Five-time GRAMMY Award-winning guitarist, composer, and producer Mark Lettieri, best known for his work with Snarky Puppy, has teamed up with acclaimed Indian sitarist Purbayan Chatterjee for an expansive and transformative new album. Entitled Feathered Creatures, the nine-track musical journey fuses Indian classical traditions with jazz and progressive rock, resulting in an unexpected and deeply seductive listening experience.
The dynamic cross-cultural collaboration is anchored by the standout track “Hibiscus.” The single moves fluidly between IDM-influenced breakbeat tension, progressive rock grandeur, and the meditative depth of Indian classical music. Built on a traditional lehra in an 11-beat cycle and rooted in Raga Yaman, the piece opens with trance-like sitar repetition before Lettieri’s electric guitar textures gradually reshape the harmonic landscape. It serves as a moving tribute to the late Ustad Zakir Hussain and stands as a testament to how tradition and modern experimentation can coexist beautifully.
Chatterjee describes the project as “a broader, global harmonic conversation,” and the listener can expect exactly that. “Hibiscus” is both dreamy and whimsical, guiding the audience through a journey filled with intricate musical twists and turns.
The duo creates bold, beautiful music that remains surprisingly accessible despite its adventurous nature. It is a rare fusion that highlights the creative synergy between two masters of their respective crafts. As Lettieri notes, “I want to do as many cool things creatively as my creative life force balance will allow,” and Feathered Creatures delivers on that promise in full. Surrender to the music’s shifting rhythms and interwoven textures, and you will be deeply rewarded.
Connect with Mark Lettieri: INSTAGRAM
Connect with Purbayan Chatterjee: INSTAGRAM
*Photo credit: Stephanie Lumas