Although I have not been able to catch the seasons on television, I've heard that this season of Coke Studio India has been much more impressive and impactful compared to the debutante edition, which was quite the joke.
I continue to be mesmerised by our Pakistani cousins as, season on season they churn out the most beautiful, soulful music. I've been listening to Season 5 a lot at the new workplace, and they're like the only voices that keep me company - so I pay them a lot of attention :)
Atif Aslam, Meesha Shafi, The Chakwal Group, Sanam Marvi and the accompanying musicians are simply mindblowing!
My father always says to me - folk is magic. There is hardly any form of music purer than that. I have been made to believe that is true. Folk is music for the soul. Amit Trivedi has got it bang-on in the second season of the Indian Coke Studio. He infuses Indian folk with a hint of jazz, dabs a bit of a clarinet in the middle, plays with bass, adds in an African zumba beat with a shehnai in combination with an exquisite mix of unheard-before voices. I am thoroughly spellbound.
My favourites, from the season:
'Nirmohiya' - Amit Trivedi feat Devendra Singh & Harshdeep Kaur
'Yatra' - Amit Trivedi feat Shriram Iyer & Mili Nair
'Malhar Jam' - Agam