Renowned for their imaginative fusions of folk, jazz and world music, Mishra take the concept of cross-cultural music to a new level when joined by international fusion vocalist Deepa Shakthi for their new album, Turn O Spinning Wheel.
Release Date: 17th October 2025
Label: Self Release
Formats: CD / Digital
ANOTHER GIANT LEAP FORWARD
From Sheffield, Mishra is a band that has forged a solid reputation for its masterful fusions of folk, jazz and world music. Formed in 2018, Mishra was originally a duo comprising Kate Griffin on banjo and vocals and Ford Collier on low whistle and percussion. The band has since expanded and now also includes John Ball on tabla, Joss Mann-Hazell on double bass and Alex Lyon on clarinet and vocals.
Mishra have released two previous albums – The Loft Tapes (2019) and Reclaim (2021) and their growing acclaim has earned them appearances at a string of high-profile festivals, including Cambridge, Beardy and Timber. And, now, it’s time for Mishra to take another giant leap forward…
A TRUE EYE-OPENER
Mishra and international fusion vocalist Deepa Shakthi first hooked up in 2023 and the match was a perfect one from the very outset. Mishra’s signature blend of British folk and Indian classical influences formed the perfect canvas for Deepa’s euphoric Sufi singing. An album together was inevitable for both parties. That album, Turn O Spinning Wheel is now with us and I can say without hesitation, it’s an album that sets new standards for the fusion of folk and world music.
The evidence is there, right from the outset. The title to the album’s opening track, Akhiyaan Udeak Diyaan, translates as “Eyes Are Opened” and, without question, the song is a true eye-opener. Ford’s whistle evokes the hills and loughs of Ireland, whilst John’s tabla and, especially, Deepa’s vocals originate in different surroundings altogether. And the fit is as snug as a hand in a glove. This is a tune that provides conclusive proof that music is an international language and, when Kate’s and Deepa’s voices blend together, the world shrinks to the size we want it to be.
PASTORAL INTIMACY
The Celtic influence is less pronounced, but still with us, for the fast-moving, trancelike, Kala Doria. Deepa takes the lead, before Kate slows things right down for her “We were born to love one another…” interlude and Ford chips in with a whistle solo. And round, and around it goes on…
Is that a zither? Or a kora? Whatever it may be, the instrument’s harp-like sounds give Wiser Hand something of an African flavour. It’s a slow-building song, with intimate, melodic vocals from Kate. Deepa’s backing vocals add an exotic touch to the pastoral intimacy and Joss’s basslines underline the passion in Kate’s voice.
THE WHOLE IS GREATER THAN THE PARTS
A burst of percussion provides the introduction to Kite, another glorious chunk of Indo-Irish delight. By this stage, it seems that every musician is taking inspiration from another’s culture. Kate’s vocals are echo-y and ethereal, whilst Deepa’s are outgoing, precise and, one strongly suspects, right to the point. And it’s delicious multi-tracked harmony vocals that herald Banjaran, a bluesy duet between Kate and Deepa. Once again, the voices – and the languages – blend beautifully together; bass, piano and clarinet inject a jazzy flavour and Ford’s percussion – khartal and crashing cymbals – is otherworldly.
Sung to the accompaniment of a sole acoustic guitar, Turn is another Kate/Deepa duet and the harmony backing vocals are blissful. On an album that’s packed with such evidence, this is a song that makes the strongest possible case for the whole being far, far, greater than the individual component parts.
NOVELTY AND FAMILIARITY
In a way, I suppose that Ghoom Charakhra is the song that serves as the album’s title track. It translates as Spinning Wheel, and it’s a wonderful smoothed-out raga that’s guaranteed to set the listener’s feet a-tapping. Whistle, tabla and clarinet lead the instrumentation and the effect, combined with Deepa’s voice, is rich, warming – and surprisingly jazzy.
Folk songs from both the British and the Indian cultures seem to have been sliced into snippets and randomly reassembled for the engaging Sunn Leh. The music, like the lyrics, leaps between east and west and the mix of novelty with splashes of the familiar is quite awesome.
THAT’S COHESION…
Turn O Spinning Wheel is an album that’s notable for its cohesion, and nowhere is that quality more evident than with the hauntingly beautiful Holi Ki Raat. Deepa’s passionate vocal is, perhaps, her most intimate performance on the album and Ford’s whistle takes care of the Celtic, jazzy end of things. But, really, it’s impossible – and also fruitless – to separate musical origins on such an absorbing piece of music. That’s cohesion, that is.
And, to conclude a tremendous album, Mishra and Deepa take musical fusion to yet another level with closing track Bari Bari. Personally, I’m a sucker for a clarinet solo, and Alex really delivers the goods here but, more than anything, the track is a showpiece for Deepa’s amazing vocals.
I really hope that you enjoy Turn O Spinning Wheel as much as I have. It’s a captivating album and shouldn’t be missed.
Watch the official video to Kite – a track from the album – below:
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