Ireesh Lal

I play jazz trumpet while DJ-ing a vast array of music from around the world. My setup is very small - I bring my own sound system. Often times, I perform alongside a live painter named Norton Wisdom. Also, I have a performance arts troupe of body painted acrobats that perform onstage with me on occasion.

Ireesh Lal is a multi-instrumentalist and programmer whose debut solo EP– ETHNOTRONICA – combines original electronic music with exotic East Indian elements alongside the distinctly Western tones of the jazz trumpet, creating a captivating new sound. Based in Venice, California, Lal sites Thievery Corporation, Miles Davis, and Ravi Shankar as three of his influences, and you can hear traces of each artist on his new release.

Currently, 108 radio stations across North America are playing the album. National Public Radio featured music on its show, PRI's "The World". According to CMJ, it reached #5 on the New World Top 40 Charts and #15 on the RPM (electronic music) Top 40 Charts. It also hit #9 on the !earshot International Charts.

Built on top of brisk programmed grooves made irresistible with lush Eastern dimensions of tablas, ouds, and guitars, Lal lays down commanding trumpet lines to convey the melodies, taking the lead amongst the cool, heady swirl of each tune. The instrumentation is beautiful and fascinating without a dull moment to be found throughout the entire EP.

The video for ETHNOTRONICA is taken from a web series called Artronika which features performance art videos set to an eclectic mix of music from around the world. Legendary LA artist, Norton Wisdom, paints to Lal’s music on a wet-erase board, and we watch as he continuously alters the canvas, creating picture after picture, one into the next, with great detail and otherworldly ease. Lal’s soundtrack lends a sense of magic to the affair. Between Wisdom and Lal, there is an almost overwhelming amount of creativity exploding from each video.

Ireesh Lal is also a member of LA-based trio, Lal Meri. His debut release with the band on Six Degrees Records (2009) received positive critical acclaim, including a feature on National Public Radio’s "All Things Considered" and Public Radio International’s "The World". Influential radio station, KCRW, also invited the group to perform live on its program, "Morning Becomes Eclectic".

I bring all my own equipment, including sound system.