Recorded inside the 15th-century Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Junun is shaped as much by place as by people. Stone walls, open air, and centuries of history form the quiet architecture around its sound. What emerges is not an album driven by genre or novelty, but by feeling, rooted in devotion, rhythm, and collective release.
At its centre is composer and vocalist Shye Ben Tzur, whose work draws from Sufi poetry, texts that approach love, longing, and transcendence as lived states rather than ideas to be explained. These lyrics move across Hebrew, Hindi, and Urdu, not to signal complexity, but to allow emotion to travel freely. Understanding every word is not essential. The intention carries through tone, breath, and repetition.
Rhythm plays a central role throughout the album. The Rajasthan Express, a 19-member ensemble representing multiple North Indian musical traditions, drive the music through layered percussion and sustained grooves. Patterns repeat and gradually shift, creating movement through accumulation rather than sudden change. This structure reflects devotional practices where repetition is used to build focus and release.
Rather than highlighting individual performances, Junun is shaped by collective sound. Voices blend into ensemble arrangements, and instrumental parts are shared rather than separated. The music moves through cycles of tension and release, guided by tempo changes and rhythmic development rather than conventional song structures.
Photo credit: Shin Katan
Jonny Greenwood’s contribution remains intentionally restrained. Known globally as a member of Radiohead, Greenwood adds guitar, bass, keyboards, and subtle electronic elements, functioning within the ensemble rather than above it. His role supports the overall structure of the music, reinforcing rhythm and texture without shifting attention away from the group.
The album’s arrangements combine brass, bowed strings, harmonium, percussion, and electronic elements without prioritising one tradition over another. These sounds coexist within a shared framework, shaped by the recording environment and the musicians’ interaction during live sessions inside the fort.
A decade after its original release, Junun continues to exist outside conventional genre categories. Its focus remains on emotional flow rather than definition using poetry, rhythm, and repetition to create a sense of movement and release.
As Junun returns with its 10th anniversary release, the album stands as a document of collaboration built on listening, patience, and shared space. At its core, it reflects an approach to music where emotion is carried collectively, and rhythm becomes the path toward release.
Junun (10th Anniversary Edition/ 2LP) will be available in India exclusively via On the Jungle Floor. Pre-orders are now live.