Blackstratblues

Blackstratblues is the instrumental project of Warren Mendonsa, a Mumbai guitarist who first became known through Zero, a band he co-founded in 1998 with Rajeev Talwar, Sidd Coutto and Girish Talwar and one of the defining outfits of early-2000s Indian rock; Zero released three studio albums between 2000 and 2005. Mendonsa is also the nephew of Bollywood composer Loy Mendonsa, of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.

In late 2004 Mendonsa left Zero and moved to Auckland, New Zealand, where the Blackstratblues project took shape; it takes its name from the black Stratocaster he plays. His debut album under the name, Nights in Shining Karma, appeared in April 2007, after he had begun posting songs online as a solo artist.

The music is built on long, singing melodic lines over blues and rock changes, with a clean, sustained tone that has made Mendonsa one of the most recognisable guitarists in India. Early Blackstratblues albums were solo recordings; later releases became group collaborations, all self-released, with six studio albums and two live albums out to date. Alongside the project, Mendonsa also works as a producer and engineer for other Indian artists.