By Spandan Fulkar
11th Nov 2024
By Spandan Fulkar
11th Nov 2024
It is Brampton city, Canada, with its multi-coloured diversity, that made the crossroads for South Asian heritage and hip-hop culture to merge into one of the most innovative and reflective albums of the year—'Motherland. Sound and stories from India, Canada, and the U.S. combined in this project becomes an album of cultural narrative, a reflection of the modern diasporic experience of South Asian communities.
With 'Motherland', Spitty brings before us the essence of identity, migration, and heritage through a very beautiful vocal rendition. Born in the U.S., Brampton-raised, but well-entrenched in Indian traditions, he weaves these in through the album so beautifully. The album tries to merge the sounds of his upbringing with the global trend within contemporary music. When questioned about the album's title, he underlined how 'Motherland' transcends a country as a physical location. Explaining "We live in the epoch of unparalleled migration. The motherlands that people are immigrating from are no longer safe or prosperous. But this album emphasizes that culture is human, not a place. Home is where the heart is." In its essence, 'Motherland' is an exploration of belonging. Growing up in Brampton allowed Spitty to experience living at the crossroads of two vibrant cultures: hip-hop and South Asian. The influences are not separate threads but infused throughout the album where he seamlessly blends together to create something new and authentic and a part of his unique journey.
It is Brampton city, Canada, with its multi-coloured diversity, that made the crossroads for South Asian heritage and hip-hop culture to merge into one of the most innovative and reflective albums of the year—'Motherland. Sound and stories from India, Canada, and the U.S. combined in this project becomes an album of cultural narrative, a reflection of the modern diasporic experience of South Asian communities.
With 'Motherland', Spitty brings before us the essence of identity, migration, and heritage through a very beautiful vocal rendition. Born in the U.S., Brampton-raised, but well-entrenched in Indian traditions, he weaves these in through the album so beautifully. The album tries to merge the sounds of his upbringing with the global trend within contemporary music. When questioned about the album's title, he underlined how 'Motherland' transcends a country as a physical location. Explaining "We live in the epoch of unparalleled migration. The motherlands that people are immigrating from are no longer safe or prosperous. But this album emphasizes that culture is human, not a place. Home is where the heart is." In its essence, 'Motherland' is an exploration of belonging. Growing up in Brampton allowed Spitty to experience living at the crossroads of two vibrant cultures: hip-hop and South Asian. The influences are not separate threads but infused throughout the album where he seamlessly blends together to create something new and authentic and a part of his unique journey.
Another good choice on the album 'Motherland' is "Mom." He dedicates this song to his mother, a personal ode. He knew from day one that this song was special. Spitty reflects, "If the album is called 'Motherland', it only made sense to close it out with a song dedicated to the woman who raised me." First and last impressions do make a difference, I wanted that the last song people hear would be leaving an effect. This is indeed not just a goodbye but a beautiful recognition of how his mother contributed to his life as a person and as an artist.
But 'Motherland' is not all introspective. It also interprets the struggles and triumphs of many immigrant communities. Throughout, it raises themes of displacement, cultural preservation, and the trials of the home country. For the artist, this project reflects something more than personal stories; it speaks to a collective experience in those who left their motherlands but carry their culture with them.
Collaboration is very significant in Motherland. Featuring artists from Canada, India, and the U.S. the album reflects a global network of artists that Spitty has tried to build up over the years. "It was natural for me," he explains. "Those are the countries I connect with most as my family is from India, I was born in the U.S., and I grew up in Canada.". Everyone added something special to the tracks they were on." Even when that proved at times a difficult task, how to keep coordinating with some of the collaborations remotely, Spitty continued working hard to get the music together as he thought it would sound.
Perhaps one of the most exciting collaborations on the album is "Rodeo," his first Punjabi-English fusion track. The song came about almost serendipitously, during a car ride with Roze, who played a demo he had been working on. “I really rocked with it,” the Spittyrecalls. “I took it home, wrote my verse, and when we got back to the studio, Roze suggested I write another verse to balance the vibe. The whole track came together in a few hours.”
Beyond cultural fusions, the Spittyalso pays homage to the music that first inspired him. In the track “I Feel So Amazing,” he draws heavily from 2000s rap—an era that, for him, cemented his love for hip-hop. The nostalgia in the song isn’t just about the beats and rhythms, but also the Indian influences that permeated early 2000s hip-hop production. Producers like Timbaland and Just Blaze often used Indian samples in their work, and this is a trend the Spittywanted to revive in his own music. “That era got me into hip-hop,” he says. “I was about seven years old when I first heard 50 Cent’s ‘In Da Club’. It’s the era of rap that resonates most with me.”
Another good choice on the album 'Motherland' is "Mom." He dedicates this song to his mother, a personal ode. He knew from day one that this song was special. Spitty reflects, "If the album is called 'Motherland', it only made sense to close it out with a song dedicated to the woman who raised me." First and last impressions do make a difference, I wanted that the last song people hear would be leaving an effect. This is indeed not just a goodbye but a beautiful recognition of how his mother contributed to his life as a person and as an artist.
But 'Motherland' is not all introspective. It also interprets the struggles and triumphs of many immigrant communities. Throughout, it raises themes of displacement, cultural preservation, and the trials of the home country. For the artist, this project reflects something more than personal stories; it speaks to a collective experience in those who left their motherlands but carry their culture with them.
Collaboration is very significant in Motherland. Featuring artists from Canada, India, and the U.S. the album reflects a global network of artists that Spitty has tried to build up over the years. "It was natural for me," he explains. "Those are the countries I connect with most as my family is from India, I was born in the U.S., and I grew up in Canada.". Everyone added something special to the tracks they were on." Even when that proved at times a difficult task, how to keep coordinating with some of the collaborations remotely, Spitty continued working hard to get the music together as he thought it would sound.
Perhaps one of the most exciting collaborations on the album is "Rodeo," his first Punjabi-English fusion track. The song came about almost serendipitously, during a car ride with Roze, who played a demo he had been working on. “I really rocked with it,” the Spittyrecalls. “I took it home, wrote my verse, and when we got back to the studio, Roze suggested I write another verse to balance the vibe. The whole track came together in a few hours.”
Beyond cultural fusions, the Spittyalso pays homage to the music that first inspired him. In the track “I Feel So Amazing,” he draws heavily from 2000s rap—an era that, for him, cemented his love for hip-hop. The nostalgia in the song isn’t just about the beats and rhythms, but also the Indian influences that permeated early 2000s hip-hop production. Producers like Timbaland and Just Blaze often used Indian samples in their work, and this is a trend the Spittywanted to revive in his own music. “That era got me into hip-hop,” he says. “I was about seven years old when I first heard 50 Cent’s ‘In Da Club’. It’s the era of rap that resonates most with me.”
But the Spittyis not just about music. His community work in Brampton has also deeply influenced his identity as a person and an artist. He’s been heavily involved in efforts to empower local youth, focusing on inspiring them to become the best versions of themselves. “It’s never been about money or power,” he asserts. “It’s always been about empowering people, motivating them. My community work is a direct extension of what I aim to do with my music.”
Since his first debut album 'Full Circle', he really did make some great strides with music. Reflecting on the journey from his first album to Motherland, he says, "Full Circle is still an incredible project to me. I spent three years on it, making sure that my debut was something I could always be proud of.". It showed my rap skills and proved that I can engage with more meaningful subjects while still making the music lively and catchy. Motherland then helped me expand to go beyond personal stories into broader themes, affecting more than just myself.
Looking ahead, the plan is big. He'll headline a show in Toronto at the Drake Underground October 25, pushing his new album, Motherland, while getting ready for more live shows and collaborations. He's set on taking it on tour and by 2025 ready to drop new music. "This is just the beginning," he says. "I'm going straight to a world takeover."
Motherland, the Spittysays, is an album different from the rest, taking the best of traditional heritage and merging it with a modern perspective that is global. This album comprises more than great music; it's a celebration of culture, identity, and more importantly, resilience in adversity. Therefore, as this journey continues to unfold, one has to realize that his experience will not be over so easily.
But the Spittyis not just about music. His community work in Brampton has also deeply influenced his identity as a person and an artist. He’s been heavily involved in efforts to empower local youth, focusing on inspiring them to become the best versions of themselves. “It’s never been about money or power,” he asserts. “It’s always been about empowering people, motivating them. My community work is a direct extension of what I aim to do with my music.”
Since his first debut album 'Full Circle', he really did make some great strides with music. Reflecting on the journey from his first album to Motherland, he says, "Full Circle is still an incredible project to me. I spent three years on it, making sure that my debut was something I could always be proud of.". It showed my rap skills and proved that I can engage with more meaningful subjects while still making the music lively and catchy. Motherland then helped me expand to go beyond personal stories into broader themes, affecting more than just myself.
Looking ahead, the plan is big. He'll headline a show in Toronto at the Drake Underground October 25, pushing his new album, Motherland, while getting ready for more live shows and collaborations. He's set on taking it on tour and by 2025 ready to drop new music. "This is just the beginning," he says. "I'm going straight to a world takeover."
Motherland, the Spittysays, is an album different from the rest, taking the best of traditional heritage and merging it with a modern perspective that is global. This album comprises more than great music; it's a celebration of culture, identity, and more importantly, resilience in adversity. Therefore, as this journey continues to unfold, one has to realize that his experience will not be over so easily.
