Srikalogy – Brooklyn Musician, Hip Hopper, Monk (!) To Deliver ‘New Paradigm’

Hip hop is worldwide.

It transcends location, upbringing, class, race and religion.

But listening to Srikalogy, you get a different picture as to just how much hip hop can transcend genres. Even into the transcendental.

I’m no spiritualist, nor am I worldly enough to claim being worldly, but I am fan of hip hop music and culture, and particularly enjoy when I come across artists who offer something completely new to the game, so to speak.

While sometimes these excursions into musical experimentation can go horribly wrong, it is not hard to tell when someone truly is bringing together a variety of influences in a sincere manner under one hip hop-influenced umbrella.

Such is the case with Brooklyn’s Srikalogy, a multi-talented musician and vocalist who has also studied as a monk, and is delivering a very interesting mix of music and words with his new project, New Paradigm.

To be fair, it is difficult to pinpoint who would most enjoy Srikalogy’s work, though not for lack of quality. Srikalogy, born Srikala Kerel Roach, who spent six years living in a Lower East Side ashram, conducts an eclectic and well-orchestrated mixture of hip hop, R&B, reggae, EDM, world and spiritual-based music, much like one would expect to hear piped softly into a incense-filled massage room owned by Speech from ’90s rap group Arrested Development. It is well executed for sure, and Srikalogy’s lyrics are thoughtful and palatable, though sometimes a bit ethereal.

But to be honest, all of this does fit perfectly into the spiritual and philosophical vibe that dances throughout the project. Musical styles and subject matter dart in and out — easy-listening that’s saying something.

“My music is about transformation. So much so, that if you stripped away the music, that message is still there,” Srikalogy explains.

An eclectic mix of words and sound should be expected from an artist who’s musical influences “range from Talib to Radiohead, Michael Jackson to Matisyahu, Jimi Hendrix to Tinariwen,” and in this case, the result is certainly worthy of exploration. Open-minded music fans from all walks of life, including monks, would be wise to investigate further.

Pre-order/Purchase: Srikalogy – New Paradigm

See Srikalogy live:

(NY) Srikalogy: ‘New Paradigm’ Album Release Party
Friday, May 17th; 7pm to 1am
Tickets: $15 online, $20 (with RSVP only) at the door
RSVP for ticket link – newparadigm.rsvp@gmail.com 

(CA) Srikalogy: ‘New Paradigm’ Album Release Party
Wednesday, May 21st; 9pm
Luminous Movement at Zanzibar; 1301 5th St, Santa Monica, CA
Tickets: $10 at the door