Falsa

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

FOLLOW US TO STAY UPDATED! INSTAGRAM.COM/FALSAMUSIC

Purchase our Album “ American Sufi ” HERE ON BANDCAMP!

and LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: TINYURL.COM/FALSPOTIFY

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


RIVERSIDE PARK NYC PRESENTS: AMPLIFIED SUNDAYS FEAT. FALSA(Free show)
Jul
14
7:00 PM19:00

RIVERSIDE PARK NYC PRESENTS: AMPLIFIED SUNDAYS FEAT. FALSA(Free show)

Free Event!

https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2024/07/14/summer-on-the-hudson-amplified-sundays

Enjoy vibrantly-danceable live music accompanied by spectacular sunsets over the Hudson River! Amplified Sundays take place each Sunday in July.

July 14th:  Falsa
Based in New York City and under the “Falsa” banner, a diverse array of improvisational World musicians rooted in 14th century Sufi music (Indian/Persian classical mysticism similar to Rumi’s elevating poetry) offer experiences that range from Minimalist Meditative to Raga Jazz Fusion to high energy World Improvisation that gets you moving. Through music, Falsa communicates reverence for the most magical aspects of experience that are gifts and not acquisitions, as Sufi music is not about means to ends, but about meaning and transcendence.

Summer on the Hudson events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled. For weather updates, check nyc.gov/parks/soh 2 hours before the event.

View Event →
Falsa at Casa Capullo BK!
Apr
20
6:00 PM18:00

Falsa at Casa Capullo BK!

The first official Casa Capullo event will be held on 4/20! We share a night of music, good sustenance from Peruvian food (chicken and vegetarian) and drinks available, cannabis vendor in house.

Get your tickets (🎟️ RSVP Venmo $25 @CasaCapullo) as space is very limited and it'll be gone soon! see you there! (Address will be shared with your purchase of ticket, please no outside food or beverage - vendors will be selling all the good stuff.)

View Event →
Sufi Night for Eid-ul-Fitr at BARZAKH CAFE BK!
Apr
12
8:00 PM20:00

Sufi Night for Eid-ul-Fitr at BARZAKH CAFE BK!

Celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr with an enchanting night of Sufi music @barzakh.cafe in the heart of Brooklyn ! 🌙✨ Join us for an unforgettable evening of music and great food:

📅 Date: Friday, 12th April 2024

🕗 Time: 8 PM EST

📍 Location: BARZAKH• CAFÉ, 147 Utica Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213

🎟️ tinyurl.com/sufibk 🎟️ Online $20, at the door $25

View Event →
Falsa Live at Salon on Kingston!
Apr
4
8:30 PM20:30

Falsa Live at Salon on Kingston!

Journey into a sonic realm where tradition meets modernity. Falsa, known for their entrancing blend of music, is set to grace the artistic hub of Salon on Kingston this October. Dive deep into the rhythm, poetry, and spirit as they channel the essence of Qawwali, infusing it with contemporary sensibilities.

Salon on Kingston, a cherished gem in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, offers a unique backdrop for this performance. As an ever-evolving, not-for-profit space, it champions the potency of diversity and respect, fostering art, music, dialogue, and delightful surprises.

View Event →
Shades of Blue: Falsa's Chicago Debut at South Asia Institute!
Nov
11
4:30 PM16:30

Shades of Blue: Falsa's Chicago Debut at South Asia Institute!

  • South Asia Institute Chicago (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Saturday, November 11, 2023

2:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.

FREE w/ RSVP HERE

South Asia Institute, 1925 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60616

The Shades of Blue, all building open house programs are featured in conjunction with the South Asia Institute’s current “Indigo: The Blue Gold” art exhibition by Shelly Jyoti which is focused on and is themed around the history associated with the blue dye derived from the indigo plant that has touched many communities across the world. Through this series of free performances and events, the South Asia Institute (SAI) looks to help highlight, educate, and celebrate the roots and journeys of Chicago blues music and jazz music, world music and South Asian performing arts and share the parallel stories of the color blue dye and Indigo plant’s own journey.

Join us for an adventurous day filled with songs, music, dance, poetry and film!

For our final edition, we have following artists performances & film screening:

2:00 PM: From Here (2020, 89 min. Germany, USA) Directed by Christina Antonakos-Wallace. From Here is a hopeful story of Tania, Sonny, Miman, and Akim - artists and activists based in Berlin and New York whose lives and futures hang in the balance of immigration and integration debates. (Film Screening)

4:00 PM: Vareesha Khan (Poetry)

4:30 PM: Falsa (Sufi Chamber Music)

5:30 : Timothy "Soloman" Bowser (Contemporary Dance)

6:00: Sonny Singh Band (Punjabi Folk Pop, Jazz, Music)

All Shades of Blues events are FREE and open to all.

*The Shades of Blues series is supported by a grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

View Event →
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music House Party 2023 – SOLD OUT!
Nov
9
7:00 PM19:00

Brooklyn Conservatory of Music House Party 2023 – SOLD OUT!

  • The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

We're thrilled to share that Falsa will be part of the SOLD OUT House Party 2023 at the @brooklynconservatory ! 🎶

This exclusive event tomorrow, Thu Nov 9, promises an unforgettable evening in a historic Victorian mansion, with music, immersive experiences, and delectable treats. We're honored to play a role in supporting BKCM's mission to provide accessible music education and therapy. Catch our set from 7 PM! w/
@roshni_samlal , @sidvak, @pineappleroomstudio and @uberwithanm

📍 58 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY
⏰ Thursday, Nov 9, 7 PM

Can't wait to see you there!

View Event →
Falsa Live at Salon on Kingston!
Oct
5
8:30 PM20:30

Falsa Live at Salon on Kingston!

Journey into a sonic realm where tradition meets modernity. Falsa, known for their entrancing blend of music, is set to grace the artistic hub of Salon on Kingston this October. Dive deep into the rhythm, poetry, and spirit as they channel the essence of Qawwali, infusing it with contemporary sensibilities.

Salon on Kingston, a cherished gem in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, offers a unique backdrop for this performance. As an ever-evolving, not-for-profit space, it champions the potency of diversity and respect, fostering art, music, dialogue, and delightful surprises.

View Event →
Falsa X Samir Langus at Joe's Pub NYC <PUBLICTHEATER.ORG>
Aug
27
6:00 PM18:00

Falsa X Samir Langus at Joe's Pub NYC <PUBLICTHEATER.ORG>

Falsa X Samir Langus explores a rhythmically meditative interweaving and conjunction between the worlds of Qawwali and Gnawa. Both bands, Falsa and Samir Langus' ensemble contemporize Sufi traditional singing that take root in Pakistan and Morocco, bringing their own interpretations of the propulsive cycles of their chant and the poetic lyricism that defines both genres. 

View Event →
FALSA LIVE AT BARBÈS BROOKLYN
Jul
29
8:00 PM20:00

FALSA LIVE AT BARBÈS BROOKLYN

Ticket Link

Featuring contemporary arrangements of 14th Century Sufi music, Falsa transcends genre-specificity and cultural preconceptions in collaboration with a diverse array of improvisational musicians. 

Featured Artists
Umer Piracha
- Vocals; Roshni Samlal- Tabla; Siddharth Ashokkumar - Carnatic Violin; Tom Deis - Bass VI and Harmonium; Kenny Warren - Trumpet. 

$20 suggested 
Pay now online or in person that night. 

View Event →
Falsa Live at BUUNNI
Jul
21
8:00 PM20:00

Falsa Live at BUUNNI

TICKETS LINK

"BUUNNI Coffee is thrilled to present an extraordinary evening of music with Falsa, an ensemble known for its transcendent exploration of 14th-century Sufi music. This is a rare opportunity to partake in a musical experience that harmonizes the ancient and the contemporary, the familiar and the novel.

Featured on NPR and celebrated at esteemed venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Falsa is known for invoking a deep sense of meditation, transcendence, and conversation through their music. Join us as we venture into a captivating musical landscape, where classical Sufi verses meet innovative contemporary arrangements.

Falsa collaborates with a diverse group of improvisational World musicians, challenging traditional genre boundaries and cultural stereotypes. Their performances engage audiences in a powerful, collective experience that illuminates the interconnectedness of our shared human experience.

By welcoming Falsa to our stage, BUUNNI Coffee reaffirms its commitment to nurturing vibrant, global cultural experiences for our community. Embrace the opportunity to participate in this unique and rarely offered musical journey that will resonate long after the final note has been played.

Instagram.com/falsamusic

FALSAMUSIC.COM

Based in New York City, 'Falsa' is a vibrant ensemble of diverse improvisational musicians. Anchored in the mystic traditions of 14th-century Sufi music—akin to the elevating poetry of Rumi—the group serves up an eclectic blend of minimalist meditation, raga jazz fusion, high-energy world improvisation, and immersive ritual-communitas performances featuring dancers and captivating visuals. But at its heart, Falsa is dedicated to normalizing the transcendent experience through music. The band's name, 'Falsa,' draws from a deeply personal and mystical narrative. Named after a tropical berry native to India and Pakistan, 'Falsa' represents the Sufi concept of longing for union—a theme that lead vocalist Umer has intimately experienced. After a decade-long separation from Pakistan due to intricate immigration bureaucracies, Umer's eventual return was marked by a poignant realization. Tasting the 'falsa' fruit again broke through the emotional barriers he had built and brought him face-to-face with the truth: "Home is something you cannot take with you, you have to return to it."

By weaving this narrative into their music, Falsa illuminates the magical aspects of experience that aren't acquisitions but gifts. In the world of Falsa, Sufi music isn't a means to an end, but a journey towards meaning and transcendence.

View Event →
Falsa at Little Island NYC (The Glade) - Two Sets
Jul
13
7:00 PM19:00

Falsa at Little Island NYC (The Glade) - Two Sets

Two Sets (FREE)

7:00 pm : (link)

9:00 pm: (link)

The Glade

July 13

Sufi Music for Voice | Meditation | Transcendence | Conversation.

Featured on NPR and at Carnegie Hall amongst other venues of note, with contemporary arrangements of 14th Century Sufi music in collaboration with a diverse array of improvisational World musicians who defy cultural preconceptions and genre-specificity, New York based “Falsa” invites meditation, conversation, and transcendence.

While rooted in Sufi music (Indian/Persian classical mysticism similar to Rumi’s elevating poetry), a Falsa experience can range from Minimalist Meditative to Raga Jazz Fusion to high-energy World Improvisation that gets you moving. But ultimately, Falsa is about normalizing the transcendent experience. 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 (Lead Sufi Vocalist of 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”
Falsa communicates reverence for the most magical aspects of experience that are gifts and not acquisitions, as Sufi music is not about means to ends, but about meaning and transcendence.

Website: falsamusic.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/falsamusic
Facebook: facebook.com/falsamusic

View Event →
Falsa at Little Island NYC (The Glade)
Jul
12
8:00 PM20:00

Falsa at Little Island NYC (The Glade)

EVENT LINK (FREE)

The Glade

July 12

8:00 pm

Sufi Music for Voice | Meditation | Transcendence | Conversation.

Featured on NPR and at Carnegie Hall amongst other venues of note, with contemporary arrangements of 14th Century Sufi music in collaboration with a diverse array of improvisational World musicians who defy cultural preconceptions and genre-specificity, New York based “Falsa” invites meditation, conversation, and transcendence.

While rooted in Sufi music (Indian/Persian classical mysticism similar to Rumi’s elevating poetry), a Falsa experience can range from Minimalist Meditative to Raga Jazz Fusion to high-energy World Improvisation that gets you moving. But ultimately, Falsa is about normalizing the transcendent experience. 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 (Lead Sufi Vocalist of 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”
Falsa communicates reverence for the most magical aspects of experience that are gifts and not acquisitions, as Sufi music is not about means to ends, but about meaning and transcendence.

Website: falsamusic.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/falsamusic
Facebook: facebook.com/falsamusic

View Event →
Riverside Park NYC Presents: Amplified Sundays feat. Falsa (FREE SHOW)
Jul
9
7:00 PM19:00

Riverside Park NYC Presents: Amplified Sundays feat. Falsa (FREE SHOW)

Enjoy vibrantly-danceable live music accompanied by spectacular sunsets over the Hudson River! Amplified Sundays take place each Sunday in July.

July 9th:  Falsa
Based in New York City and under the “Falsa” banner, a diverse array of improvisational World musicians rooted in 14th century Sufi music (Indian/Persian classical mysticism similar to Rumi’s elevating poetry) offer experiences that range from Minimalist Meditative to Raga Jazz Fusion to high energy World Improvisation that gets you moving. Through music, Falsa communicates reverence for the most magical aspects of experience that are gifts and not acquisitions, as Sufi music is not about means to ends, but about meaning and transcendence.

Summer on the Hudson events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled. For weather updates, check nyc.gov/parks/soh 2 hours before the event.

View Event →
Falsa at Little Island NYC (The Glade)
Jul
5
8:00 PM20:00

Falsa at Little Island NYC (The Glade)

EVENT LINK (FREE)

The Glade

July 5

8:00 pm

Sufi Music for Voice | Meditation | Transcendence | Conversation.

Featured on NPR and at Carnegie Hall amongst other venues of note, with contemporary arrangements of 14th Century Sufi music in collaboration with a diverse array of improvisational World musicians who defy cultural preconceptions and genre-specificity, New York based “Falsa” invites meditation, conversation, and transcendence.

While rooted in Sufi music (Indian/Persian classical mysticism similar to Rumi’s elevating poetry), a Falsa experience can range from Minimalist Meditative to Raga Jazz Fusion to high-energy World Improvisation that gets you moving. But ultimately, Falsa is about normalizing the transcendent experience. 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 (Lead Sufi Vocalist of 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”
Falsa communicates reverence for the most magical aspects of experience that are gifts and not acquisitions, as Sufi music is not about means to ends, but about meaning and transcendence.

Website: falsamusic.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/falsamusic
Facebook: facebook.com/falsamusic

View Event →
3-Day San Francisco Sufi Tour w/ Umer (Vocalist, Falsa)
Jun
24
to Jun 26

3-Day San Francisco Sufi Tour w/ Umer (Vocalist, Falsa)

Embark on a 3-Day Sufi journey with Umer (Vocalist, Falsa), harmonizing ancient Sufi music and contemporary improvisations.

Start at San Francisco's historic Sherith Israel, one of the oldest synagogues in the US and San Francisco's most beautiful building, on June 24th: World Folk Jam (Summer Solstice Event) in the Small Chapel: 6:00 PM | Falsa (Sufi Music)

follow us to the enchanting Alchemy House on the 25th: An Intimate Evening with Falsa

and conclude with a soulful Soundbath at Grace Cathedral on the 26th.

Each venue offers a unique chapter in this musical odyssey. Secure your spot for this transcendent tour today by following the links above!

View Event →
FALSA LIVE AT BARBÈS BROOKLYN
May
27
8:00 PM20:00

FALSA LIVE AT BARBÈS BROOKLYN

Ticket Link

Featuring contemporary arrangements of 14th Century Sufi music, Falsa transcends genre-specificity and cultural preconceptions in collaboration with a diverse array of improvisational musicians. 

Featured Artists
Umer Piracha
- Vocals; Roshni Samlal- Tabla; Siddharth Ashokkumar - Carnatic Violin; Tom Deis - Bass VI and Harmonium; Greg Foran - Drums. 

$20 suggested 
Pay now online or in person that night. 

View Event →
FALSA LIVE AT BARBÈS BROOKLYN
Apr
22
8:00 PM20:00

FALSA LIVE AT BARBÈS BROOKLYN

Ticket Link

Featuring contemporary arrangements of 14th Century Sufi music, Falsa transcends genre-specificity and cultural preconceptions in collaboration with a diverse array of improvisational musicians. 

Featured Artists
Umer Piracha
- Vocals; Roshni Samlal- Tabla; Siddharth Ashokkumar - Carnatic Violin; Tom Deis - Bass VI and Harmonium; Kenny Warren - Trumpet. 

$20 suggested 
Pay now online or in person that night. 

View Event →
Falsa Live at Barbès Brooklyn
Mar
10
8:00 PM20:00

Falsa Live at Barbès Brooklyn

Ticket Link

Featuring contemporary arrangements of 14th Century Sufi music, Falsa transcends genre-specificity and cultural preconceptions in collaboration with a diverse array of improvisational musicians. 

Featured Artists
Umer Piracha
- Vocals; Roshni Samlal- Tabla; Siddharth Ashokkumar - Carnatic Violin; Tom Deis - Bass VI and Harmonium; Paul Arendt - Spanish Guitar. 

$20 suggested 
Pay now online or in person that night. 

View Event →