From reinventions of jazz classics on "Standards Vol. 1" to the lush soundscapes of "Breaking English," Rafiq Bhatia's m...

From reinventions of jazz classics on "Standards Vol. 1" to the lush soundscapes of "Breaking English," Rafiq Bhatia's music (@rafiqbhatia) reflects the influence of multiple continents, his college studies in economics and neuroscience, and the many sonic and geographical intersections of the state in which he grew up. As guitarist and co-producer for ‪Son Lux, his career has taken him from North Carolina to the Oscars stage, when the band composed the Academy Award-nominated score for 2023 Best Picture-winner *Everything Everywhere All at Once.* This February, Son Lux announced that they would be scoring the new Marvel Studios film *Thunderbolts*,* debuting in U.S. theaters May 2nd, 2025. That same month, Bhatia released a new EP, *Each Dream, a Melting Door,* in collaboration with longtime friend Chris Pattishall, who grew up in Durham, North Carolina. Pattishall has developed his own formidable reputation as a jazz pianist, earning praise from the likes of Wynton Marsalis. Last April, Bhatia returned to Raleigh to join the lineup for the 2024 Music at the Museum Festival at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Before his performance, he discussed some of his most formative musical experiences with Come Hear NC producer Laura Casteel, surrounded by the striking sculptures of the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park. In celebration of Bhatia’s recent work, we’re sharing the full interview here for the first time on the NCMO blog (link in bio). Image: Rafiq Bhatia in conversation with Laura Casteel