Delight by Arushi Jain

Chasing emotions like joy and delight can manifest as a fidgety pining, leading to exhaustion and the thought that delight is more trouble than it's worth. Combating this mindset is producer, singer, and modular synthesist Arushi Jain with her new album Delight, a delicate yet endlessly expressive ambient record infused with the rich practice of Indian classical music, specifically Raga Bageshri. The project is fully dedicated to the idea that joy is absolutely necessary and well worth pursuing, but rather than frantically searching, Jain explores the beauty and detail found in each present moment, allowing delight to flow forth from the beauty found in every passing second. This approach finds its way into the album in its meandering pacing and intentional repetition of musical ideas, transforming over time but remaining ethereal and vivid throughout its entire run. Dynamic vocals, symphonic instrumentals, and shimmery ornamentation are layered between distorted modular synths that when combined have an almost psychedelic sound and allow this otherwise chill ambient record truly shine.