The track ended up very groovy and worked out well .
A lot of people started liking songs these days where different genres are blended together . So we realized the potential in this area and worked on this project during the pandemic , finally releasing Arul in November 2023 . We were nervous about how people would receive it , but the reception has been fantastic . Many of the tracks have gone viral on social media and it has been overwhelming to see such a response .
Q
Tell us about your daily practise routine
As it is the margazhi music season now , the routine is different . A lot of my focus is on concert preparation and voice care , so I do my vocal warmups through the day and keep my voice hydrated . I keep thinking about which ragam or pallavi I should sing for upcoming concerts . As my wife Radhe is a classical dancer , we both share the duties at home while also focusing on our own creative work . We also love to just sit back and relax at home when we get a chance , during non-margazhi time that is .
Q
Can you tell us your thoughts on the evolution of classical music in the global arena ?
These days , any genre that goes slightly away from Carnatic music is termed as “ fusion .” If I am on stage with anything other than violin and mrindangam , then people call it fusion and get a different curiosity . It ’ s not that I have learned everything there is to learn in Carnatic music . After all , we can spend a lifetime diving in this ocean of Carnatic music , and barely make a dent . But when branching out from one ’ s comfort zone , I always feel artists should introspect and recognize their inspiration behind their musical explorations . Personally , I grew up listening to rap and hip-hop , so I was drawn to blending that with Carnatic music . My goal is for Carnatic music to reach more individuals worldwide . Right now , when I go abroad and tell people I ’ m an Indian vocalist , people ask whether I sing Bollywood music . So I try to explain about the style of the Carnatic genre , and I hope people will get quite interested in Carnatic music , and that it should reach wider audiences .
Q
Speaking of making people more aware of Carnatic music and what is your take on global exposure ?
I think it is more on digital platforms now , and of course more people are active online . Reels and short videos reach faster to a wider audience , though the attention span is going down .
Q
The Eps of today are only 2-3 min tracks . Don ’ t you think so ?
True . These days the tracks are maximum 2-3 minutes and that is the trend now . Most producers are not looking at more than three minutes .
Q
Being a Carnatic musician how do you balance the fusion and multiple genres and blend them in style ?
When I started doing fusion shows and experimentation like with the Mahashivarathri performances in Coimbatore , my mother used to ask if I might forget my Carnatic music ! Even when I take a heavy raaga like Thodi or Bhairavi , I am in a different zone . I stay true to the essence of the krithi and ragam set by the vaageyakaras such as Thyagaraja or Dikshitar . It is more about the stage I am performing on . If I am performing in a sabha , my mindset is different , and if it is a fusion concert , then my thinking is different . My initial releases such as Gopala Gopala and Nannu Vidachi were purely Carnatic , but the arrangements with guitar and other instruments made
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