Published
Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 18:20
- The music-creation platform is partnering with RA to spotlight South Asian sounds.
Splice has launched a new sample label called Aaroh.
The label, which is a collection of sample packs by the music-creation platform, is made up of traditional South Asian sounds that have been recorded for the use of contemporary producers around the world. The name Aaroh comes from an ancient word meaning "ascent" in several South Asian languages. In musical terms, it refers to an ascending scale.
Five sample packs have been released this month (November), with more still to be added to the collection. The packs available now are: Winds of India, Spoken Rhythms: Konnakol, Vintage Bollywood, Tabla and Sitar.
Winds of India features woodwind instruments such as the bansuri being played in disparate styles and ragas; Spoken Rhythms: Konnakol borrows from Carnatic music and features vocal percussion samples; Vintage Bollywood is a curated collection of sounds from across four decades of Hindi film soundtracks; Tabla, as the name suggests, is a celebration of the tabla that also digs into how the sounds can be used for the modern producer; and the Sitar pack delivers a similar offering for the traditional string instrument.
Aaroh was created by the Splice team while spending time in South Asia, recording traditional musical styles of the region with local musicians. "The highlight of this project was travelling to Mumbai and being in these iconic studios collaborating with musicians and engineers from South Asia," Splice's senior label manager and content producer, Israel Medina, told Resident Advisor.
"Our focus was to collaborate with masterful musicians," he added. "To ensure that the project is not generalised but rather captures the authentic nuances and intricacies of the region."
"For a long time I've wanted to collaborate with Splice to make samples that represented the sounds and cultures from South Asia," composer and Aaroh producer Dhruv Goel told RA. Born in India and now based in Los Angeles, Goel explained how he wanted to "represent South Asian culture and music respectfully, not only as a product. These sounds have been sampled in electronic and hip-hop records for decades. Medina understands the importance of vintage Bollywood music in sample culture and had great recording technique ideas, while I had a clear idea of what instruments and genres to record.
"To me, Aaroh means representation," Goel added. "Because of how widely Splice samples are used in music, I hope Aaroh will create a significant cultural impact for the South Asian music community. I hope they feel seen."
RA is partnering with Splice to mark the release of Aaroh, with a new film series to be released in 2024.
Watch Aaroh's launch video and explore the label on the website, where you'll find all the musician credits, as well as some further context behind each sample pack.