A track first introduced at a Bulgarian mountain festival has become the starting point for an entirely new creative chapter. Gil sm revisits “Finding Light” with Avanti, whose distinctive vocal approach and Indian musical influences reshape the character of the original production. The collaboration brings together the producer’s UK dance music sensibilities and her experience spanning electronic production, Indian classical dance, and music. Together, they develop a sound that balances intricate rhythms and soulful textures with an inviting sense of atmosphere. Their reinterpretation ultimately becomes the centerpiece of a broader four-song release, demonstrating the creative possibilities of revisiting the past with fresh perspectives.
First played at a mountain festival in Bulgaria five years ago, “Finding Light” takes on a new form through a New York collaboration blending soulful electronics, ethereal vocals, and Indian rhythmic influences.
The story of “Finding Light” began five years ago at Meadows in the Mountains in Bulgaria. Producer and DJ Gil sm played an early version of the track while appearing alongside the Brighter Days Family collective, including IZCO and Reek0. The feeling it captured remained with him, eventually finding renewed expression through an unexpected creative connection with Mumbai-born singer and producer Avanti in New York City.
Drawing on Gil sm’s experience in UK dance music and his work with Brighter Days Family, the original production was grounded in the dancefloor. His collaboration with Avanti gave that foundation a different dimension. Her intimate, ethereal voice and Indian rhythmic influences introduced new possibilities, turning the return to an existing track into the development of a shared sound. Soulful electronic textures and intricate rhythms came together in music that could carry the energy of a club while leaving room for quieter reflection.
Gil sm and Avanti
That exchange developed into a four-song EP, extending the ideas first explored in the title track. Avanti’s practice combines electronic production with a background in Indian classical dance and music. Working with Gil sm allowed those influences to meet his dancefloor instincts, creating a sound connected to both artists’ foundations while remaining open to experimentation.
The release’s artwork carries a similar sense of intimacy. An original oil painting by artist An Huynh serves as the EP cover, bringing a tangible, human quality to the project. Its presence complements the layered production and emotional warmth of the music.
“Red and Jade,” the EP’s second single, is scheduled for release on 6 November, with the complete four-song release following in December.
Red and Jade Cover Artwork
Five years after its first appearance in the Bulgarian mountains, “Finding Light” has become the basis of a collaboration neither artist could have anticipated. Bringing together two musical perspectives, the EP reflects a process guided by instinct and shared curiosity—and the unexpected connections through which an older idea can find a new life.
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