjeera, this one strips everything back to essence: tone, silence, breath. It’s intimate, meditative, and—true to its name—without structure, and yet perfectly complete. You don’t just hear this track; you experience it.
What sets Liquid Reality apart is its emotional core. Whether it’s the soaring vocals of Ona Kirei and Ben Parag, the jazz-laced keys of Utsav Lal and Santiago Liebson, or the driving pulse from percussionists like Gumbi Ortiz and Satoshi Takeishi, the ensemble is always in deep conversation. Every track feels like a livewire exchange of ideas across continents and cultures.
This is music for the curious, for the fearless, for the people who like their playlists messy and their minds blown. It sits somewhere between a jazz club in New York, a temple in South India, and a late-night jam session on Mars.
With Liquid Reality, Anupam Shobhakar isn’t just making a statement—he’s building a world. One where tradition and innovation aren’t at odds, but in ecstatic collaboration. Jump in. You might not know where you’re going, but you’ll love the ride.
“Liquid Reality” is available now on all major streaming platforms
