Kani’d (meaning cousins) is inspired by the ancestral songs of the Kelabits from central Borneo, and draws upon the wealth of the musical traditions of the Orang Ulu tribes along the Baram. The original compositions learnt from their grandparents, uncles and aunties evolve into dynamic improvisation, and arrangements of traditional styles bridge the ancient and the contemporary.
Among the first musical group from Sarawak to sing and play traditional music in a whole new way, the members of Kani’d are trained in Western classical traditions. Their unique blend of instruments which include the traditional sape lute, musical sensibilities, and ethnic traditions results in an original voice, created from and reflecting the rich multicultural heritage of the musicians themselves.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
