New Monuments by Amirtha Kidambi's Elder Ones

They say that “history is written by the victors”, but that reductive statement isn’t exactly true. History is in flux, our collective memory shaped by emerging perspectives that give new insights into the past. And if the past shapes our future trajectory, could reframing these stories be the key to unlocking a way forward, free from oppressive cycles that we would otherwise be doomed to repeat?

These themes of uncovering revolutionary mythologies from the wreckage of history are explored on the new avant garde jazz album New Monuments by Amirtha Kidambi's Elder Ones. This visionary record presents a subversive narrative inspired by global uprisings of the past decade, from the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, to the Indian farmers protests, to the Free Palestine movement, all converging in a syncretic call for liberation. Though the Elder Ones use conventional instruments, unorthodox arrangements of saxophone, cello, and percussion play in fluid counterpoint, with electroacoustic motifs creating an ever-shifting dynamic that mirrors the chaos of the struggle. Kidambi uses her operatic and evocative vocals as another instrument in the mix, captivating the listener with her message of resistance. Musically complex and ideologically inspirational, New Monuments pulses with the heartbeat of protest music, not only demanding change but actively participating in the construction of a better world. 
- Kalen