Set amidst the glamour of London’s iconic Karma Sanctum Soho Hotel last Thursday, I was invited to an exclusive performance and launch party for ‘Notorious Partners in Crime’, the brand-new collaboration between American rocker John Fishell, and globally renowned flautist, Deepak Ram. Living up to its mysterious title, we gathered from drinks and chatter in the lounge to the hotel’s cinema room to witness a night of unexpected musical fusion and charm.
Immediately evoking the sound and spirit of George Harrison’s ventures into Indian musical palettes, complete with a captivating cover of ‘Within You Without You’, the duet transported the audience into a wall of whimsical, hypnotic sound. Each piece flowed seamlessly into the next, blurring the lines between performance and meditation. It felt like stepping through a portal into a nostalgic celebration of musical fusion while simultaneously discovering something new.
Then came the duo’s original, ‘Space Time’, a track that perfectly captured the vastness and weightlessness of travelling among the stars. The essence of their collaboration was clear in this alluring soundscape: Fishell’s powerful, classic rock vocals – ranging from gritty and commanding to tender and vulnerable – paired beautifully with Ram’s entrancing flute playing: haunting, melodic, and evocative of his influence, Maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia.
Next up was the jazzy, ‘Valentine’, released the following day, introduced by Fishell with a humorously relatable dedication, “for all men who’ve forgotten Valentine’s Day”. The track felt like an effortless blend of their influences: east meets west, storytelling meets improvisation. Fishell’s Americana-rock guitar phrasing intertwined with Ram’s reimagined classical sensibilities, creating a playful yet soulful dialogue.
The duo kept the audience engaged through melodic sensitivity, witty storytelling, and a triumphant closer – a driving rendition of Led Zeppelin’s, ‘Kashmir’. Their passionate version maintained the spirit of the original while asserting its own distinctive character, prompting a well-deserved eruption of applause.
The performance concluded with an insightful Q&A that revealed the warmth and friendship behind their long-lasting partnership. If this show is any indication, it’s just the beginning of what the two of them could achieve.
