Falsa

Sufi Music | Invoking Meditation, Conversation & Transcendence | As Featured on NPR and Acclaimed Performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and More.

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Based in New York City, Falsa is rooted in 14th century Sufi music (Indian classical mysticism similar to Rumi's elevating poetry) with contemporary arrangements transcending genre-specificity and cultural preconceptions, in collaboration with a diverse array of improvisational world musicians.

A Falsa experience can range from Minimalist Meditative to Raga Jazz Fusion to high energy World Improvisation that gets you moving, to a more explosive Ritual-Communitas oriented one featuring dancers and immersive visuals. But ultimately, Falsa is about normalizing the transcendent experience.

It originally emerged as a collaboration between long-term friends and has since evolved into an exploration of what's possible when people are moved collectively by the pursuit of the intangible aspects of a communal gathering. There's a mystical culinary connection here: Falsa gets its name from a tropical berry native to India and Pakistan. And Sufi music is about a state of separation that longs for union. There was a decade in Umer's (vocalist, Falsa) life that he couldn’t return home to Pakistan from the US due to Kafkaesque immigration bureaucracies. When he finally returned and had the fruit again, it "broke through all the intellectualization and numbness I realized I had cultivated to cope, and in the process of giving myself over to the majesty of feeling I realized that home is something you cannot take with you, you have to return to it"

In our music, we want to revere and dignify the most magical aspects of experience that are gifts and not acquisitions, like reclaiming a half-remembered dream. Our music is not about means to ends, but about meaning and transcendence, about healing a wounded alienation we feel in our very highly mechanized, and in the ways that matter, poorly connected society, one performance at a time.

BOOKINGS/CONTACT: FALSA@FALSAMUSIC.COM

Falsa at Joe’s Pub- Public Theater New York City. Photo by Yekaterina Gyadu

// Origin: Multan, Pakistan. Based In: New York City

// Genre: Sufi Music, World Fusion, Transcultural Jazz

// Website: www.falsamusic.com

Bio

Transcendent | Sufi | Dynamic.

Falsa invites you on a transformative musical journey where ancient traditions harmoniously merge with contemporary sounds. Rooted in the mystic melodies of 14th-century Sufi music, Falsa blends the soulful depth of Sufi Qawwali Vocals (Umer Piracha) with the intricate expressions of Carnatic Violin (Siddharth Ashokkumar), the rhythmic heartbeat of Hindustani Tabla (Roshni Samlal), the rich tones of Bass VI and Harmonium (Tom Deis), and the driving rhythms of a Drum Set (Greg Foran).

Based in New York City, this vibrant ensemble of diverse musicians creates a unique soundscape that transcends genres and cultures. Falsa's music is a captivating fusion of minimalist reflection, high-energy world improvisation, and transcultural jazz, offering audiences an immersive experience that resonates on a deeply emotional level.

Performances at Prestigious Venues

Falsa has graced stages at renowned venues such as:

  • Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, NYC

  • Little Island, NYC (Summer Residency ‘23)

  • Brooklyn Conservatory of Music

  • Summer on the Hudson (Riverside Park, NYC)

  • Barbès, Brooklyn

  • Sufi Lodge, NYC (upcoming)

  • Manhattan School of Music (upcoming)

  • Symphony Space, NYC (upcoming)


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The Meaning Behind ‘Falsa’

The band's name, "Falsa," derives from a tropical berry native to India and Pakistan, symbolizing the Sufi concept of yearning for union. Lead vocalist Umer Piracha's personal journey—marked by a decade-long separation from his homeland due to immigration challenges—inspires the emotional depth of their music. Upon his return, the simple act of tasting the 'falsa' fruit rekindled a profound connection to his roots, illuminating the realization that "home is something you cannot take with you; you have to return to it."

Mission

At its core, Falsa is dedicated to normalizing the transcendent experience through music. By weaving personal narratives and mystical traditions into contemporary arrangements, they challenge genre norms and cultural stereotypes, inviting audiences into a space of reflection, conversation, and spiritual upliftment.

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Album:

American Sufi Experience Falsa's debut album, "American Sufi," a contemporary exploration of ancient music that transcends genre boundaries and cultural preconceptions. Collaborating with a diverse array of improvisational world musicians, the album captures the essence of Falsa's mission to create music that is both timeless and innovative.

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | Bandcamp

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Contact Information