Raghu Dixit On Russia Gig After War: ‘There Is An Awkward Silence’
“There is an awkward silence when it comes to war,” says Raghu Dixit, a few weeks after returning from St Petersburg. He had just performed in Russia — the sole Indian artiste at a global folk festival featuring acts from Mongolia, Syria, Bulgaria and Serbia — at a time when international exchange is, in his words, “very limited” and “only artistes from select countries are allowed to visit and…
Raghu Dixit, a renowned Indian folk musician, recently returned from Russia, where he performed as the only Indian artist at a global folk festival. The event, held in St Petersburg, featured acts from various countries, including Mongolia, Syria, Bulgaria, and Serbia. Despite the limited international exchange, Dixit found that the desire to connect remained strong among the diverse audience.
He noted that the cultural landscape has become more complicated, but the audience’s curiosity, excitement, and love for the performance never wavered.
Dixit’s collaboration with Serbian multi-instrumentalist Slobodan Trkulja began in 2019 at the Rainforest World Music Festival in Borneo. Trkulja invited Dixit to join him on stage for one of his songs during the festival, an impromptu decision that turned out to be one of the most rewarding moments for Dixit. He explained that the emotional architecture of folk music remains consistent across cultures, despite differences in instruments and scales.
This connection transcends language barriers, as people from different backgrounds share similar struggles and joys through music.
The musician emphasized that his music relies heavily on rhythm, emotion, and body language, rather than literal language comprehension. This approach has proven successful during his overseas tours, reinforcing his belief that Indian music does not need to become less Indian to travel. Dixit urged audiences to embrace authentic performances with conviction, as they will find their way into the music regardless of cultural differences.
During his time in Russia, Dixit’s audience was so captivated that many rushed to take pictures backstage, overwhelming the security. Some attendees even sang Hindi film songs, while others spoke in Telugu. The artist concluded that interest in Indian culture in Russia is exceptionally high, extending to Yoga and spirituality. He highlighted that the desire to connect remains a driving force behind the longevity of his band, the Raghu Dixit Project, which has thrived for 25 years despite industry challenges.
Dixit has become more interested in being a truthful musician rather than proving his musical prowess. He expressed optimism about the current independent music scene, acknowledging the newfound freedom for artists to release music independently, yet remaining cautious about the challenges posed by algorithms, platforms, and content calendars.
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