The Sitar Service emerged in 2018 aiming to revisit popular themes of the late 60s & early 70s Rock and reimagine it in the style of Hindustani classical Ragas. The London-based group started as a col-laboration between drummer Anthony Paine, sitarist Rod Bourganos and singer/harmonium player Sameer Khan, united by their artistic and aesthetic affinities.

Bourganos initiated his Sitar studies at the age of 12 in Brazil and later took classes in Singapore with Maestro Shri Chandranath Bhattacharya, the 9th generation Sitar player of Senia Gharana. This gha-rana is believed to be the most researched school in Sitar and dates back to Ustaad Masit Sen of the 17th century, who is the 6th generation descendent to Miyan Tan Sen, the doyen of Indian classical music.

Similarly, from a very young age Hindustani classical music has been a part of Sameer Khan’s educa-tion – in particular, the Shaam Chaurasi Gharana. At the age of 16 Sameer underwent informal train-ing with Ustaad Shafqat Ali Khan and sat with him and his sons as part of a backing band. Later on, Sameer began formal training from Ustaad Shafqat Ali Khan’s older brother Ustaad Latafat Ali Khan - both sons of legendary singer Ustaad Salamat Ali Khan are the custodians of a six-hundred-year leg-acy of classical music from (modern-day) Pakistan.

The love for both Classic Rock music and Hindustani is what brought the pair together and along with virtuoso drummer Anthony Paine, the group kickstarted with a residency at Hackney‘s psyche-delic occult hip spot Helgi’s bar. Surprisingly, their 2nd gig took place at the Royal Opera House fol-lowed by events at the Handel & Hendrix Museum. Since then, The Sitar Service developed a cult fol-lowing in London‘s underground scene and that’s where their paths crossed with legendary psyche-delic musician Twink, celebrated for his work with bands like Tomorrow, The Pretty Things, The Pink Fairies, Syd Barrett’s Stars, and Hawkind.