Ishta is an exciting, eclectic world music fusion band from Aotearoa/NZ. Featuring sitar, double bass, percussion, flute, sax, guitar, didge and vocals their album encompasses a diverse range of styles from uptempo ethnic groove to dub/roots to blissful lounge/chill. The band's multinational lineup (French, Indian, Israeli, Dutch and New Zealanders) and their choice of instruments reflects the everchanging multicultural and increasingly cosmopolitan nature of NZ society.

Monkey Records is proud to announce the release of Ishta's self-titled debut album on Saturday 29th April, 2006. Ishta is an exciting, eclectic world music fusion band from Aotearoa/NZ. Featuring sitar, double bass, percussion, flute, sax, guitar, didge and vocals their album encompasses a diverse range of styles from uptempo ethnic groove to dub/roots to blissful lounge/chill. The band's multinational lineup (French, Indian, Israeli, Dutch and New Zealanders) and their choice of instruments reflects the everchanging multicultural and increasingly cosmopolitan nature of NZ society.

Monkey Records is proud to announce the release of Ishta's self-titled debut album on Saturday 29th April, 2006.The album release party will be held on Saturday 29th April at the Classic Comedy and Bar, 321 Queen St, Auckland (presales from Real Groovy) and the album will be distributed by Global Routes.

Ishta has been performing around Auckland for three years. During that time their sound has evolved into an uplifting blend of Eastern and Western influences featuring the funky bass grooves of Monsieur Escargot, soulful sitar playing by Rob Croft, stirring sax and flute arrangements by Ben Campbell and Stijn te Strake, and the soaring, sensual vocals of Josephine Costain and Tui Mamaki. Additional members include Yair Katz on percussion, Eyal Lutz on Didgeridoo and tabla virtuoso Basant Madhur.

The album is 100% acoustic and has been recorded and mixed over the last two years with love and care by Monkey producer Nigel Braddock at his studio in Karekare and mastered by Chris Winchcombe at York St. Special guests on the album include flautist Trudi Lile (Mohave), Kingsley Melhuish (Brassouls, Spargo) on trumpet and Haydn Godfrey (dDub) on Trombone.

Ishta have toured the country several times and they have performed at festivals such as Splore, Kaikoura Roots, Prana, Visionz, AUT Orientation, Titirangi Music Festival, Auckland Wine and Food Festival and AK05, delighting festival audiences with their unique and exotic sound.

Review

"Truly outstanding was the live band Ishta, who infuse guitar, sitar, double bass, sax/flute, hand drums and a clay pot into an intoxicating cocktail of finely balanced aural ethnicity and contemporary groove." The Package