“‍Now based in North Colorado, US, Vine Sweetland is a multifaceted person, involved in poetry, music, art and writing. Having played with and produced for late sitar exponent Rahul Sakyaputra and tabla player Ramesh Kumar, he is well-versed with Indian classical music.

Vine’s new album The Universe Into Existence uses many Indian elements, specially sitar and tabla, blending them with ambient soundscapes and new age layering. There are seven tracks with a total run-time of 1 hour.

The titles have influences of spiritualism and nature - examples are the opening piece 'In The Beginning, God Spoke', 'The Goodness of Earth and 'Gathering Of Waters' and 'Wings Take Flight Above Living Seas'. Personal favourites are 'Heaven Above, Waters Below', which uses sitar and horns, the 10-and-a-half minute 'Light Divided, Night and Day', using flamenco influences, virtuoso acoustic guitars, strings and cymbals, and 'First Breath, Formed From Clay', with its smooth flute-sitar coordination.

The last piece 'Raga: Seventh Day, God Rested' perhaps signifies that each of the seven pieces represents a day of the week, bringing the universe into existence. As such, it's a concept album in the true sense.”

‍— Narendra Kusnur, Naren’s indie round-up/ Aug 2026, Ep 1 (4/5 stars)