Philadelphia’s KulfiGirls have taken the city by storm as they meld carnatic tradition with contemporary sounds through a queer and femme lens. After its release last fall, their song “Bite” has helped the four-piece amass quite a following showcasing both their unique instrumentation (their use of the South Indian Saraswati veena), as well as their high-octane indie rock riffs.
The song has deep meaning to lead vocalist Abi Natesh: “I was raised in a community that places a lot of value on reputation and how other people view you – you’re forbidden from doing anything that might embarrass your family like, for example, being gay or making art that might be viewed as indecent. ‘Bite’ was meant to be a kind of warning to people trying to suppress my art. It’s everything I wish I could say, unfiltered.”
With its powerfully repeated Tamil chant “Un maanum nassuma poh” (“I curse your reputation and honor”), “Bite” opens KulfiGirls’ Key Studio Sessions performance at WXPN, which showcases their 2025 album Divinity, as well as new music from their next chapter. We hear a dynamic, bracing performance from the band — Joan Natesh on guitar, Steph Bruning on bass and flute, and Ade Ogunleye on drums — as well a thematic lyrical range. KulfiGirls can be political (the band sings of Palestine on their unreleased “Hare Rama”) and personal (the cathartic “Itch” wrestles with repressed emotion) but it’s always deeply moving.
Watch their full Key Studio Sessions set above, and see photos from the recording session below. KulfiGirls plays a free set on Thursday, June 26th at Spruce Street Harbor Park’s summer concert series, followed by an appearance at Sweet Juice Fest 2025 on Saturday, June 28th, where they’ll share the stage with Speedy Ortiz and more. This fall, they’re on the lineup of Philly Music Fest, supporting The Wonder Years at Underground Arts. More information on all these shows can be found at the WXPN Concert Calendar.