Bondona

Bondona, meaning 'to pay homage to', is a tribute to Bangladesh with a fresh London sound. British-born Bangladeshi singer Sohini Alam explores the wide tapestry of her heritage with re-imaginings of Nazrul originals as well as original compositions. All the while, Oliver Weeks' raucous and wild guitar riffs collide energetically with full fat strings, brass and tabla, intertwined with Alam's powerful and mesmerising vocals, producing an all-round dynamic and organic sound.

Khiyo is a London-based British-Bengali band known for their unique style of blending traditional Bengali heritage music with contemporary rock and roll vibes. Oliver Weeks' wild electric guitar riffs unite energetically with strings, brass, tabla… all enhanced by the powerful and mesmerizing vocals of Sohini Alam.

Khiyo is the dream-child of Sohini Alam and Oliver Weeks. It's a letter in the Bengali alphabet made up of two sounds and, in many ways, it reflects who they are: creatures of two cultures, two music teachings, two languages.

"They are as much a visceral rock band as they are intrepid interpreters of traditional Bengali songs." - Tim Chipping, fRoots