The Firstpost Playlist: Reggae meets jazz, with a dash of Amarante and country music

And The Firstpost Playlist is back this weekend with some hard core reggae, Rodrigo Amarante’s soulful tunes and an Indian John Mayer who creates jazz with the sitar. Sit back and enjoy! State of Emergency (Roots Rock Riot) by Skindred

Terror attacks in France necessitating the extension of the State of Emergency An attempted military coup in Turkey necessitating a State of Emergency Cop-killers across the United States Closer to home, unrest in Kashmir resulting in the imposition of a curfew A Dalit stir in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh after the thrashing of four youths Truly, State of Emergency is as apt a description of the flavour of these times as you can find. And this 2008 track by reggae-metallers Skindred sums it up to a T. Vocalist Benji Webbe unleashes his full (well, almost) vocal range as he describes ‘cities on fire’ and ‘pandemonium’s getting higher’, while the band is as tight as ever. Enjoy!

— Karan Pradhan

Tiny Desk Concert by Rodrigo Amarante

With the trailer of the second season of Narcos having released on Friday, 22 July, this seems like the perfect time to revisit the music of Rodrigo Amarante, whose Tuyo plays during the show’s opening credits. This isn’t a song, but a short playlist. It features the Brazilian singer-songwriter performing for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert — an intimate, unplugged setting, in which he performs four songs from his 2014 album Cavallo. The Ribbon, Mon Nom, I’m Ready, and Nada Em Vão all have Amarante’s trademark soft vocals and acoustics. Between songs, you also get a glimpse of the singer’s personality — and it’s as pleasing as his music.

— Rohini Nair

Multani (Indo Jazz Fusions) by John Mayer and Joe Herriot

Meet the other, more talented John Mayer, who began composing music in the 1960s in Delhi. He is one of the pioneers of Indian fusion music – one of the first Indian musicians to create jazz by using the table and sitar. This instrumental is from his debut album Indo-Jazz Fusions with Jamaican-born saxophonist Joe Harriott is a very upbeat version of Raag Multani that gradually builds up tempo.

— Ankita Maneck

Thinking of You by Christian Kane

There is something to be said about American country music. Taylor Swift may have given it up to become a pop star but I really believe that country music has a soul that is lacking in most music made nowadays. And Christian Kane truly brings out that soul in his songs. Thinking of You is one of his older songs. It gained prominence a few years ago when he sang it on Leverage, a TV show in which he starred. As you listen to it, Kane charmingly makes you feel as if you are “driving down a sunny road / when out of nowhere comes pouring rain” and his voice mesmerises you into believing that yes, you may have parted ways with your love but they are still “thinking of you”. Just close your eyes and listen to him. It’ll be a genuine pleasure, I promise you.

— Asha Mahadevan