Noor Ali on Blending 14th-Century Kashmiri Poetry with Modular Synthesizers
A candid dialogue with multi-instrumentalist Noor Ali following the release of Saffron Dust & Echoes (CHNB-003).
When you listen to Noor Ali’s felt piano on CHNB-003, there is an unmistakable sense of historical weight. "I grew up listening to my grandfather recite Lal Ded and Habba Khatoon in our courtyards," Noor explains from his Pampore studio.
"For me, modern modular synthesis isn’t a departure from tradition. It is simply a different pipe for air and voltage to flow through. When I run an Oud phrase through a tape delay with 15-second decay, it mirrors the acoustic memory of an ancient stone hallway."
We discuss the recording process of Saffron Dust & Echoes, the choice to release on hand-numbered vinyl, and why artistic autonomy is the single most valuable currency for an artist today.