“If you are not in love, how can you enjoy the blinding light of sun;
the soft light of the moon?” – Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Shabir’s latest single, Rubaiyat Kavithai paints a story of a poet experiencing the beauty of love as he serenades his use, a classical dancer. The single draws inspiration from the book entitled, Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, a translated collection of poetry by the 11th-century Persian philosopher. In line with Omar Khayyam’s poetry, Rubaiyat Kavithai delicately balances our more modern sensibilities with the mystical spirituality of Sufism.
The single illustrates how love transcends borders such as time, language & art form while being present all around us. Using Shabir’s moniker, Nagarakavi (meaning Urban Poet) and containing lyrics in english, Tamil, and Urdu, Rubaiyat Kavithai tells a story of a poet enthralled by the dancer’s movements and how he feels as though he finally comprehends the meaning of Omar Khayyam’s poetry through her and her dance as well.
Produced and arranged by the ever talented Buvan, he has been producing songs and film scores in Singapore and Indian film industry since 2016. Gonna Rise Up for 128 Circle Season 2 (2021) and Vettai V (2022) are among his brilliant scores for various film and TV series.
Rubaiyat Kavithai has been in the works for about 2 years. The overall vision was to gain up the sound design and the sound quality. Shabir loved high-fidelity, rich sound, and getting his tracks closer to that was really important for his team on his project.
Toeing the line between modern pop music and the traditional instruments of South Asia, the single seamlessly blends semi-classical elements with exciting components from EDM. From the romantic acoustic guitar, heart -thumping electronic drum, and bass to the enchanting Diralba, Rubaiyat Kavithai is sure to sweep you away with the thrill of falling in love.
The song relies on the team’s usual brand of rich, ambient electronics, supported by a faint Qawwali (a form of Sufi Islamic devotional singing, originating from the Indian subcontinent) vocal sample. Rubaiyat is definitely a standout track and conveys Shabir’s approach to relying on a plethora of Indian sounds and blending them under his own style of Indie-pop.
We can’t wait to see what else the Singapore crooner has in store for us!
Listen to Rubaiyat Kavithai below:
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