Mandala Tribe

RAGA, REWIRED.

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Mandala Tribe

FOUR VOICES · ONE CIRCUIT

Shashwathi Jagadish • vocals (India, The Netherlands)
Heiko Dijker • tabla, beats (The Netherlands)
Stefan Schmid • keys, electronics (Germany, The Netherlands)
Mark Lotz • flute, bansuri, fx (Germany, The Netherlands)

Four musicians, one raga, endlessly recomposed
— part temple, part transmission.

Mandala Tribe fuses Carnatic voice, bansuri and tabla with live electronics into a charged electro-acoustic sound. Rooted in raga tradition and driven by beat, breath and byte, the quartet decodes centuries-old modes into groove, texture and voltage — meditative one bar, combustible the next.
At its centre is Carnatic vocalist Shashwathi Jagadish, whose voice bridges tradition and contemporary expression. Around her, musicians from Zuco 103, the Chris Potter Tentet and New Cool Collective treat the raga as a living, improvisational language.

In a time where audiences seek meaning, attention, and resonance, Mandala Tribe offers a sonic experience that is both grounded and forward-looking: deeply human, immersive, and alive.

Their debut album Cycle I— Inhale marks the first chapter of a two-part cycle exploring breath, flow, and transformation.

A new electro-acoustic sound that feels both ancient and urgent—imagine Joe Zawinul meets M.S. Subbulakshmi.

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Mandala Tribe has performed at major festivals across the Netherlands, including Music Meeting, November Music, and Amsterdam Jazz Festival. The ensemble members have collaborated with artists such as Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Meeta Pandit, Melissa Etheridge, Don Byron, Najma Akhtar, Joe Jackson, Airto, Han Bennink, and Lee “Scratch” Perry.

This year marks an exciting milestone for Mandala Tribe with the release of their debut album — a testament to the vibrant musical journey they’ve embarked on and an invitation to listeners to experience their blend of traditions and innovation.

Press:

“A dialogue in mutual reinforcement, exciting and innovative” (jazznu.com)

“Mandala Tribe … a relief between all the pre-composed music that was heard this day. Firmly played tabla, a beautiful lyrically-played flute, compelling beats, and deep-moving Moog parties revealed the encounter of jazz, world and electronics. Exactly what the Music Meeting Festival represents.” (Mixedworldmusic.com).

Band Members

Shashwathi Jagadish

vocals carnatic

Started singing at five, taught by her grandmother; twenty years under multiple gurus in Chennai. Masters in Music, University of Madras. Sang backing vocals for A.R. Rahman and Illayaraja before bringing her voice to The Hague.

Heiko Dijker

tabla, electronics

Trained in a Himalayan clay hut, schooled under grandmaster Faiyaz Khan in the Guru-Shishya tradition. Now fuses traditional tabla with electronic production; has worked with Shankar Mahadevan, Hariprasad Chaurasia and the Rotterdam Philharmonic.

Mark Lotz

flutes, bansuri, fx

Raised in Thailand, Germany and Uganda; thirty years turning that restlessness into music. 20+ albums as a leader, collaborators from Chris Potter to Miguel 'Angá' Díaz. "Bringing sexy back into jazz" — All About Jazz.

Stefan Schmid

keyboards, synthesizers

Pianist, composer, producer across jazz, Afro-Cuban, house and free-form impro. New Cool Collective, Zuco 103, Caro Emerald. Silveren Harp and Edison Award winner; teaches Sound at the Royal Conservatoire, The Hague.