The title track layers a Delhi rickshaw queue recording beneath Asha Rao’s harmonium. She recorded her vocal in a closet full of winter coats to deaden the room.
Song story
Monsoon Radio
Hindi and English over Mumbai field recordings.
At a glance
- Release date
- February 14, 2025
- Album
- Monsoon Radio
- Label
- Cassette Garden
- Genre
- Ambient, Film Music
- Language
- English, Hindi
- Duration
- 4:19
- Artist
- Asha Rao
The story
About this song
Interpretation
What the song is about
On hearing someone’s voice through the noise of a city.
Close listen
Craft and analysis
The harmonium drone stays on the tonic while the vocal moves through four different scales.
Licensed lyrics
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Monsoon radio, static between
रीखी बारिश, रूकी गाड़ी
I heard your voice in the queue
Through the Mumbai rain and hum
[Chorus]
Hindi and English in the same breath
A rickshaw honk beneath
Your voice came through the static
Like a song beneath the teeth
[Verse 2]
Harmonium in the closet full of coats
Delhi rickshaw queue beneath
The field recording breathes
And your voice is underneath
[Chorus]
Hindi and English in the same breath
A rickshaw honk beneath
Your voice came through the static
Like a song beneath the teeth
[Bridge]
रीखी बारिश, रूकी गाड़ी
The rain waits with me
Static between stations
And you, finally, free
[Chorus]
Hindi and English in the same breath
A rickshaw honk beneath
Your voice came through the static
Like a song beneath the teeth
[Outro]
Monsoon radio
Static between
Credits
Who made this record
- Label
- Cassette Garden
Licensing
Lyrics and usage
Lyrics are public domain
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