To oversimplify, it?s like this: panoramic rock ?n? roll fronted by a petite, beautiful Indian woman scat singing in Hindi. The cross-pollination is dizzying ? East and West, ancient and modern, pop and classical, ecstatic spiritualism and headbanging rock. The potential for Rusted Root-style world groove dilettantism arises and is crushed by the frontwoman?s chops. It?s hard to argue her authenticity. Her name is Mehnaz, and it turns out the Mumbai native is a big deal in India, having recorded a national pop hit in 1996. Now she?s working with a crew of veteran Seattle rockers in effort to do something truly unprecedented. It?s an ambitious project and a stylistic departure for a town very much rooted in rock ?n? roll tradition.?
