Immigrants

When Songlines interviewed Nitin Sawhney in October 2019, he discussed the 20th anniversary of his landmark 1999 album Beyond Skin and how its themes of identity, nationality, race and religion are today more relevant than ever. He also hinted that his next album might be a belated sequel – and Immigrants is exactly that. As a composer Sawhney has matured dramatically over the years. Yet his core mission of breaking down borders – artistically, geographically and in every other sense – has remained constant.

The songs on Immigrants all feature collaborations with artists who identify as immigrants, are from immigrant heritage or simply wish to express solidarity, among them Indian qawwali singer Dhruv Sangari, British-Jamaican cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Natacha Atlas, Canadian rapper Spek and the black British-South African singer Natty, last heard on the brilliant ‘Days of Fire’ on Sawhney’s 2008 album London Undersound. Orchestral composition, acoustic guitar, beats and a dazzling array of global influences are interspersed with telling sound samples, ranging from Windrush commentary to the hideous chant of ‘build the wall.’ It’s impossible in such a short review to do justice to the breadth and depth of Sawhney’s vision and his message of rebuilding hope and unity in a post-Trump world, so you’ll just have to buy it. You won’t be disappointed.