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Blending deep groovy dub with mellow reggae vibes, Bahrain-based band Enshanti is
set to return to stage after a two-year hiatus, during which they have been busy reimagining their sound, writes Naman Arora.
The band will be performing tonight at a venue in Adliya’s Block 338 district, debuting their new sound as well as their newest band member.
Keyboardist and synth player Ronald Shera will be joining Josh ‘Lionheart’ Pandit (lead vocals, percussion), Ryan James (bass, backing vocals), Ryan John (drums, dub effects) and Sean Aaron Fernandes (guitar) on stage.
“Our last show was in 2022, exactly two years ago and we were all craving that live connection again,” Ryan told GulfWeekly.
“Dub reggae is all about vibe and energy, and it’s something we felt we couldn’t replicate on our own.”
In addition to the main line-up, Abhinaya Thirumalai and Khalil Qureshi will be joining the band on stage.
The group has also been working on their first extended-play (EP) album, Enter Shanti, which will feature five tracks, and is set to be released early next year.
“The upcoming EP is more reflective — focusing on social consciousness and spiritual themes,” Sean added.
“It’s mellow, but with that signature heavy dub pulse.
“Our sound is rooted in classic dub and roots reggae, with a modern twist. Deep basslines, spaced-out echoes, and heavy reverb are the essence of our music.”
The band’s writing process is a collective effort, with Josh bringing in the main themes and lyrics, while the grooves and rhythms are built together by the band, sometimes taking hours jamming on a riff.
Amongst their favourite songs to have worked on in the last several
years is Hypocrisies, a ‘slow-burn dub track that builds with layers of reverb and echo’ which revolves around ‘balancing struggle with unity’.
For more details, follow @enshanti_ on Instagram.
