Manas Jha Recalls Blackstratblues on New EP 'Freedom or Love," Also Collaborates with Sidd Coutto and Dhruv Visvanath

The four-track record also features musicians Jai Row Kavi and Raag Sethi

- DAVID BRITTO

THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE TO MUMT BAI-BRED singer-songwriter Manas Jha was in 2021 when he released his third EP Trifecta. That record included a host of collaborators. Jha has kept with the same formula on his just-released fourth EP, the four-track Freedom or Love. The musician brings back Mumbai/Auckland guitarist Warren Mendonsa aka Blackstratblues who played on Trifecta - for the new EP as well as his bandmate drummer Jai Row Kavi on the punchy early 2000s rock offering "Broken Bangles." Mendonsa's other bandmate from rockers Zero, Sidd Coutto, joins Jha on the vivacious "Abandon - Reprise." The singer-songwriter also enlists Ahmedabad-based producer-bassist/guitarist Raag Sethi for the stirring "Mend Your Ways" and New Delhi guitar maverick and singer Dhruv Visvanath on the percussive acoustic guitar track "Decay Redux."

In this interview with Rolling Stone India, Jha talks to us about the new EP, how the collaborations came about, the music videos he's made to accompany the tracks, what he has in store next and more.

The last time I interviewed you was for your EP Trifecta, what have you been up to since then?

MA lot has happened since. We moved countries relocated from New York City to Bombay. It feels great to be back home. I've been fortunate to catch some of my indie favorites live again, be it at a regular gig at antiSOCIAL, Independence Rock, NH7 Weekender, Mood-I, and so much more. It's also been great to jam again with a few friends, though getting a full band going has been a challenge.

When did Freedom or Love begin to take shape?