An unexpected moment of cultural diplomacy has brought India’s legendary fusion duo, Colonial Cousins, right back into the spotlight. During an official state visit to Australia, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a special collector’s edition vinyl of the band’s iconic self-titled 1996 debut album to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The gesture has reignited massive 90s nostalgia and prompted the musical duo—singer Hariharan and composer-producer Lesle Lewis—to officially announce that they are back in the studio recording new music.
Transcending Diplomatic Borders
Speaking exclusively to NDTV, both artists expressed immense gratitude for the high-profile recognition, emphasizing that the project was always meant to bridge cultural divides.
Lesle Lewis: “When Hariharan and I created Colonial Cousins, we wanted to bring different musical worlds together through a shared emotion. To see that journey come full circle—with the collector’s edition vinyl presented by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi as a diplomatic gift—is profoundly moving.”
Hariharan: “It’s not surprising, because Colonial Cousins is a brand ambassador of India. It has always been. I see Colonial Cousins as a beautiful capsule where you see India and the Western world as one. It is lyrically driven, musically driven, and visually driven. It’s an awesome package.”
Adapting to the Modern Music Era
While the duo’s classic run lasted from their multi-platinum debut in 1996 until their last collaborative studio album in 2000 (The Way We Do It), Hariharan revealed that their musical presence has never faded. Even today, slipping a couple of Colonial Cousins tracks into his solo live sets sparks immediate euphoria in audiences.
However, fans looking forward to the reunion shouldn’t expect a traditional 10-track studio record. The duo is actively adapting to modern music distribution frameworks:
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Focus on Singles: Rather than pursuing full-length albums—which face tough promotional budgets and evolving streaming patterns—the duo will release standalone singles.
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The Next Track is Ready: The pair confirmed that their immediate comeback track has already been fully recorded.
“Even in the Western world, albums are very rare now,” Hariharan noted. “The biggest artists are coming out with singles or a couple of singles. That’s what we are planning too. We have just done one single. You’ll know about it very soon. It’s something very different.”
