Romanistan

Rootless: a Romani and South-Asian fusion band

Jezmina Von Thiele and Paulina Stevens Season 6 Episode 10

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 40:15

Rootless are a Glasgow-based collective of Romani and Indian musicians united by a shared mission: to honour the deep historical bond between Roma and Indian cultures through music. The band was created by producer Janos and Sodhi, drawn together by the ancient migration story that connects both communities. Their sound fuses Bhangra rhythms with Romani instrumentation, blending folk, Sufi and South Asian influences into something entirely their own. Their debut single "RakiTakitaNana" was covered by EarMilk, Plastic Magazine and Magnetic Magazine among others. Their new single "Dam Mast Qalander" releases June 19th, 2026.

Born of the Ando Glaso Collective. Follow @ando_glaso and @rootless64

We spoke to Janos Lang - Founder of the band (AG Productions - Roma led multicultural production company), Sarmad Ghafoor - British - Pakistani Music Producer for Rootless, and Matus Jaco ( Guitarist ) .

The Romani crushes for this episode are Lulo Reinhardt, Tcha Limberger, Taraf de Haidouks, Roby Lakatos, and Gipsy Kings.

Thank you for listening to Romanistan podcast. Please subscribe, rate, + review, + share with your friends! 

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @romanistanpodcast. Subscribe to our Patreon to join the conversation and our private community for just $5 a month. Or donate any amount to Ko-fi.com/romanistan. We depend on your support to keep going. 

You can book readings and events and take workshops with Jez at jezminavonthiele.com, and book readings and holistic healing sessions with Paulina at romaniholistic.com. Follow Jez on Instagram @jezmina.vonthiele & Paulina @romaniholistic

Get our book Secrets of Romani Fortune Telling wherever books are sold. If you love it, write us a review. 

Visit us at romanistanpodcast.com and email us at romanistanpodcast@gmail.com for inquiries. 

Romanistan is hosted by Jezmina Von Thiele and Paulina Stevens

Conceived of by Paulina Stevens

Edited by Viktor Pachas

Music by Viktor Pachas

Artwork by Elijah Vardo

Support the show

Meet Rootless And Their Mission

SPEAKER_04

Welcome to Romanistan. We're your friendly neighborhood gypsies. I'm Paulina. And I'm Jez, and we are here with the Glasgow-based band Rootless, and we're so excited.

SPEAKER_03

Rootless are a Glasgow-based collective of Romani and Indian musicians united by a shared mission to honor the deep historical bond between Roma and Indian cultures through music. The band was created by producer Janos and Sori, drawn together by the ancient migration story that connects both communities. Their sound fuses Bangra rhythms with Romani instrumentation, blending folk, Sufi, and South Asian influences into something entirely their own. Their debut single, Raki Takita Nana, was covered by Ear Milk, Plastic Magazine, and Magnetic Magazine, among others. Their new single, The Musk Golender, releases June 19th, 2026.

SPEAKER_04

Welcome. We are so excited to have multiple members of Rootless here with us. Do you mind all just introducing us by your name and what you do with the band?

SPEAKER_09

Sure. Well, I start and I'm Janosh, I play the violin. I also produce the band. And to my left is Hello everyone.

SPEAKER_02

My name is Matush, and I am the guitar player from Ruthless, and I'm also one of the music producers working on the songs.

SPEAKER_01

And I'm Sarmad Ghafour and I primarily uh produce music for the band. Yeah. Along with Matush and Yani.

SPEAKER_09

And recently he you join us on Gigs as well, doing all the all the technological laptop uh stuff, magic as well.

SPEAKER_01

That's right.

SPEAKER_04

Oh my gosh, well, we're so

How The Band Formed

SPEAKER_04

excited. How did you all find each other? What's the origin of the band?

SPEAKER_09

Well, I guess that uh that needs a bit of explanation. Uh, we are actually also work for an organization called Andoglasso, and I'm the creative director of the organization we based here in Glasgow. And in a nutshell, we're basically working on the cultural renewal and and and empowerment of the various Roma communities here in Scotland and and increasingly internationally as well. So we'll we'll turn 10 years old next next year. And during this decade, we've been doing loads of different projects and uh in the field of the kind of creative cultural sector and uh in the heritage sector and youth work. These are the main three main pillars that we looking at. And within this, we've done loads of various different things from festivals to all sorts of um artist development and everything. And and that's how uh kind of um Ruthless came into uh into life because Saudi, who's not here, uh and myself ended up doing a gig on a totally different occasion somewhere in Edinburgh, and we started talking about this idea that I had for quite a while, that it would be really interesting to work with some of the um the Asian South Asian musicians here uh in Scotland, because uh in Europe this is probably the largest population you would find. So it's very rare that not only all the different Roma communities, Polish, Slovak, Romanian, Hungary, and all of us live together in one place, but we also live side by side with all the Indian and uh Pakistani communities as well. So it was a no-brainer to try. So we we found each other with Sodi, uh, who also runs Glasgow Mala, which is a big uh South Asian festival here in Scotland. Um, and that's how it started, really, and then it just grew out of that. And Sodi brought some of uh his musicians, and at the time Sarmad was one of those uh experts uh who was on Sodi's radar as a music producer, and we brought some of our Roma musicians and then we started working, and uh we still fairly new in that sense, I would say, for about a year that we've been really good pushing this project, and and yeah, it's been a joy, like totally definitely one of my uh favorite uh projects that we've done so far.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, that's amazing, and your music has such a unique sound.

Rebels Or Pioneers Through Culture

SPEAKER_03

We ask everyone this question do you consider yourselves rebels?

SPEAKER_09

Well yeah, especially Sarmat, you should know this guy. Absolutely not.

SPEAKER_01

You gotta tell us I'm probably the most conformist you can person you can come across with strict bad times and everything, that's we like so that's how you say healthy so I guess what do you think, Matush?

SPEAKER_09

Are we rebels? I don't think so. No, no, probably I wouldn't use the the word rebels, but but we definitely with music, yeah. We with with with what we try to do with culture, I I guess we we I would probably use the word pioneers more more rather than rebels. You know, we really try to advocate for the uh importance of culture and and what culture really means for the Roma and why it is why we all really need to play out of focus and efforts to make sure that the medium, what dictates how we live our life, is is in a really good shape, and it's it's actually serving us and our communities and allowing us to be part of the bigger picture as well, rather than holding us back. So there's a lot to do on that front, and I think with that kind of mission, we are quite a unique organization, amongst many others. Um, and that kind of shows in in the music as well, I guess, and uh that we put together. So, yeah, we are really proud of Ruthless and how it is going. And yeah, maybe we are maybe a little bit rebels. We are a little bit rebels, but you know, kind of middle-aged rebels.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. I relate to that. Oh, I love that so much. I mean, the blend of activism and culture is one of our very favorites. We really love how you can destigmatize Romani identity by reminding people that a lot of the things that they love are ours or are from us in collaboration with us. And and also just funding and supporting the arts is one of the most joyful things you can do, even if it is also um elements of addressing discrimination and painful things. It's just it's beautiful to make art.

SPEAKER_09

I think it's a very organic way to achieve that kind of uh love that Roma people need, because you know, fighting hatred and and negativism, you know, the the the opposite of hatred is love. So that's what you really need. But love is not something you can demand. You can't stand in front of people and shout at them and say, like, you need to love me. Yeah, you know, you need to do something, you know. And in a way, I guess we court the the the the wider public uh throughout uh throughout music and and things that is beautiful about Roma culture, you know, and and and and throughout the medium that connects us, uh not just to the others, but long-lost brothers and sisters like like Sarmad over there from from uh Pakistan. So yeah, it's it's uh it's it's great. It's great um kind of medium to to achieve that, I think.

Why The Name Rootless Matters

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, we're so curious about the name rootless, too. I think it really touches on what you shared about you know our connecting with um all elements of the diaspora. What inspired the name? What's your philosophy behind rootless?

SPEAKER_09

Me again. Well, I guess uh it comes down to to that whole uh whole uh uh mission of the of the project, uh of us uh connecting with our roots as far back as possible. And the furthest we can go is India and and the the Asian subcontinent South uh South Asia, you know, and that that's that's still very much present in our our language, uh a lot of our customs, and and and the list goes on. So it's it's still alive, although it's very, very uh not not in the focus enough, I think, when when we think about our identity, when we think about where to turn, when we need help, where we need you know uh partners and and friends and families, you know. I think we really need to make more effort to to to strengthen the bond and the connection between uh the Indian communities and and South Asian communities in general. Uh because we often thought as the aimless homeless wanderers of the world, you know, if you ask an average people, an average person, who do you know about anything about Roma? You know, very few people would have a clue. You know, uh they would say, like, yeah, yeah, you are those guys from Romania, aren't you? You know, that's usually how far it goes. And even Roma themselves quite often unaware of our strong connection to India. And um, and that's why I think the name I wanted the name to provoke that question exactly. So we will always have to explain it that yes, we are not rootless, actually. You know, we do have roots, we just don't know about it really, and and we are we are still seeking it.

SPEAKER_01

It's more like rootless with a question mark.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah.

Blending Sounds And Shared Language

SPEAKER_03

Your music is such a gorgeous blend of musical styles and languages. Can you tell us about the musical and linguistic influences in your work and why you bring them together?

SPEAKER_01

Matush, Saramat? I'm I'm uh Go for it, Yani. You're so good at it. So we'll add in if you want to. It's time.

SPEAKER_09

This is the perfect question for the I'm a music producer to think Yeah, so a lot of similarities.

SPEAKER_01

I mean, uh the Indian language and the uh Romani language, we have a lot of similarities, of course. We share the same origin and roots. And um when you listen to the musical, I mean the music forms of both the cultures, uh, you can hear there are a lot of similarities and they naturally blend together. And uh we were exploring all those similarities, and uh naturally everything you know came together and we explored the themes that were in common with uh both the cultures and especially the new song that we were working on. So yeah. Yani, would you like to add anything?

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, I guess um, as you said, there are very very obvious similarities, you know. Uh and I think we went for the the most first the most kind of more popular kind of uh genres. You know, uh uh it seems like Roma people, especially on the Balkans, kind of approach their traditional music in the same way when when they when they start modernizing it, when they want to make some pop music like Roma pop music, you know, like Manele and Chaga and all these kind of things. Uh it's very similar what Indian people did with Bangra, for example. Um, and it's very very easy to to meet at that that uh level that is more popular, a bit more popular kind of uh shapes and forms, rather than dig ourselves straight into the most classical forms of Indian music and the most traditional forms of uh Roma music or gypsy music and trying to match it at that level. We find a lot of things, but we're trying to bring it more into the more kind of modern popular kind of forms that reaches a lot more people than if you're just really trying to be very uh analytical or not even analytical, what is the word? More kind of like uh folkloristic or ethnomusicologist or I don't know, uh side of things. So I I think rootless is is quite an easy to digest, uh enjoyable uh festival banger kind of uh band and and music. Um because we want to reach as many as possible.

SPEAKER_02

Um anything else you think of, Matush, about well just what Samad was saying, it's it's the languages, they're so similar to where us actually made it easier for the singers to create lyrics on songs and melodies because it's so like similar, the styles, but it just made it easy for them. And then there you have it, rakitakitana. There you go.

SPEAKER_04

Wow, it is so interesting to hear about that process because you're you're right. The tracks, I mean, when I'm listening, I I feel so grounded in cultural reference and history, but it feels very contemporary, and I'm like, yeah, this is a bop. I'm having a great time. So I think you did a really good job of um making it feel grounded in something real, but also so accessible and fun just to listen to and just to dance to. And I love hearing that about the process of writing lyrics together. That's absolutely fascinating.

Dumas Kalander And Sufi Roots

SPEAKER_04

And so your newest single, which has come out now in June, um, and it's your second single, Dumas Kalander, weaves Romani and Punjabi together in one song, and it sounds amazing. And for listeners who may not know, could you explain what this Karander tradition is? What is the song about? Because we were fascinated.

SPEAKER_09

Well, probably the best will be if Sarma jumps on it straight away because he's from that culture. Where does that song is coming from?

SPEAKER_01

So uh Kalander is the is a is a Sufi mystic who uh basically leaves the material world and starts wandering and uh in in search of connection to God. Um so Dhammas Kalander is about you know this Kalander who's dancing and you know connecting with God and he's left uh all the material world behind, which is uh very interesting because uh Roma people also are in search of home. I mean, they left their homes and you know uh they didn't have a place to go to, they were finding home and somewhere along the line they lost their identity, but now we're finding out where they're from, and you know. So there it's a very similar sort of theme. The mustkalander. And uh the mustkalander means that you know Kalander was like totally uh in dancing and intoxicated in his uh pursuit of finding a connection with God. So these are the underlying themes. And that's why we chose the song.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09

And that that's the that's the core of this new track, and it's a very, very old, very, very uh well-known uh traditional song from from is it from Punjab? Which which area is from Sarvan?

SPEAKER_01

It's uh yeah, the lyrics are in Punjabi, and the song was by N Sutfateli Khan. So a Kavali song, yeah.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, and it's very well known in in India as well, so we are hoping that it will uh reach and touch a lot of people over there. And and yeah, we we followed that theme of travel uh pretty much throughout this song, and that did the Auroma contribution to it, and uh throughout the lyrics and also some of the kind of uh Balkan brass gypsy music uh kind of backings and and riffs and everything. So we hopefully it will be it will reach a lot of people and and and it's it's uh I'm quite proud of it actually. I think it's one of my favorite songs so far that we did. Uh so yeah, really excited to see how it how it goes once once we release it out into the big old world.

SPEAKER_07

We're actually hoping that's the five.

Building Raki Taki Takita Nana

SPEAKER_03

Can you share what this song is about and how it came to be?

SPEAKER_02

Well, what inspired us to actually do this song was we were we were actually going through a lot of festivals before the song, and we heard we heard a lot of like Balkan bands playing with big brasses, and we heard styles like on festivals, it was really good. And then we were also going to like the Glasgow Mela, where we heard a lot of banger music as well. And we're like, let's let's connect this somehow and make a song. And then we said, What's like the most easiest thing we can say? I'm really catchy, and we came up with Raki Taki Tarama.

SPEAKER_09

Well, it's not really our idea because it's who is that famous uh Manela singer that we listened to say his name. So that's the most famous Manela singer. Uh because when we watched him and and and he was doing this, yeah, he it's just like a rhythmical chanting, basically, that he was doing that, and that was that's basically where it came from. That's pretty memorable. Yeah, so yeah, became the the chorus of of that song, Rakita Kitanana. But yeah, it follows a very similar kind of concept. Uh it was, I think it was again about kind of uh brotherhood and friendships and and and traveling the world with a guitar, yeah, basically, and and making lots of friends along the way. So that's that that that's a very similar. I think we are in this honeymoon phase of this project where we found everything really, really exciting, and we want to try that. So uh it's very, very cool, very yeah. I think hopefully it comes through the music how much we love it.

SPEAKER_04

It really does, and sometimes the honeymoon phase never goes away. Paulina and I have been doing this for over five years, and we're still like so excited every time. Yeah, every time we love it so much, yeah. So it doesn't have to end.

SPEAKER_09

I hope it never ends. Yeah, uh loving it.

SPEAKER_04

I'm so glad. Yeah, we can definitely tell.

Making Videos That Feel Like Home

SPEAKER_04

And I mean, the music video is also so fun. And I was really curious about what that process is like. It felt like to me as a viewer, I was really immersed in a very multicultural representation that felt true to life, and it also felt like a party, and I wanted to be there. Like, what is it like making these music videos?

SPEAKER_09

Well, it's it's you it's usually really a lot of fun, to be honest, because uh well, we are not really uh producing the videos themselves. We usually work with one or a few companies who who we like to work with, but they we always have a general idea, you know, of like, okay, so this is what it is all going to be about, this is what we would like to see, and then then it's a lot of fun to see it coming together, you know. It's like a Christmas present type thing, you know, you get really excited about it and waiting and waiting and waiting, and then you start you get the product, you know, and you go like, wow, this this is pretty cool, or you know, or or you just go back, it's like, oh, we want to add this and that too. Yeah, it's it's a lot of fun.

Storytelling As Cultural Survival

SPEAKER_03

I think as just growing up, um Romani, growing up gypsy, there wasn't a lot about Roma out in the world. I mean, there still even isn't that much today. And one way to, I guess, kind of preserve the culture, I could say, or even just to have fun, was through storytelling. And that was always something that everybody could do. Everybody could always get together and talk. And we just wanted to know what role does storytelling have in your music?

SPEAKER_09

Who wants to do with me? Okay. Well, you're absolutely right. I mean, uh, storytelling is is is such an important uh medium and an important thing to do um in general for for all of humanity. You know, we we we heavily relied on on being able to tell stories, you know. That's uh that's that's how we became who we are as humans, you know. Um so yeah, it's definitely one of the strongest uh tool for us to tell the world who we are in a in a way that people will understand and react to, you know, and and take it in. Um so yeah, I mean, I mean the Ruthless Project is a good example of that because it has got a very, very strong story about us finding our identity, uh connecting with with uh long-lost brothers and sisters um from another continent, pretty much. And uh and you know, find find find that kind of uh friendship, that that kind of connection, that feel that we are we are not alone, you know, we we we are together, and and uh it's fantastic to to to discover you know these these things because even when you just hear about it, you know, like oh yeah, Romani language and and Hindi is very similar or this that similar. You you read, you hear about it, but it's a whole different uh ball game when you uh when you actually experience that in real life, when when we sit down together, you know, and and people actually hear and and and realize and the stories you know uh come alive, you know, and and it's fantastic. I wholeheartedly uh recommend to you all the Roma, if you can start talking to uh the South Asian communities, because we discover so much, honestly, and the and the stories that go back and forth is fantastic, you know. Uh especially when we talk to some some of the the Indian guys here who who were born here, you know, but but they still very strongly uh keeping their traditions, like the Sikh community, you know, and and it's very interesting to talk to them and see so how how does that feel? You know, how how how do you find that that you are you know you're obviously from a different culture, but you were born here, you know. And how does it feel to call yourself a Scottish Sikh, you know, uh and so on and so on. So I think talking, telling stories to each other and telling our stories to the world is is what makes us human, you know. Um yeah, we we we can never stop doing that for sure.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, I love that so much. I mean, storytelling also makes us human and relatable to people who maybe hadn't really thought of us as human before, not because of hatred necessarily, but just ignorance. Maybe they hadn't come across our stories or who we are, and it helps us connect, I mean, with each other as well as other people who are trying to understand. So it's it's so important. That also set dovetails

Glasgow Support And Inclusion Gaps

SPEAKER_04

really well. Speaking of Glasgow, um we know that Glasgow is a really interesting, complex, like multicultural city. What has emerging with your band here given you? What has the city given you? Do you receive any pushback? What's what's the vibe in Glasgow with this music?

SPEAKER_09

I think we all have our own experiences with that. I mean, because some of us are more, you know, like Matush was pretty much grown up here. I came about 20 years ago, Sarmad arrived about two years ago. So but it kind of explains it quite well. It's it's very diverse, it's very colorful, you know. Uh, in in a small area, you would find many different cultures living together. So it's brilliant. And on that sense, it's it's really good and and it's very inspiring. For us, I think it was great. I mean, would be would be hard to find the same thing anywhere else in Europe, I think. Pushback? Not not really. I mean, we we received as an organization, especially, we did receive quite a lot of support and funding, and and we are doing quite well. So we are very, very grateful to the to to Scotland. Uh on that front. I think what is challenging that I think probably ethnic minority culture is still somewhat new to the overall population. It's not that they are not interested, but the infrastructure is not quite there. So if you look at music festivals, are they are mainly programming Scottish acts, you know. Uh so uh we we do a lot of a lot of uh work on on advocating for more inclusion in in the cultural sphere, uh not just in a kind of a community outreach, community engagement level, but but on a professional level. So we want to see our artists along others, not just us, but uh the African, the Asian, they're all all those all those artists who uh who we might be around to be more visible. I think that's still a challenge, but I don't think it's a deliberate pushback. It's just yeah, you know, these these things take time to uh to kind of develop and and and all that. What do you think, Sarma? How did you find the last three two, three years in Glasgow?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, uh generally, I mean, uh as far as the band is concerned, I I feel the the audience is very receptive and they enjoy our music. And of course it's new to them, uh, but uh the more they get familiar with it, the more they resonate with it. So I think uh it's it's well received.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, yeah. I just said, well, it's also time for us to go to America, for example. You know, I'm just putting it out there, but you know, oh absolutely.

SPEAKER_03

That would be so cool.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, we are ready to tour the world.

SPEAKER_08

New York, I'm ready, I'm like, I'm gonna be able to do that.

Inspirations And Romani Crushes

SPEAKER_03

This is kind of off the topic, but I was wondering if you guys have watched the movie Latro Drum or The Gypsy Caravan.

SPEAKER_06

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_09

Uh huh.

SPEAKER_03

It just kind of feels like I once I saw those, I never really I guess seen anything else that kind of reminded me of that. And your mus music video definitely had that cool, kind of interesting. It's different, like you're doing something different and it's cool.

SPEAKER_09

Well, thank you so much. Well, that's that's the goal with with the work of Under Glass. I think we are trying to to uh elevate, you know, uh Roma culture and and and creativity and innovation and all that into your into your uh well uh yeah, it's basically we that's what we are trying to do. It's it's uh it's not something necessarily totally new, but but create really high quality, really high level, uh interesting, uh colorful, innovative, professional Roma uh productions, you know, uh or Roma-led at least. Uh because we we also really, really enjoy uh collaborating with with others, you know, and and Ruthless is a perfect example of that. Um we're also working with some uh Spanish and Latin musicians at the moment, and uh and a fantastic young Czech Roma singer to to go into the whole Latin world, Latin Roma mix and everything. So, you know, we always try to experiment and and create very cool, exciting, good quality stuff. Yes, we are rebels.

SPEAKER_06

Maybe we are all yeah.

SPEAKER_03

I'm so excited to hear that. I'm super, super excited to hear the kind of Latin twist on it, too.

SPEAKER_09

Oh, great. Yeah, well, we'll keep you posted when that comes out.

SPEAKER_04

Oh my gosh, please do. So we have a question that is very cute. We like to ask who is your Romani crush? It doesn't have to be an actual romantic crush, but like a Romani band or person that you want to shout out that you want listeners to know about because they're so great.

SPEAKER_02

I think my favorite band that plays kind of gypsy music, but it's kind of Spanish is Gypsy Kings.

SPEAKER_09

They're like they're wonderful.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, we love them.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, we want to see them like twice now. They're amazing. They they they they visit Glasgow frequently, so yeah, they come. Yeah, and we took quite a lot of the young young people who come to us as well to see them just to get them addicted to what we do here, inspire them become a musician, it will be good for you. So, yeah, um Sarmat. Who's your favorite?

SPEAKER_01

Um yeah, I mean after you, after you, I think it would probably have to be uh Charles Limberger. I was really moved by his performance when you know I saw him at Ando Glasso Festival.

SPEAKER_09

Just just whoops in and takes my crush my crush.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, and Lulo Reinhardt. And also Lulo Reinhardt. Oh Lulo Reinhardt, he was brilliant as well. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, I mean fair enough. I mean, yeah, probably for me it would be Charles. Charlie Imberger is yeah, he's an old friend as well. He's he's one of those kind of guys who you kind of feel like you're really in the presence of a legend. Absolutely. You don't often meet those kind of people who you know that even 100 years later he will be thought of as one of the greats, you know. So he's he's some he's something else for sure. Um but of course, there are so many other inspirational. I love yeah, I love uh Robbie Lakatosh and his music. I love the traditional ones like Taraf the Hyduks, the Brilliant Jambo Ogusevi from Macedonia, and so on. The list goes on too much too many. That's the thing. We have we have so much wealth around scattered around the world as Roma, but we we don't really have a a strong global brand that would put us more on the map, you know, and and give us give us that love that we desperately need.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, that's why we love this question. It's it's always just talk about it's always wonderful to talk about people we love, and it gets people um who listen inspiration to follow new folks, people they maybe they've never heard of, but are legends, you know, among us, but it might be new to listeners. It's really lovely.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, I'm excited to share those shout-outs.

Touring Plans And How To Support

SPEAKER_03

So what do you have coming up on the horizon? And how can our listeners support your work?

SPEAKER_09

Well, uh at the moment we are kind of just wrapping up uh the production of of um Maskalander, and um we are working hard on putting it out there as much as possible, and and and uh we're really pushing for you know um raise raise our followers, build a good, strong international audience for for rootless, and and I I guess you know in many ways it's it's such an interesting, exciting project that's it's it goes beyond just being a band. So I think there's a lot of other things we are trying to tap into and and build the kind of connections with with India and and and that market and and the movers and shakers and even politicians and whatnot who we can get our hands on basically with uh with Ruthless. So on a on a kind of strategy level, that's where we are uh the moment and and and making the band stronger and stronger and and more and more ready to to really hit the road properly. But saying that, we do have some gigs coming up here in Scotland. We will be playing at a big event on the 26th of June in Govanhill, which is going to be an actual kind of a um, yeah, because in the UK we have the GRT History Month, which is gypsy Roma Traveler History Month, uh, which is June. So our organization under Glasgow is organizing a big event that where the theme is actually going to be celebrating the Roma Indian connection as as part of our history. So uh Ruthless is going to be one of the headliners there, and then we're also going to be one of the headliners at Glasgow Mala, which is the big South Asian uh festival, and then uh we'll we'll work in on a few things for for the autumn as well, but we still need to kind of iron those out, and then we come to America, and then we come to you know everywhere.

SPEAKER_03

Oh my god, and we're so excited.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, that would be brilliant.

SPEAKER_04

Oh my gosh. Where can people follow you and um stay tuned?

SPEAKER_09

Well, we are present on Facebook, I think Instagram as well, TikTok, uh, YouTube, yeah, YouTube, Spotify. Spotify, yeah.

SPEAKER_04

What's your handle on those things? Is it just rootless? I we were having trouble finding you on Instagram earlier, and we want to make sure we're telling people the right place.

SPEAKER_09

All right. What is it, guys? Rootless. Rootless 64 on Instagram. On Instagram.

SPEAKER_04

Okay, amazing. Yeah, we'll definitely um post some links so people can follow you because a lot of times we have um folks asking how they can support the Romani community, even if they don't have a lot of money, and sharing our work is a really big way. And that's lovely and listening and all of those wonderful things. And we found you on YouTube as well. It was so fun to listen um to you there and watch your music videos. So, yeah, everyone listening, get involved. This is such a wonderful project. Um, and the work of Ana Glasa is just so impressive, too. I mean, we've been following Alf for a long time, so that's wonderful.

SPEAKER_09

Well, thank you so much. Thank you so much. Yeah, thank you.

SPEAKER_03

We really appreciate you guys being on here and taking the time out to do this. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, it was our plenty. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, thank you.

SPEAKER_04

Thank you, and thank you, listeners.

Where To Follow And Final Thanks

SPEAKER_03

Thank you for listening to Romanastan Podcast.

SPEAKER_04

You can find us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook at Romanasan Podcast, and on Twitter at Romanasan Pod. To support us, join our Patreon for extra content or just donate to our coffee fundraiser, ko-fi.com backslash romanasan. And please rate, review, and subscribe. It helps people find our show. It helps us so much.

SPEAKER_03

You can follow Jez on Instagram at jezmina.vontila and Paulina at RomaniHolistic. You can get our book, Secrets of Romani Fortune Telling, online or wherever books are sold. Visit romanistampodcast.com for events, educational resources, and more. Email us at romanistempodcast at gmail.com for inquiries.

SPEAKER_04

Romanistan is hosted by Jasmina Vantila and Paulina Stevens, conceived of by Paulina Stevens, edited by Victor Pachas, with music by Victor Pachitz, and artwork by Elijah Bardeau.