Biography
Funkadesi draws its singular fusion of Caribbean, East Indian, African, and funk traditions from the nine musicians who form its core. Jamaican-born singer and percussionist Valroy Dawkins teams with Indian vocalist Radhika Chimata to handle most lead vocals, their contrasting styles—his buoyant reggae drive and her distinctive Hindi elegance—anchoring the group’s restless creative heart. Dawkins, whose command of reggae extends to West African rhythm and dance as well as West Indian folk forms, supplies the majority of the English-language lyrics and infuses the music with genuine Afro-Caribbean character. Chimata, originally from Andhra Pradesh, contributes fluency in Hindi film songs, Punjabi folk, garba, Carnatic, and Hindustani classical idioms. Kenyan-American multi-instrumentalist Rahul Sharma directs the rhythm section on bass, sitar, and guitar, while fellow Chicago-scene veteran Abdul Hakeem handles electric guitar; both players arrived via prior work in blues, funk, and reggae circles. African-American percussionist Meshach Silas, whose kit includes drums, djembe, dholak, and an array of hand percussion, likewise draws on funk and reggae while pursuing studies of Senegalese, Guinean, and Old Mali Empire repertoires. Keyboardist Inder Paul Singh, already established as a bhangra and hip-hop composer, and Punjabi-born Canadian Maninder Singh, who performs on tablas, dhol, additional percussion, and trombone, reinforce the Indian elements. Puerto Rican conguero Carlos Antonio Cornier widens the palette with Latin American rhythms, and jazz saxophonist Kristin McGee, the ensemble’s sole member of European descent, offsets that distinction through her ethnomusicology doctorate. The Chicago-based collective first assembled around a shared urge to layer Indian improvisations atop reggae and funk grooves. Early recognition arrived in the form of two Chicago Music Awards for world-music achievement, followed by support slots for Los Lobos and Cracker. A self-titled EP marked their initial recording; 2000 brought the full-length debut Uncut Roots.
Albums
