KulfiGirls
Like many kids born in the ’90s, Abi Natesh wanted to learn to play the guitar. But her traditional parents and other relatives, who hail from the Tamil Nadu region of India, had other ideas. “My aunt had a veena in the house,” recalls Abi, referring to an Indian lute in the same family as the sitar. “‘We have this, so you’re going to play this,’ she told me.” Abi, who grew up in Montco, began taking veena lessons when she was 12, eventually studying voice, including South Indian Carnatic styles. During COVID, Abi and her life partner, Joan, were writing punk and rock songs, and Abi realized she wanted to incorporate the sounds of India. Thus, KulfiGirls (kulfi is an Indian dessert) was born, eventually adding bassist Stephanie Bruning and drummer Adesola Ogunleye. And it turns out the fusing of these styles really works. They just released an expanded edition of their 2025 debut, Divinity, and are working on a follow-up album. We love the video for their single “Bite,” which was recorded, in part, at Rowhouse Grocery in Point Breeze and includes lots of blood and … pomegranate juice? Follow their Instagram for their next show. Read More »