world pysch-n-roll
The roots of Satsangi begin in the experimental British art school environment, where Sujatha Menon met Johnny Herbert and they started writing songs drawing on their different cultural music influences.
"It all started when downstair mother was singing classical Indian ragas, upstairs I was listening to Led Zeppelin wondering what it would sound like if Kishori Amonkar sang with the B-52's. Sujatha Menon
"Hailing from the UK and Trivandrum Kerala, Satsangi are a solid representative for global music." MTV India
"A cocktail of Indian transience, ballsy rock 'n' roll and tripped out psych." Northern Star Records
"What drives us is the unexpected." Johnny Herbert
Satsangi gig internationally and shared the stage with The Kills, Fields, The Primitives, The Moons, Dr Feelgood, Saint Agnes at UK venues such as Leamington Assembly, Empire Coventry, Kasbah Coventry, O2 Academy Birningham, Astoria London, Ronnie Scott's Club.
The band and regulars at festivals including Wychwood, Greenbelt and Cornbury (4 appearances), playing alongside James Bay, Elvis Costello, Macy Grey, James, Tom Jones, Imelda May, Van Morrison. Martha Reeves, Steve Winwood, Nine Inch Nails, James, Seasick Steve, Wilko Johnson.
“Iodine is an awesome song” Talvin Singh
Satsangi signed with the Mr Babu label (Mumbai/New York) with their videos broadcast in USA and on MTV India. The band were featured artists on the groundbreaking MTV India show 'MTV Roots’.
"Hi Su, listened to 'Iodine' again and I must say it's really wicked. Your track reminds me a bit of Sonic Youth, but with definitely better singing and a tough sax break that reminds me of X-Ray Specs. The whole thing sounds nervy, dislocated and very tense, just the way I like it!" Steve Chandra Savale, Asian Dub Foundation
Rolling Stone Magazine reviewed the bands debut album ‘No Shoes in Satsang Hall’.
"A wicked bass line, timely sax breaks, and pace-setting rhythm guitar sections. Richard Heath needs special mention for his swivelling spin of a solo on sax. This is a find!" Rolling Stone Magazine
Satsangi released 'Lick My Lungs' a double CD/DVD on Mr Babu in 2016 (The Orchard), and toured Zambia.
“I feel I could play that for the next hour or so, but the I’d lose my job, she sounds brilliant her name is Sujatha Menon, she's the lead singer of Satsangi”. Bobby Friction, BBC Asian Network
Satsangi's 3rd album ‘You Saw Something’ was released in 2018 (vinyl) on Blood Count Records.
Shivoham – Lockdown Lullabies’ was released in 2020, a charity album dedicated to raising money for The NHS COVID-19 APPEAL FUND.
Satsangi are currently working on ‘World Falling Down’, a project combining music, moving image and poetry. A collaboration with other artists including Dresden band Søjus1 Paul Windridge and vocalist Shanade Morrow.
Sujatha Menon' first poetry book 'The Glass Puddle' was published in 2021.
“She’s a star, I want to work with her." Tricky
"Satsangi are spunky new wave." MOJO
© 2022 by Satsangi
