Wax and Beans

Kula Shaker are an English psychedelic rock band led by frontman Crispian Mills. The band gained prominence during the Britpop era of the 1990s and achieved commercial success in the UK between 1996 and 1999. Their singles "Tattva," "Hey Dude," "Govinda," "Hush," and "Sound of Drums" reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart. Their debut album, 'K,' reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and was ranked number 879 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000). The band is known for their interest in traditional Indian music, culture, and mysticism, with songs such as "Tattva" and "Govinda" featuring lyrics written in Sanskrit. Their name was inspired by Kulasekhara, an Indian king from the 9th century. Many of their songs incorporate traditional Indian instruments, including the sitar, tamboura, and tabla, combined with Western rock instrumentation. Despite their commercial success, Kula Shaker faced criticism from some critics, with The Observer's Simon Price describing them in 2014 as a "joke band."