Executive Overview
In the sprawling, rapidly gentrifying landscape of East London, few public spaces carry the historical weight, cultural mosaic, and economic resilience of Dalston’s Ridley Road Market. Operating continuously since the 1880s, this historic trading hub has served as a vibrant immigrant gateway, an anti-fascist battleground, and a communal lifeline for generations of working-class Londoners. Now, it stands at the center of an artistic and political statement: “States of Matter,” the sweeping lead single and title-track-adjacent centerpiece from virtuoso guitarist and producer Giuliano Modarelli.
Released on October 21 via Bucks Music Group, “States of Matter” marks Modarelli’s return to solo recorded work following his 2012 album, Englobed. It serves as the opening salvo for his upcoming sophomore solo full-length, Ridley Road, slated for release on February 12, with subsequent singles rolling out monthly. The track is an audacious cross-cultural collision, pairing the intricate, contemplative architecture of North Indian classical music with the heavy sub-bass and four-to-the-floor momentum of UK steppers dub and dubstep.
Featuring the transcendent vocal performance of eighth-generation Delhi-born Hindustani musician Suhail Yusuf Khan, alongside rhythm section contributions from Kefaya drummer Joost Hendrickx, tabla maestro Aref Durvesh, and bombo percussionist Camilo Tirado, the single acts as both a sonic exploration of physical states and a direct artistic intervention. Modarelli has dedicated the entire album to the ongoing Save Ridley Road campaign, aligning his avant-garde musical vision with grassroots resistance against commercial eviction, displacement, and unchecked urban redevelopment.
Detailed Chronology
To understand the complex tapestry of “States of Matter,” one must trace a timeline that spans over a century of social history, rigorous cross-continental musical apprenticeships, and the granular production choices that brought the single to life.
The Historical Foundations: Ridley Road (1880s–1940s)
- The 1880s: Ridley Road Market is established off Kingsland High Street in Dalston, initially starting as a modest collection of fruit and vegetable barrows.
- The Mid-20th Century: The market transforms into a critical economic and social hub for successive waves of immigrants, welcoming communities from the Caribbean, Turkey, Kurdistan, Bangladesh, and Poland.
- The Late 1940s: Ridley Road enters the annals of British political history as a frontline defense against fascism. The Jewish-led anti-fascist militant group, the 43 Group, engages in intense street battles with the followers of British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley, cementing the market’s identity as a space of fierce communal resistance.
Giuliano Modarelli’s Musical Evolution (1977–Present)
- 1977: Giuliano Modarelli is born in Milan, Italy, beginning an artistic journey that will eventually bridge European jazz improvisation with the demanding, oral-tradition disciplines of Indian classical music.
- Adolescent & Young Adult Training: Modarelli studies jazz formally at the Leeds College of Music, developing a sophisticated harmonic vocabulary. Seeking deeper instrumental discipline, he embarks on a two-decade immersive apprenticeship in Hindustani classical music under the tutelage of renowned sarod master Buddhadev Dasgupta and his senior disciple, Prattyush Banerjee.
- Kefaya Formation: Modarelli co-founds the politically charged, genre-fluid London trio Kefaya alongside producer and keyboardist Al MacSween, earning a reputation for synthesizing global folk traditions with contemporary electronics and jazz.
- 2012: Modarelli releases his debut solo album, Englobed, establishing his voice as a solo composer and improviser before shifting focus heavily toward collaborative ensemble work.
The Genesis and Release of “States of Matter” (2022–Present)
- Field Recording & Conceptualization: Modarelli spends time absorbing the acoustic environment of Ridley Road Market, captivated by what he describes as the "accidental blend and clash" of stallholders’ calls, haggling, and clashing musical sound systems spilling onto the pavement.
- Studio Collaboration: Modarelli unites an elite trans-global ensemble in the studio. He drafts eighth-generation Hindustani vocalist Suhail Yusuf Khan to interpret Raag Madhuwanti, while securing percussion from Kefaya’s Joost Hendrickx (drums), Aref Durvesh (tabla), and Camilo Tirado (bombo).
- October 21: “States of Matter” is officially released worldwide via Bucks Music Group, accompanied by a live-version studio video filmed at Madhuwanti Studio.
- February 12 (Upcoming): The full-length album Ridley Road is scheduled for release, preceded by a monthly single rollout campaign throughout the winter.
Supporting Context & Metrics
The artistic anatomy of “States of Matter” is rooted in a deliberate juxtaposition of sound design, socio-political geography, and deep-seated musical lineages.
The Sonic Architecture
The track opens not with synthetic tones or polished instrumentation, but with an authentic, unfiltered auditory snapshot of Ridley Road Market. Listeners are immediately immersed in the cacophony of East London: market traders shouting prices, ambient street chatter, and the bleed of competing musical genres echoing down the lane.
This urban soundscape abruptly dissolves into the refined, contemplative strains of Raag Madhuwanti. Traditionally performed in the late afternoon, this North Indian classical raga derives its name from madhu, meaning honey—reflecting its sweet, melancholic, and deeply introspective emotional gravity. Suhail Yusuf Khan navigates the raga’s notoriously strict microtonal rules and modal pathways with absolute reverence.
However, this classical purity is immediately tested and expanded by Modarelli’s production framework. Beneath Khan’s soaring vocals lies a heavy, rolling dubstep bassline locked into a hypnotic four-to-the-floor kick pattern native to UK steppers dub. The result is a sonic friction where centuries-old Hindustani vocal traditions rub shoulders with the soundsystem culture of modern working-class London.
[ Ridley Road Field Recordings ] ---> [ Raag Madhuwanti (Hindustani Vocals) ]
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[ Dubstep Bass & UK Steppers Dub ]
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[ "States of Matter": A Sonic Synthesis ]The Socio-Political Subtext
The title “States of Matter” operates on a dual level. Scientifically, it references the solid, liquid, and gaseous phases of physical elements. Culturally and politically, it serves as a metaphor for what Modarelli identifies as "conditions shaped by power and resistance."
This dual meaning mirrors the physical reality of Ridley Road Market today. For over 140 years, the market has functioned as a vital economic incubator for marginalized immigrant communities. In recent years, however, it has faced mounting pressure from property developers, corporate landlords, and municipal gentrification initiatives threatening to price out independent traders and erase the area’s working-class character. By dedicating his upcoming album to the Save Ridley Road campaign, Modarelli connects his avant-garde cross-genre production directly to the defense of urban commons and cultural preservation.
Ensemble Personnel & Production Credits
- Giuliano Modarelli: Composition, production, guitars, electronic soundscapes.
- Suhail Yusuf Khan: Lead Hindustani vocals (Delhi-based, eighth-generation musician).
- Joost Hendrickx: Drum kit (Kefaya collaborator).
- Aref Durvesh: Tabla percussion.
- Camilo Tirado: Bombo and auxiliary percussion.
- Label / Publisher: Bucks Music Group.
Official Statements
The conceptual underpinnings of the project are best understood through the perspectives of its creator and the socio-political movements inspiring the work.
Reflecting on the initial spark that drew him to Dalston’s historic trading hub, Giuliano Modarelli explained:
"The very first seconds of the track belong to Ridley Road Market in Dalston, East London: stallholders’ calls, haggling, and clashing music—the ‘accidental blend and clash’ that initially drew me to the place."
Expanding on the socio-political implications of the single’s title and its dedication, Modarelli noted:
“The single’s title plays on the physical states of matter and on conditions shaped by power and resistance—a description that fits Ridley Road itself. Through decades of changing demographics, from the 1940s anti-fascist battles against Oswald Mosley’s followers to today’s struggles against corporate displacement, this market has always fought for its right to exist. We dedicate this music to that ongoing fight.”
Cultural commentators and community organizers associated with the Save Ridley Road campaign have similarly emphasized the urgency of maintaining the area’s multi-ethnic commercial ecosystem against modern real estate speculation, framing the market not merely as a collection of stalls, but as a living archive of London’s multicultural working-class history.
Future Outlook
As the music industry watches the rollout of Ridley Road, Giuliano Modarelli is positioning himself at the vanguard of contemporary trans-global composition. The release strategy—dropping a meticulously crafted single on the 21st of every month leading up to the album’s full release on February 12—allows listeners to digest the multi-faceted thematic and sonic explorations of the project piece by piece.
What Lies Ahead for the Ridley Road Project:
- Monthly Single Releases: Between October and February, subsequent tracks will continue to drop, promising further explorations into the intersection of South Asian classical disciplines, London club sounds, and grassroots political themes.
- Live Performance Integration: With an ensemble featuring world-class improvisers like Aref Durvesh and Joost Hendrickx, plans are underway for specialized live iterations of the album that incorporate real-time audio-visual elements of East London’s streetscapes.
- Amplifying Activism: The association with the Save Ridley Road campaign ensures that the album will function as an active cultural touchstone in ongoing local planning disputes, bridging the gap between artistic output and urban community advocacy.
Ultimately, “States of Matter” proves that boundary-pushing electronic production and ancient classical forms are not mutually exclusive. By anchoring international virtuosity in the gritty, embattled pavements of East London, Modarelli has crafted a modern protest record that vibrates with both intellectual rigor and deep emotional resonance.
