Shimmer
by Michelle Qureshi
EP Review by New Age CD and New Age Notes Radio Staff
What happens when mellow acoustic guitar and sonorous sitar collaborate? We have a brand-new EP from award-winning multi-instrumentalist, Michelle Qureshi.
“Shimmer” is a re-imagining of three of Qureshi’s existing compositions. Here, the sparkling strings of the South Asian sitar meet up with Michelle’s American finger-style guitar sound.
Joining Michelle on these three new tracks, “Stones That Shimmer,” Skipping Stones,” and “Sparkling Within This Night,” is sitar player, Shehzad Hussain. Hussain is the son of the late sitar Maestro, Ustad Sajid Hussain. He hails from the esteemed Jaipur, Saineya Gharana. Commencing his musical journey at the age of six, Hussain delved into the profound realms of sitar and vocals under the guidance of his father and elder brother, another esteemed musician, Shehroze Hussain. Shehzad has graced numerous prestigious musical platforms with his talent.
Qureshi is a composer, multi‐instrumentalist, and classically trained guitarist who brings a contemporary, yet timeless aesthetic to her music, which includes 15 albums, 33+ singles and EPs. Throughout her musical career, Michelle adeptly combines her formal training with intuitive and improvisational elements. Her music has tens of millions of streams on global platforms.
The unique, resplendent synastry between guitar and sitar on “Shimmer,” brings each reimagined song into a new context. This is an invitation to transcend east and west and instead land somewhere brand new and very special.
The EP “Shimmer” opens with the lovely “Stones That Shimmer,” drawn from Qureshi’s 2019 album “Sage,” and the re-imagined song is from the composition “Skipping Stones.” The new piece is light and refreshing with flourishes of pull-offs perfectly mimicking the effect of stones skipped across a body of water. An arpeggiated section brings to mind the widening ripples after the stone’s initial impact. And the point is that the resulting ripples expand not only through the song, but across the globe as well.
“Sparkling Within This Night” and “Walk At Dawn” are both drawn from Qureshi’s 2024 album “A Day On Venus.” The piece, “Sparkling Within This Night,” re-imagined from the original, “Within This Night,” opens with a moody, brooding sitar. As the guitar enters, it gives us an almost classical touch, progressing in a way that envisions both sitar and guitar as adventurous companions traveling together through a mysterious night. It’s brilliant.
Presenting a relaxing and peaceful sojourn, the final composition, “Walk At Dawn,” is framed this time by a sunrise rather than the sunset as sonically painted in the original song, “Walk At Dusk.” The way the opening sitar notes slip with complete ease into the framework of the guitar creating a completely complementary stroll down any given easygoing and unobstructed path, at sunrise or sunset. Just beautiful.
Great cover artwork by Layla Qureshi, Michelle’s daughter, makes this even more special.
Available on all major streaming platforms, get “Shimmer” here: https://www.michellequreshi.com
