Granny Eats Wolf were asked by the BBC Asian Network to create an authentic and unique palette of sound design for the radio station. One that celebrated British Asian culture and captured the DNA of South Asian music, but could work seamlessly with contemporary music.

Soumik Datta playing the Sarod at BBC Maida Vale Studios

Collaborating with three of the UK’s most outstanding musicians - Soumik Datta, Ranjana Ghatak and Sarathy Korwar, we captured the timbres and sounds of the Sarod, Tanpura and a multitude of Tabla’s and other Asian percussion instruments.

Recorded over two days at BBC Maida Vale studios and at Confetti Institute London (part of Nottingham Trent University).

Ranjana Ghatak with her female Tanpura at Confetti Institute London. She also played the male Tanpura.

We chose these instruments to give us a full range of frequencies and transients, that could be manipulated into modern sound design.

“What’s special about this project is how we merged the traditional with the contemporary. We did just use samples from the internet. We started from scratch. There’s a DNA here.”

- Ahmed Hussain, Head Of BBC Asian Network

Sarathy Korwar at Confetti Institute London, who played three different types of Tabla, a Chenda and a Baya

Once captured, our team produced bespoke impacts, breakers, whooshes, risers, drones and other sound design elements using the recorded sounds as its core.

This sound design will feature across all of the furniture on the radio station. From trails to station imaging to be used as talkover elements in the radio shows.