A common theme among artists who are either immigrants to this country or children of immigrants is the issue of identity.

Am I American or am I [insert ethnicity here]?

The answer usually lies somewhere in between, with artists often expressing themselves in a way that embraces contemporary influences while maintaining a healthy respect for heritage and tradition. Percussionist Ravish Momin is one such musician. His duo, Tarana, a collaboration with cellist Greg Heffernan, incorporates electronic sounds and rhythms from Momin’s Indian upbringing, all wrapped up in a modern jazz aesthetic.

“This music is very much about my past,” said Momin during a recent interview with DCist. “For me its about recollecting those ideas, but it’s been distilled with different layers being added over time.”

Tarana will be performing on Saturday night at Joe’s Movement Emporium, a multi-purpose art space located in Mt. Ranier, Maryland. In addition to the acoustic percussion and strings, the band’s sound relies heavily on digital technology. Both Momin and Heffernan have laptops and various other electronics on stage that sample and process their sounds in real time, allowing them to create lush soundscapes that hide the fact that there are only two people on stage.

“We’re using not just using backing samples,” Momin explained. “it’s very interactive and It lets us create ideas on the spot. It’s very much in the moment.”