Oscar-nominated composer and guitarist Rafiq Bhatia arrives with his latest album, Environments, set for release on September 12, 2025 via ANTI‑ Records. The New York Times acknowledges him as “one of the most intriguing figures in music today … who refuses to be pinned to one genre, culture or instrument”. Bhatia builds on this reputation by blurring genre boundaries, merging avant‑garde jazz, electronic textures, and live improvisation into a cohesive sonic architecture.
On Environments, Bhatia explores deeply “sculptural, meticulously crafted music that finds common ground among ecstatic avant‑garde jazz”. He applies real‑time sampling and live processing to weave together disparate musical worlds—reflecting his decade-long evolution as an electroacoustic composer and improvising guitarist.
Collaborators drummer Ian Chang and trumpeter Riley Mulherkar, both integral to Bhatia’s Son Lux collective, join him to conjure immersive “sonic ecosystems.” The opening track, “Aviary I | Sunrise,” recorded in a single take, ushers in an organic soundscape—transforming guitar, percussion, and trumpet into waking forest imagery.
Bhatia’s credentials include co-scoring Marvel’s Thunderbolts and the Oscar-nominated Everything Everywhere All at Once alongside Son Lux. This high-profile work informs Environments with cinematic depth, yet the album remains rooted in live improvisation and layered musical storytelling.
Track Listing: Disc 1, Side 1
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Aviary I | Sunrise
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Rain On The Canopy | Melting Sky
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At Midnight On A Black Sand Beach, The Raging Tides Begin To Speak
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The Sky Breaks Open
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Glimmers In The Ocean Deep
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Volcano △
Blending technology, jazz improvisation, and acoustic interplay, Environments redefines what a modern jazz album can be: an immersive journey through crafted sound environments. At once cerebral and visceral, it is a testament to Bhatia’s unique ability to build audio worlds that seamlessly intertwine intention, spontaneity, and storytelling.
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