Many would argue that music has the power to transport the listener to lands far away, on journeys difficult to physically undertake. Perhaps this is the inspiration behind ‘Land of Maasai – A Sonic Journey’, a new instrumental track by talented young musician Omkar Salunkhe. Released on August 9, 2025, it’s a good example of world music that channels the spirit of the vast Maasai landscape in Kenya in the distant continent of Africa.
The independently released number boasts an upbeat tempo that brings the savannah wilderness of southwestern Kenya alive. One can picture in their mind’s eye, plenty of lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras and hippos while the hooves of migrating wildebeest traversing the plains during their annual migration, provide musical heft.
The songs and instruments of the Maasai people too feature prominently. Salunkhe is a Mumbai-based percussionist, rhythm arranger and producer. He has embarked on a new journey with his latest single ‘Land of Maasai’, and hopes to make a splash with the peppy number. “It released on August 9, 2025 — a date that carries double significance, as it is World Indigenous Peoples’ Day and the birthday of my Guru, Ustad Taufiq Qureshi,” he smiles. As his first solo release after the original track ‘Cuba Groovin’, which came out in 2021, ‘Land of Maasai’ is certainly a departure from his regular offerings.
“It is a tribute to the strength, dignity and spirit of indigenous communities, inspired by the vibrant culture of the Maasai people of East Africa. The idea was sparked after I encountered the powerful photographic work of Jimmy Nelson, whose portraits of indigenous tribes opened a new way of hearing stories through rhythm and silence. Nelson’s images made me feel something very primal. Those images had a sound in them,” Salunkhe shares, “They made me hear a sound in stillness. It was rhythm in silence. That’s what I have tried to capture in this track.”
The song is an earthy blend of percussion instruments, layered with tribal chants and other unexpected textures. Salunkhe describes it as, “An ancientmeets-modern soundscape that’s both raw and composed.” It features djembe by Prathamesh Kandalkar and flute by Avadhoot Phadke, and the mixing and mastering has been done by Chinmay Mestry. Salunkhe is best known for his work with A. R. Rahman, having worked with the maestro on songs like Atrangi Re, Chamkila and Why? – The Musical.
He has also been part of Ustad Zakir Hussain and Mickey Hart’s world music album ‘In the Groove’, and has performed live with Shankar Mahadevan, Niladri Kumar, Ranjit Barot, Sukhwinder Singh, Purbayan Chatterjee, Jatin Pandit, Shruti Pathak, Keerti Sagathia, Anusha Mani, Rasika Shekar, Jeffery Iqbal, Zila Khan, Sachin - Jigar, Shalmali Kholgade, and many other stalwarts.
He shares, “I chose to hold back the release of the Land of Maasai until the right moment, because I wanted it to be a personal, meaningful and timeless release. Land of Maasai is my offering to rhythm, heritage and the stories that live in our bones.” Inspired by the practice of his Guru, Ustad Taufiq Qureshi, Salunkhe treats his music very creatively. “I strive to break my own barriers, and I am currently working on a couple of selfcomposed and produced tracks which I plan to release soon,” he explains.
Salunkhe began learning the Tabla at the age of two from his father Devendra Salunkhe, and later moved to his Guru Ustad Taufiq Qureshi. He has also learnt from and been inspired by legends like Vidwan Sridar Parthasarthy, Ranjit Barot, Gino Banks and more. As for live performances, Salunkhe is currently playing with Aditya Narayan’s A-Team Live, a pop-rock band named Faridkot, Shalmali Live, Sukhwinder Singh Live, and MAPS – Music and Poetry Studios. “And above all, I have been fortunate to have some ‘dream come true’ moments like working with living legends like Ustad Zakir Hussain and A. R. Rahman,” he shares.
Over the past eight years, Salunkhe has collaborated on and curated tons of noteworthy music with fellow musicians, artists and music companies around the globe. He has garnered a name for himself as a trusted partner for rhythm and arrangement. Yet this song is a personal offering, separate from his other work collaborations. In his words, it is, “an offering to the pulse of heritage and the stories that live through it.” He signs off by sharing, “
Along with making good music, sharing a healthy and never ending ‘rhythmic’ bond with your collaborators and listeners is the key.” Land of Maasai is out now on all major streaming platforms. Noor Anand Chawla pens lifestyle articles for various publications and her blog www. nooranandchawla.com.
