Rootless stands at the vibrant intersection of two rich musical traditions, bringing together Indian and Roma musicians in a groundbreaking collaboration. This newly emerging ensemble explores the fascinating historical and cultural connections between these musical heritages, creating something both innovative and deeply rooted.
Their high-energy performances seamlessly blend the infectious rhythms of Bhangra—the celebratory folk music and dance style from Punjab—with the passionate expressiveness of Manele, the contemporary Roma music popular throughout Eastern Europe.
They have released a new single, “Rakitaki Tanana” by Rootless. We had the opportunity to discuss the new single and more. Keep reading to know more.
Q. “Rakitaki Tanana” is unpredictable yet coherent. Was that sense of surprise something you structured deliberately, or did it emerge naturally in collaboration?
It’s really a bit of both. On one hand, we knew deep down that these two cultures are rooted together, so there would naturally be similarities. But at the same time, so many centuries have passed since the original connection between Roma and India that we also expected differences.
That tension — knowing it would be both familiar and unfamiliar— created a sense of excitement in the process. The real magic of Rakitaki Tanana came from that journey of discovery: finding out how these elements fit together, and hearing the final sound that felt both surprising and deeply connected.
Q. This track bridges Hindi and Romani through David and Karan’s vocals. How did you approach blending two languages so seamlessly into one musical narrative?
What made blending Hindi and Romani in Rakitaki Tanana so exciting was discovering just how close the two languages can be. There are words that are the same in both Hindi and Romani, and we kept finding them throughout the process. That really reinforced the deep connection between the two cultures, and it’s something that runs through the whole song.
On top of that, we noticed how similar the ornamentation and singing styles are — the phrasing, the vocal flourishes, the way emotion is expressed. Those discoveries made it feel completely natural to bring the two languages together, as if they were always meant to share the same musical space.
Q. The Indian classical interlude in the second half is unexpected but feels essential. What inspired you to insert that pause in the middle of such a high-energy track?
The Indian classical interlude in the second half of Rakitaki Tanana came very naturally during the creative process. The track is so full of energy and drive that we felt it needed a moment to breathe, a pause where the music could take the listener somewhere deeper before building back up again.
It was also inspired by the traditions themselves — in both Roma and Indian music, there are moments where the energy shifts and space opens up for improvisation or reflection. By placing that classical interlude in the middle, we wanted to give the audience a chance to experience another layer of Indian tradition, while also creating contrast that makes the high- energy sections feel even more powerful when they return. In the end, it felt essential to the story of the track.
Q. The percussion is incredibly layered, with tabla, dhol, and bass locking in. How did you balance the distinct identities of each rhythm without overwhelming the song?
Layering tabla, dhol, and bass in Rakitaki Tanana was one of the most exciting challenges. Each instrument has such a strong identity — the dhol drives with its big, powerful beats, the tabla adds intricate patterns, and the bass grounds everything with groove.
We deliberately chose these more modern forms to experiment with, because we noticed that modern Indian pop and Roma pop music have developed in very similar ways — still rooted in tradition, but expressed in a contemporary style. Through that process we discovered that even in modern genres like manele or bhangra, the rhythms and grooves connect naturally, which is why they lock in so well together in this track.”
Q. Which part of making “Rakitaki Tanana” felt like the biggest breakthrough, where the song transformed from an experiment into something you knew had to be released?
The real breakthrough in Rakitaki Tanana came when all the different elements suddenly clicked together. At first it was just us experimenting — trying out riffs, grooves, and vocal lines — but the turning point was when Matus’s Balkan-style riff locked in with the dhol and tabla rhythms. That moment created a groove that felt fresh and powerful, but also deeply connected to both traditions.
From there, adding David and Karan’s vocals gave the track its soul. Hearing Romani and Hindi sung side by side was the point where we realised this wasn’t just an experiment anymore. It was a piece of music that carried the spirit of Rootless, and we knew immediately it deserved to be shared.
Q. Rootless brings together Indian and Roma musicians, two traditions with unexpected historical ties. How did you first discover these cultural connections, and what inspired you to turn them into music?
For us, it felt like a very obvious choice to explore these connections through music. We’ve always known about the historical link between Roma people and India, but for centuries we’ve also been branded as ‘rootless’ wandering nomads.
That’s where the name of the band comes from — and with this project, we wanted to turn that label around by actively seeking and reconnecting with our roots.
Playing with Indian musicians and creating music together has been the most natural way to do that. It’s not only about acknowledging history, but about making that connection alive again in the present. Rootless is rooted in our shared cultural heritage, and every song we create is another step in rediscovering where we come from.
Q.What is next for Rootless?
We’ve been busy playing at festivals throughout the summer, including Glasgow Mela, the Ando Glaso Roma Fest, and Aberdeen Mela. Now we’re heading back into the studio to continue production, and we hope to release our next track very soon.
Looking ahead, our aim is to develop a full concert repertoire for 2026, with more performances across Scotland and the UK, and to bring Rootless to major festivals around Europe where Roma culture has a strong presence. And in the longer term, one of our dreams is to eventually take the project all the way to India, to reconnect with the place where the Roma journey began.
Follow Rootless on Instagram for more updates.
Enjoy listening to “Rakitaki Tanana” by Rootless here.
Check out our playlists here!
Check out our YouTube channel for music reviews, playlists, podcasts, and more!
Promotional Disclaimer: The content in this post has been sponsored by the artist, label, or PR representative to help promote their work.
