Mean Deep is Shri Deepayan & James Whetzel.
Their first CD, eponymously named “Mean Deep,” is an amped up high-energy affair which mixes cutting edge electronica with Indian classical and folk music, and blends sarod, tabla, and throat singing, with rock, West African drumming, and awesome beats. The rhythms of some tracks reference hip hop and rock while others are so fresh and unique that is no name yet exists in either Western or Eastern vernacular to describe them.
The CD features a collaboration with the Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble on the track “Lindjo Remix,” which is an explosive club rocking remix of the raw and heavy traditional Croatian dance known as lindjo. Also featured is a collaboration with French rappeuse YAS who bring her slam poetry energy to the track “Goodabbad (les ecolos).” Also African percussionist Yaw Amponsah brings his fantastic drumming skills to the track “Gotham City.”