Rootless stayed loyal to their name with their debut single, Rakitaki Tanana, where Indian rhythms and Romani motifs collide without conflict. What sparks from the collision is more than fusion; it is the birth of a new language, folklore reimagined for a modern era where shared heritage paints the present with richer colours. The track is no ear-candy novelty either; it strikes directly at the soul and syncs with the body’s own rhythmic impulses, which explains how the official video has already surged close to 100k streams on YouTube.
The interplay of tabla and dhol provides the heartbeat, while flamenco-style guitar, saxophone, and bass pull the sound into a contemporary carnival, leaving the soaring vocals to thread storytelling through the instrumentation. It’s music as cultural archaeology and invention in equal measure, a reminder that tradition doesn’t fossilise but evolves when placed in new contexts.
Rootless are a collective drawing on the historical connection between Romani and Indian lineages. With members from Romani outfit ZOR alongside Indian musicians such as Sodhi, host of the Talking Tabla podcast, the group represents cultural reclamation and a call to celebrate the bonds that still tie people across continents. Their music is as much a living celebration as it is a performance, a street festival played out in sound and movement.
Rakitaki Tanana is now available on all major streaming platforms – including YouTube and Spotify.
Review by Amelia Vandergast