Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash release Sarod Serenades: Indian Instrumental Lullabies, Vol. 1

Internationally acclaimed sarod maestros Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash have released Sarod Serenades: Indian Instrumental Lullabies, Vol. 1, a seven-track instrumental album that reimagines India's traditional lullabies through the expressive sound of the sarod. The album is now available worldwide across major music streaming platforms.

The release follows a string of international collaborations that have further strengthened the duo's global presence. Recently, the brothers shared the stage with British singer Yungblud at Lollapalooza India and have also collaborated on Gorillaz' ninth studio album The Mountain. Their recent credits include contributions to the Grammy Award-winning album Meditation: Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a cross-cultural collaboration with Joe Walsh, guitarist of the Eagles, blending the sarod with electric guitar. Over the years, Amaan and Ayaan have also performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall in New York and London's Royal Albert Hall, taking Indian classical music to audiences around the world.

With Sarod Serenades, the duo turns its focus to one of India's oldest musical traditions. Inspired by lullabies passed down through generations, the album blends the emotional depth of Indian classical music with soothing melodies designed to comfort listeners of all ages. Each composition draws on a unique combination of ragas and musical notes, creating a calming listening experience while preserving the warmth and familiarity of traditional bedtime songs.

Speaking about the inspiration behind the project, Amaan Ali Bangash said, “Every culture has its lullabies, and India has cherished this tradition for centuries. Across every region, mothers have gently hummed melodies to soothe their children into peaceful sleep. These simple songs, carried through generations, became an inseparable part of our collective memory. Through Sarod Serenades, we wanted to honour that beautiful tradition and bring these timeless melodies to today's families.”

Sharing the personal significance of the album, Ayaan Ali Bangash said, “As musicians, we have spent our lives exploring the emotional depth of Indian classical music. As parents, we discovered the extraordinary power of gentle melodies to calm a restless child. Sarod Serenades was born from these two worlds. We wanted to create a space of peace, security and love, where the gentle sound of the sarod could become part of bedtime rituals for a new generation.”

The project also draws from the brothers' childhood memories. Amaan recalled how their father, legendary sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, would sing to his children before bedtime, while their mother introduced them to traditional Assamese lullabies. Those early experiences inspired the emotional foundation of the album.

Conceived as the first instalment of an ongoing series, Sarod Serenades: Indian Instrumental Lullabies, Vol. 1 marks the beginning of a larger musical journey. The brothers plan to explore lullabies from different regions of India in future volumes, celebrating the country's diverse cultural heritage through instrumental interpretations.

The album received the blessings of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, who has long advocated music's role in emotional and intellectual development. While rooted in folk traditions, the project presents these timeless lullabies through a contemporary instrumental lens.

The album also features contributions from Soumen Kutty Sarkar (keyboard programming), Deb Sankar Roy (violin), Uday Mukherjee (tabla and percussion), and has been mixed and mastered by longtime collaborator Saawan Dutta.