One Australian, a New Zealander, a Nepali and two Indians make up The Three Seas. It's an unusual musical combination that plays a form of jazz with a heavy influence of Indian folk music. The outfit was born after saxophonist Matt Keegan chanced upon Baul musicians in West Bengal's Shantiniketan, during his travels around India over a decade ago. We catch up with him over email to learn more about their playful sound, ahead of a gig in the city. Excerpts.

What are some of the aspects of Baul philosophy that you find intriguing?
I continue to find the Baul tradition quite mysterious but I am gradually deepening my understanding of it, which in turn has positively affected my appreciation of the music they make. Their focus on the sacred nature of the human body makes sense to me; it is something we all possess after all! I was first drawn to Baul culture through the sound of the music. Their beautiful singing transcended the fact that I could not understand the poetry. I was also attracted to the instruments they use and the feeling of the groove they perform with.