(electricity buzzing) (laid-back music) - So we take classical elements and mesh it with the contemporary and the hip hop and R&B.

As you're adding different instruments, it's like you're putting different textures and different layers to the song.

♪ Sha ♪ - I don't think we're trying to veer outside of genre, but I just feel like Indian instrumentation has been severely unexplored in terms of pop music.

I feel like it's a flavor, that it's hard to go without once you get used to it, like hot sauce.

- [Announcer] "Sounds Like ATL" is brought to you by Georgia Power.

(upbeat music) (sound effect booms) (suspenseful music) (laid-back music) ♪ One two three four ♪ ♪ W-A-B-E ♪ (feet tapping) (laid-back music) (electricity buzzing) (electricity buzzing) (upbeat trumpet music) - [Director] Audio rolling?

- [Videographer] Audio's rolling.

- [Clapper Loader] Performance one, take one.

On the mark.

(clapperboard snaps) - What's going on?

It's OG.

I got Marcus, I got Abier and Taylor with me.

And we are the Renaissance Orchestra.

Usually we are about a 20 to 25 piece, but now we're broken down to this special occasion for a nice little quartet and we're about to play our first song titled "Cinnamon."

(laid-back music) (laid-back music continues) (laid-back music continues) (laid-back music continues) (laid-back music continues) (laid-back music continues) (laid-back music continues) (laid-back music continues) The song we played is called "Cinnamon."

It's a, I would say, smooth jazz, soulful type of song, you know, that we came up with.

What we say is we try to basically bridge the gap between classical and contemporary.

So we take classical elements and mesh it with the contemporary and the hip hop and R&B.

So we might play a song that you know, you know, a hip hop song, but we might add some classical elements or you might know, you know, a Beethoven song that we play and we might add some hip hop drums.

So, you know, that's what kind of our sound is.

My favorite part about the song is where it takes you, you know, it starts off somber, low, and it, you know, gradually rises and I feel like it comes to that climax and then you know, it comes down.

But I like the buildup and the fall for me.

- As you're adding different instruments, it's like you're putting different textures and different layers to the song.

So that's giving the song layers to build to a climax and able to pull things out, almost like you're like deflating a balloon or something, you know what I'm saying?

So the air is releasing out of it.

So, you know, you have different climaxes, you have different textures, like say different instruments, different voices.

So, you know, I definitely think that's important part.

- To be able to put together these beautiful sounds, it's like, it's music production even though it's real people, you know, it's still music production, you know, that's the way I look at it.

This next piece is called "Momentum."

It is a soul song with a lot of soul elements, hip hop drums.

I feel like this is a testament of where we are right now, you know, with the Renaissance Orchestra, we have a lot of momentum going on and you know, we're headed to the top and I think this track embodies the momentum that we have.

(upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) That was "Momentum," and we are the Renaissance Orchestra.

And your rocking with "Sounds Like ATL."

(electricity buzzing) (laid-back sitar music) - Got it.

Sound check, take one.

(clapperboard snaps) - Hey, my name is Nick and we're Shock Tea.

This is Andrew Pangus on the bass, Quaid Patterson on guitar and Avery Andrews on the drum set.

(laid-back music) (upbeat music) ♪ Any feelings ♪ ♪ Only that now when it's soaking ♪ ♪ But you won't seem to hear again ♪ ♪ And if you really cared ♪ ♪ Then you'd make time ♪ ♪ But you're not in the mood right here ♪ ♪ No, I won't shed a tear, not over that ♪ ♪ No, I won't shed a tear, not over that ♪ ♪ No, I won't shed a tear, not over that ♪ ♪ Not over your old fashioned way ♪ ♪ Won't answer the phone ♪ ♪ It's just me ♪ ♪ But you are never here nor there ♪ ♪ Its not like you're not around when you say you're not ♪ ♪ No you're not in the mood right here ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ No, I won't shed a tear, not over that ♪ ♪ No, I won't shed a tear, not over that ♪ ♪ Not over your old fashioned way ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Sha ♪ (upbeat music continues) ♪ No, I won't shed a tear, not over that ♪ ♪ No, I won't shed a tear, not over that ♪ ♪ No, I won't shed a tear, not over that ♪ ♪ Not over your old fashioned way ♪ (upbeat music continues) That song was "Old Fashioned."

It was one of the first songs I had thought about when putting sitar in rock music.

It actually was written in about 2017 or so on my first trip to India.

At the time it was just about relationships and such and just getting used to what the sitar affords, what it helps you or makes you play.

Music's been there since the beginning.

I remember hearing about taking my first steps at an Indian set song temple and so there they play what's known as bhajans there, prayer songs.

And so was exposed to music very early and put into piano lessons at around seven.

And I've never really quit music entirely and so it's just morphed over the years.

So it was piano at seven, guitar at 10 or 12 and then finally finding the sitar and haven't changed since then.

So Shakti originally is divine feminine energy and I honestly came about it because I asked my mom, who's Indian, for interesting band names that play on the language.

And so we came up with a bunch and landed on this one because it could be worded in English as well, and spelled to pronounce Shakti.

The sitar doesn't come in until everything else is sorted.

So when we're coming up with a song in the practice room, I'm not playing the sitar, I'm playing the keyboard or just singing or anything else that is not that.

It's really a lead instrument and it adds a layer on top.

I feel like it's a flavor that it's hard to go without once you get used to it, like hot sauce.

So this next song is called "Meet You In A Biopsy."

It was the first song we put together as a full band and this song features the harmonium, which is another of my favorite Indian instruments.

So it's essentially an air keyboard, so it's got the same western scale and you power it with pumping it like an accordion.

(gentle harmonium music) And the Indian instrumentation often uses a drone so you can add various drones here.

(gentle harmonium music) And so I thought it was a great opportunity to switch off between sitar and harmonium and sort of give the listener different flavors during the same song.

(laid-back music) (laid-back music continues) (upbeat music) ♪ Lonely space-time spin ♪ ♪ Wonder how you've been ♪ ♪ It's a phenomenon ♪ ♪ Give unknown readings ♪ ♪ Read fortunes right ♪ ♪ There's always another side ♪ ♪ I'm wishing that you didn't have to tell me ♪ ♪ That you're running from the coming hysteria ♪ ♪ I'm well aware of that ♪ ♪ And your face ♪ ♪ I'm looking at you ♪ ♪ Looking at you but I cannot hear you ♪ ♪ It's suddenly a question of feeling ♪ ♪ Not more than just something ♪ ♪ A warning ♪ ♪ Stars aligned, but it went all wrong ♪ ♪ What'd you think when you're betting on ♪ ♪ Slugs in a horse race ♪ ♪ I wanted to meet you in a biopsy ♪ ♪ Catch word of mouth and reason ♪ ♪ I'm suddenly thinking ♪ ♪ This isn't training ♪ ♪ It's indoctrination ♪ ♪ Either way ♪ ♪ I didn't know that ♪ ♪ I'm wishing that you didn't have to tell me ♪ ♪ That you're running from the coming hysteria ♪ ♪ I'm well aware of that ♪ ♪ And your face ♪ ♪ I'm looking at you ♪ ♪ I'm looking at you but I cannot hear you ♪ ♪ It's suddenly a question of feeling ♪ ♪ Not more than ♪ ♪ Just something or a warning ♪ (laid-back music) (upbeat music) ♪ I'm wishing that you didn't have to tell me ♪ ♪ That you're running from the coming hysteria ♪ ♪ I'm well aware of that ♪ ♪ And your face ♪ ♪ I'm looking at you ♪ ♪ I'm looking at you but I cannot hear you ♪ ♪ It's suddenly a question of feeling ♪ ♪ Not more than ♪ ♪ Just something or a warning ♪ (upbeat music continues) - That was "Meet You In A Biopsy," our first full song as a band together featuring both the sitar and the harmonium.

We are Shock Tea and this is "Sounds Like ATL."

♪ Made in Georgia ♪ - [Announcer] "Sounds Like ATL" is brought to you by Georgia Power.

(laid-back music) ♪ W-A-B-E ♪