MICHA VOLDERS & MIET WARLOP - ICCHA ইচ্ছা

“Energetic raw drums and invoking chants explore the fields of tension between humans and words. A hypnotising and arresting display of Bengali energy and the enigmatic language of Bangladesh, galvanized by the bustling labyrinth of Dhaka city.”

ICCHĀ is an international collaboration project that originated in 2023 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The work "Chant For Hope" was realized by Miet Warlop and created on site with local performers while Micha Volders composed the musical context. The performance acts as a monumental living sculpture, in which the physical process of casting hundreds of Bengali words in plaster becomes the driving force to create a playing field between performers, public space, and participation. Woven through this performative context are more complex relationships that explore the tension between humans and language. As the words become so visible and tangible, an image of their inner bearing and our dealings with them emerges.

The recordings of this performance have been adapted and enhanced to create an album that reflects the energy and expands upon the sound created in Dhaka. ICCHĀ is the Bengali wording of "desire," and reflects the eagerness and urgency felt within the process of this collaboration. In conjunction with the seven performers, a sonic adventure emerges that thrives on the energetic rendering of the Bangla language through transient patterns and snappy melodic figures.

Concept & Lyrics by Miet Warlop / Music & Mixing by Micha Volders / Vocals by Shayer Noor / Nur Muhammad Shanto / Emam Hasan Shanto / Fabiha Tanjim Anchol / Tanny Das Gupta / Md AL Amin / Towfiq Arifin / Hossain Zibon / More info on Chant For Hope and the works of Miet Warlop : www.mietwarlop.com