Kutle Khan, a multi-talented folk musician produces the most passionate and energetic Indian Folk music.Kutle Khan has been performing in India and overseas for more than 18 years. He has performed extensively in more than 70 countries and collaborates with the Tamil British talent Susheela Raman as part of their Outer India initiative. Among his other collaborations he performs with the Midival Punditz, Tritha Electric and European artist Hari Stojka , Talveen Singh n cocorossie. Beyond his band The Kutle Khan Project, Khan is also an integral part of the Rajasthan Roots. We interact with the multi-talented and successful musician with a strong Rajasthan folk sensibility.Here are excerpts from the interview... Q. Can you give us a brief about your background as an artist? How did you first become interested in Folk? I was born in a musical family which belongs to a community named as 'Manganiyars' based out in Jaisalmer. 'Manganiyars' have been playing and composing Folk and Sufi music since decades. I started learning music from my father Ustad Jethu Khan when I was 6 years old. I grew up with a family of musicians who have mastered Folk music, which was the reason I was drawn to music.Q. How will you define the music that you compose?I have been performing from last 20 years, and with my experience to travel across the globe, I would say that I blend Indian classical, Sufi and Folk with western music traditions.Q. Who can you cite as your main musical influences? The maestro himself, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan saab. Q. Tell us about 'Khartal' and its significance in your music.Khartaal wooden casenets is a combination of four pieces of wood. It has derived from words 39Kara39 means hand and 39Tala39 means clapping. The only instrument which I love playing. It39s a rhythm-support instrument which I play along with other percussion instruments. It39s so special for me since I have personally customized it.Q. What do you consider as the essential elements of your music?My team is the essential element I believe. Our creativity to compose folk music with a blend of Rajashthani instruments, percussions and western music is the essence of my sound.Q. What kind of music blends well with Folk?Folk easily blends with any kind of music just like sufi, may it be EDM, Flamenco, etc.Q. Are you working on any future projects?Many projects are pipelined for 2015 including our live concerts of Kutle Khan Project. Recently, there was a music launch of a Tamil movie Aambala, in which I sang a song "Yaar yenna sonnalum" alongside Kailash Kher and Mohit Chauhan. Then there is Coke Studio and Sony Project Resound.