The dhol drum has taken the world by storm since it was rediscovered and unleashed on the world by the Dhol Foundation in 1995.
The dhol was originally used in the 15th century to terrify enemies in war and transmit messages between Indian villages.
Dhol Foundation founder Johnny Kalsi describes the double-sided drum, which can reach 106 decibels, as "very infectious".
"The dhol really fired my imagination. I have had the opportunity to perform alongside a variety of drums from all over the world and the dhol is by far the loudest. Djembe came close, but has no loud low end, and a west African talking drum was also close, but only when it was miked-up."
Kalsi's experimentation with Eastern drum rhythms and Western instruments coincided with the emergence of the World of Music, Arts and Dance (Womad) festivals and gave the new sound a stage.
"Being born in the UK and a second-generation British Asian, it was natural for my generation to be listening to Duran Duran and Led Zep, while our parents listened to [the late] Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan," he says.
"It was very natural for us to fuse the genres together and experiment, explore and expand."
Kalsi, whose family hails from Punjab state in India, founded the Dhol Foundation in London in 1989, as both a dhol drum institute and a bhangra music group.
"I feel very proud and responsible for creating such a trend. It's all about showing the world that the dhol is not just a backing instrument, but can be a lead instrument," he says.
The group features five dhol players and four other musicians on traditional and Western instruments, in a furious fusion of Indian drumming, Celtic folk, afro-beats, rock, pop, electronic, drum'n'bass and classical.
In 2001, the ensemble released its debut album, Big Drum Small World, and other musicians really started to sit up and take notice.
Led Zeppelin invited the group on tour and collaborations followed with Sinead O'Connor, Avril Lavigne and Angelina Jolie.
The drummers have also contributed to movie soundtracks and even opened the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
The foundation makes its New Zealand debut in Dunedin tonight.
