Sarathy Korwar finishes a big year with the release of his ‘Coolie’ single. Taken from the blistering, politically-charged More Arriving album, it features a rework by dub legend Dennis Bovell and a live version from Delhi’s Boxout Weekender festival.

“‘Coolie’ is based on the history of indentured Indian labourers (know as coolies) being used to replace African slaves on sugar plantations after slavery was abolished,” explains Korwar. Indian reggae/dancehall artist Delhi Sultanate narrates the story of labourers brought to Jamaica by the East India Company to work British plantations and brought cannabis seeds with them in the process. “Many rich multi-national companies like Tata and EIC made huge sums of money through this trade of people and labour.”

More Arriving has just been awarded Jazz Album Of The Year in MOJO. High praise indeed!

Sarathy has also been invited to play at the prestigious Winter Jazzfest in New York by Gilles Peterson, on January 9th at Le Poisson Rouge. Get your tickets now