About Laal Bench Records
Nurturing Folk Music & Preserving Endangered Sound
Laal Bench Records was established in July 2025 on the conviction that traditional musical heritage is a vital, living art form. More than a record label, we are the ecosystem for rare global music.
Our mission is to preserve, amplify, and sustain vital musical traditions, supporting their practitioners while compelling a global audience. We are the bridge, uniting the masters of centuries-old heritage with the architects of cutting-edge contemporary sound. Born on a red bench on a home terrace, Laal Bench Records is a dedicated home for rare, endangered, and extraordinary music traditions from India and beyond.
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It was founded by Ashutosh Sharma, the driving force behind the acclaimed Amarrass Records. Laal Bench continues a mission that began with field recordings in the deserts of Rajasthan and has since amplified these vital voices on some of the world’s biggest stages.
Our Mission
The Laal Bench is more than a symbol.
It is the place where artists from across India and the world have gathered to sing, rehearse, and experiment: ancient traditions met curious ears and new sounds took flight. Every rehearsal, every jam, every late-night song on that terrace has been a step towards ensuring that rare voices are not lost, rather amplified globally.
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Our work is simple: To ensure that endangered musical traditions not only survive but thrive. We do this by:
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Providing artists with fair platforms and sustainable livelihoods.
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Recording, archiving, and producing authentic music with high fidelity, specializing in vinyl.
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Building bridges between local folk traditions and international collaborations.
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Creating a home where rare sounds can live on, from village courtyards to global festivals.
Our Achievements
Our Artists
Rehmat-e-Nusrat
Sufiana Qawwali
Uttarakhand, India
A vibrant new perspective to the timeless tradition of Qawwali.
Rehmat-e-Nusrat is a collective of young, self-trained musicians bringing a vibrant new perspective to the timeless tradition of Qawwali. Formed in 2014 by lead vocalist and harmonium virtuoso Sarvjeet Tamta, the group bridges the ancient with the contemporary.
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Their repertoire honors the legendary Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and the profound verses of great Sufi poets, woven together with their own evocative original compositions. Signed to Amarrass Records in 2019, Rehmat-e-Nusrat has become a powerful force in introducing Sufi and Qawwali music to a global, new-age audience.
Discover Them in their Element at Music Tours
Music Tours take you deep into the living heart of Indian musical traditions. We bring you straight to the homes, villages, and landscapes where the music is born and still thrives every day.
Thar Blues (Rajasthan): Intimate desert baithaks in and around Jaisalmer. Enjoy private performances by the serene Gadisar Lake, hands-on sessions with master instrument makers (including the rare Kamaicha), and shared meals in artists’ homes.
Himalayan Baithak (Uttarakhand): A serene 2-night riverside retreat near Nainital at Soulitude by the Riverside. Experience soulful Qawwali by Rehmat-e-Nusrat and lyrical Kumaoni folk by Himali Mou, along with unplugged baithaks, mountain views, and farm-to-table moments.
"It entered my veins. Rehmat's singing is not a mere imitation of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan — it has a life of its own."
Naseeruddin Shah,
Actor & Theatre Legend
"The Ghalib piece was a complete surprise. The backup singers were full of life. May they continue to experiment and keep this music alive."
Ratna Pathak Shah,
Actor & Theatre Artist
​"It is an aural punch in the gut, delivered with a velvet glove. The raw power of Sarvjeet Tamta's vocals... make one shake one's head in wonder."
Sarthak Kaushik,
Ishq 104.6FM​
Festivals
Ziro Festival of Music, Jaipur Literature Festival, Surajkund International Crafts Mela, and Almora Lit Fest. Internationally, the group has taken the stage at the Noor Festival of Lights in Dubai and the Kazan World Music Festival in Russia. They have also been featured in virtual showcases including Sacred Music Seattle and Hothouse Chicago in the USA, and the In2Wild Festival in the UK.
Venues:
Royal Opera House in Mumbai, India Habitat Centre and Sunder Nursery Amphitheatre in New Delhi, Museo Camera and The Piano Man in Gurugram, and the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur. Intimate performances have taken place at Soulitude by the Riverside in Uttarakhand, and at Windmills Craftworks, FabIndia, and Throttle Shrottle.
Himali Mou
Location: Uttarakhand, India
Genre: Kumaoni Folk, Pahaadi Music
The Mountain Soul of Uttarakhand -
Alter Ego of Rehmat-e-Nusrat
Himali Mou, literally meaning Himalayan Honey, is the folk-roots alter ego of the acclaimed Qawwali group Rehmat-e-Nusrat. Led by the commanding vocals and flute work of Sarvjeet Tamta, Himali Mou is dedicated to preserving and amplifying the rarely heard Pahaadi (mountain) folk music of the Kumaon and Garhwal regions in Uttarakhand.
While Rehmat-e-Nusrat channels the ecstatic devotion of Sufiana Qawwali, Himali Mou presents music that is as cool and fresh as a mountain breeze. Their repertoire showcases diverse regional styles, including the sonorous melodies of Nyoli (songs of separation), the dance rhythms of Jhora, Chanchari, and Chapeli, and the songs of daily life like Chaiti.
Supported by the rhythmic power of the dholak and hudka hand drums and the melodic sigh of the bansuri bamboo flute, Himali Mou is a revelation of sound. It's a vibrant cultural heritage that is essential to the identity of the Kumaoni mountains, connecting listeners directly to the soul of the Himalayas.
"A revelation of a little-known musical oeuvre," with their pahadi folk songs spanning Jhora, Chanchari, Chapeli, Nyoli and Chaiti leaving a lasting impression on audiences at one of India's most celebrated independent music festivals.
Himali Mou's performance at the Ziro Music Festival
was described by the New Indian Express
Festivals & Performances
Himali Mou has performed at the Jaipur Literature Festival, the Ziro Festival of Music in 2023 representing the Kumaon region with their Pahadi folk set, and the Almora Literature Festival at Malla Mahal as part of the celebrated Subah-e-Pahaad sessions. The group has also performed at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity in January 2026 in an event titled Himali Mou — Kumaoni & Pahaadi Folk, and at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi as part of the Lok Sangeet Sammelan.
They are also regular performers at the Himalayan Baithak, an immersive music retreat curated by Amarrass Records at Soulitude by the Riverside in Chanfi, Uttarakhand.
DJ Ravana
Location: New Delhi, India
Genre: Underground Electronic, Dub, Drum 'n' Bass
A pioneer of Delhi’s underground electronic scene.
DJ Ravana (Shravan Chellapa) is a pioneer of Delhi’s underground electronic scene and a visionary on the Amarrass roster. Believing that folk traditions, with their social and political grit, fuel cutting-edge electronic music, he transforms raw thought and ancient narratives into visceral, bass-heavy experiences across Dub, Drum ‘n’ Bass and Noise.
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His landmark album Dubfounded reimagines Rajasthani folk poet Jumme Khan’s spoken word into militant dub and electronic soundscapes, proving how ancient wisdom can pulse through the modern dance floor.
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Ravana’s signature sound blends massive basslines, intricate drum programming, field recordings, turntablism, classical samples and political spoken word into dark, mesmerizing textures. On stage, he collaborates seamlessly with artists like the Barmer Boys and experiments with projects such as fusing Ghalib’s poetry with Dub, creating truly boundary-defying performances.
I lose track of how long Ravana has been making gentle ripples in the Indian electronic music scene, but it has been a while. His languid advance through this scene is dotted with moments of visceral artistic clarity, but always with a kind sort of wit."
Lanky Strum, Medium
An artist who gives "an abstract sound to the most burning wounds on his and his listener's socio-political conscience."
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Wild City
Festivals
Re-emerging under a reinvented moniker, he crafts an eclectic sonic landscape—blending spoken word with drum & bass, jungle, breakcore, and dub.
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His landmark Dubfounded album launch unfolded across two iconic stages—Auro Kitchen and Bar (June 6, 2019) and RRAP Music Museum & Hub—in association with the Jaipur Virasat Foundation. The performances featured collaborations with Barmer Boys and folk poet Jumme Khan.
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He has also performed at Amarrass Nights at Sunder Nursery Amphitheatre—a celebrated cultural venue set within a UNESCO World Heritage precinct—further cementing his presence within India’s contemporary and traditional music dialogue.
He has also performed at Amarrass Nights at Sunder Nursery Amphitheatre in New Delhi, one of Delhi's most celebrated cultural venues set within a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Shop & Vynl Revival
High Fidelity for Rare Sounds
We are pioneers in India’s vinyl revival, operating a dedicated production facility that produces high-fidelity, hand-cut records. Our precision-crafted machinery allows us to present our archive of field recordings, live concerts, and studio sessions in the rich, natural sound of analog. While our focus is the Laal Bench catalog, we work with other artists in India and beyond to produce limited-edition LPs, EPs, and singles. This dedication ensures that vinyl is not just a format, but a true art form.
Music & Instruments
We are proud to offer our curated selection of high-quality music releases and traditional folk instruments crafted by master artisans.
CDs & LPs
Releases by Barmer Boys (Kesariya Balm), Lakha Khan (At Home), and compilations like Live at Amarrass Desert Music Festival 2011.
Traditional Instruments
Instruments like the Brass and Steel Morchang (Jewsharp) made by master blacksmith Mohan Laal Lohar, as well as custom orders for the folk sarangi and kamaicha, supporting sustainable livelihoods for craftspeople.
Events
Laal Bench
Sessions
Laal Bench Sessions are our signature concert series, organized with a mission to support and promote traditional and folk music. We strive to create sustainable ecosystems that nurture these unique art forms by curating events that combine:
Diverse Lineups
A mix of traditional folk masters, contemporary artists, and international collaborations.
Celebrating Heritage
Dedicated to showcasing traditional music forms and introducing them to new audiences in an accessible way
Iconic Venues
Hosting concerts at culturally significant locations to enhance the experience.
Expert Musicians
Our sessions have featured renowned artists like Lakha Khan, Barmer Boys, and Rehmat-e-Nusrat, bringing village-born traditions to the urban stage.