An ambient/rock/string quartet cover of AR Rahman's Aaromale from the OST of Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya. 
Vocals: Ashwin Vinayan
Synth, Kanjira, Drums programming, Spacey Guitar: @mediumcoffee
Acoustic guitar, violin, cello, lead/rhythm guitar, mixing/mastering: Krish Ashok

Aaromale

A cover of Keane's "Somewhere only we know" with @anu-mccartney on vocals and @mediumcoffee on slide & organ.

Somewhere Only We Know

When I first heard Lungi dance from the movie Chennai express, it's incredible peppy catchiness only meant one obvious thing - someone needed to make a Western classical remix version. Imagine frilly dresses, wigs, Austrian nobility and state-of-the-art Erode lungis. 

The Violin and Cello were recorded on the really impressive Yeti Blue microphone, which is so sensitive that if you listen really hard, you can occasionally hear the pigeon on my window sill making enquiries about the local availability of pretty single pigeonesses. 

In addition to the tracks I recorded on my instruments, some software layers were used to expand the soundscape to do justice to this most excellent song. 

Danse Macabre De Lungi

A Carnatic classical remix of Daft Punk's Get Lucky (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NV6Rdv1a3I).  The raga is Karnaranjani (well, approximately). 

Daft Pankajam

A kutthu garage rock remix of the White Stripes' classic "Seven Nation Army". Lyrics in collaboration with https://twitter.com/raghuthaatha written from the point of view of someone who ignores tradition and superstition only to face an anticlimactic response from the establishment at the end. 

I'm in a barbershop
Amavasai couldn't hold me back
I'm going to flag it off 
Middle of rahu kalam, that's my knack
And I'm sleeping in my bed at night 
While I'm facing north
I ask for kovil prasadam
left hand extending forth

And i dont give astrologers money, yezhara naattu sani

Don't wanna hear about it
Kili josyam’s got a story to tell
Everyone knows about it
Don’t need no drishtipottu as well
And if I touch it with my ecchai patthu
I'm gonna serve it to you
And that ain't what you want to hear
But that's what I'll do

And the message from my horoscope, it’s sevva dosham bro

Ava aappu vecchuta
Enters left leg first I swear
And when I’m going out
she always has to ask me where
And I'm sneezing, and she's sneezing, and we're sneezing
when there’s good news  
All my pages filled with real bad words
sri ramajayam's no use

And even then the message from my elders, is “nee pozhacchu po"

Lyrics explanation: For those not from South India, every line refers to a superstitious belief held strongly by many here, like 
* not visiting the barbershop on auspicious days (like Amavasai - new moon day)
* Avoiding kicking off things during Rahu kalam
* Head facing north while sleeping
* Sneezing when good news is announced

The title is a reference to an astrological belief that the 7.5 years of Saturn transiting through the 8th house from the moon in one's horoscope. 

The guitar parts were recorded on an Ibanez SA-120 through a Boss ME-25 FX processor and an amplified fuzz effect was used on the vocals to make it sound like Jack White's. 

The percussion and drums were sequenced & programmed

Seven and a Half Years Of Saturn

An adaption of Ramin Djawadi's Rains of Castamere on the Violin and Cello. The raga is Natabhairavi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natabhairavi) although the phrases used sound like Bhairavi and occasionally Anandabhairavi. 

The notes of Natabhairavi match with the Western Natural minor scale. For fans of the book, think of it as a Dornish version of what they would like to do to the Lannisters



Rains Of Castamere

A collaboration with the brilliantly talented @rvijaynarain, this is a mashup of a Marwari dialect thumri Senraan Ra Baairya (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h7p4-15ZNU) and Kailash Kher's rendition of Kabir's Naiharwa. 

Both are love songs, but go deeper than just physical desire. The first one asks to be carried away by the sweet breeze while the second one uses the metaphor of a bride separated from her beloved to hint at the fallacy of duality (advaita, if you will)

Vocals: @rvijaynarain
Guitar, Violin and Arrangement: @krishashok
Key: F major
Beat: 7/4

Lyrics

سینڑاں را بائریا دھیمو مدھرو ری باج
senṛaan ra baairya dheemo madhuro ri baaj
listen, O breeze, softly and sweetly blow
دھیمو دھیمو مدھرو ری باج رے بائریا
dheemo dheemo madhuro ri baaj re baaireeya
softly, softly, sweetly blow, O breeze
سینڑاں را بائریا دھیمو مدھرو ری باج
senṛaan ra baairya dheemo madhuro ri baaj
listen, O breeze, softly and sweetly blow

تنری بنڑاؤں ڈھولا راجی تانسلی اے لو
tanri banṛaaoon dhola raaji taansali e lo
I make a serving dish, sweetheart, of my physical being
منڑے ری کروں من وار رے بائریا
manṛe ri karoon man waar re baaireeya
and following my heart, I offer up my heart to you, O breeze
سینڑاں را بائریا دھیمو مدھرو ری باج
senṛaan ra baairya dheemo madhuro ri baaj
listen, O breeze, softly and sweetly blow

साई कि नगरी ...परम अति सुन्दर,
Saai ki nagari...param ati sundar
My Beloved’s Town is Most Beautiful

जहाँ कोई जाए ना आवे
jahaan joi jaaye naa aavey
However, Nobody Goes or Comes from There

चाँद सुरज जहाँ, पवन न पानी,
chaand suraj jahaan, pavan na paani
There is no Moon, Sun, Wind or Water There

कौ संदेस पहुँचावै
kou sandes pahunchaavey
Then Who Will Take My Message There?

दरद यह... साई को सुनावै
darad yah...saai ko sunaavey
Then Who Will Tell My Pain to My Beloved?

नैहरवा हम का न भावे
Naiharwa ham ka na bhavey
I Don’t Find any Interest in My Parent’s House


Senraan Ra Baairya - Naiharwa Redux

A Violin, Cello, Guitar, Keyboard and Drum machine remix of Massive Attack's Teardrop blended with Thyagaraja's Brova Bharama (video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGXIc3iwEM8&feature=youtu.be)

Key: A
BPM: 77
Raga: Bahudari (for most part)
Guitar tuning: Open-D (tuned to D major)
Song meaning and lyrics: http://www.karnatik.com/c1002.shtml

Poster credits: Original by Simon Stratford (http://www.simonstratford.com/portfolio/illustration/teardrop/)

Teardrop Bahudari

A violin and flute collaboration (video here http://youtu.be/0zX0SR_WMnk) with the brilliant Vijay Kannan (https://soundcloud.com/indian_music_fan) based on the Harmonize Projekt' version of Ilayaraja's Thumbi Va (Gum sum gum in Hindi and Sangatthil paadatha in Tamil). 

Use a pair of good headphones to make sure you don't miss Ilayaraja's groovy walking counterpoint bassline

Key: A
Raga: Kaapi
BPM: 120

Violin, Bass and Guitar: @krishashok
Flute: @indian_music_fan

Photo credits: Ian MacKenzie https://www.flickr.com/photos/madmack/424759185/

Thumbi Va

A Carnatic adaptation (and improvisation) of Adele's Skyfall from the Bond movie soundtrack. The raga is Keeravani. The instrument playing a solo around 4:05 is a bass guitar. 

The chords are Cm Ab F Gsus4 and G

ps: The chap in the photo is not entirely Daniel Craig. It's mostly Sanjay Subramanyan (https://twitter.com/sanjaysub)

Skyfall Keeravani

On the occasion of the independence days of both subcontinental countries, this is a violin and piano arrangement of the Gujarati bhajan, Vaishnava Janato (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaishnava_Jana_To)

Written in the 15th century by the poet Narsinh Mehta in the Gujarati language. The bhajan was included in Mahatma Gandhi’s daily prayer

Vaishnava Janato

An adaptation of "Les Feuilles Mortes", originally composed by Joseph Kosma and lyrics by French surrealist poet Jacques Prévert. The (more popular)English version is called "Autumn Leaves" and is a Jazz standard made famous by, among others, Nat King Cole. 

Most Jazz fusion with Indian classical music tends to center around the Indian side, with the Jazz arrangement being an accompaniment. This is an attempt to do the reverse. The violin tries to embellish the main melody with improvisation in the Harmonic minor (Keeravani). 

Lyrics

C'est une chanson qui nous ressemble.
This song is like us.

Toi, tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
You used to love me and I used to love you

Et nous vivions tous les deux ensemble,
And we used to live together,

Toi qui m'aimais, moi qui t'aimais.
You loving me, me loving you

Mais la vie sépare ceux qui s'aiment,
But life separates lovers,

Tout doucement, sans faire de bruit
Pretty slowly, noiselessly,

Et la mer efface sur le sable
And the sea erases on the sand

les pas des amants désunis. 
The separated lovers' footprints.

ps: Please excuse the poor French pronunciation. 


Les Feuilles Mortes

A Bromance Waltz adaptation of the Tamil film classic. 

Flutes, vocals - @indian_music_fan
Strings, vocals, arrangement - @krishashok

Lyrics
Pon ondru kanden peN angu illai 
ennendru naan sollalaaguma 
(I only saw Gold, I didn’t see a girl
How do I explain what I saw?)
ennendru naan sollavenduma 
(Is it necessary that I explain?)
poo ondru kanden mugam kanavillai 
(I saw a flower, but I didn’t see any face)
yen endru naan sollalaguma 
(How do I say why is that?)
yen endru nana solla venduma 
(Is it necessary for me to say why?)

nadamaadum megam navanaagareegam 
alangara kinnam alai pola minnum 
(She is a walking cloud, very modern
She glows like a new flower vase, she glitters like waves)

nada maadum selvam panivana deivam 
pazhangala chinnam uyiraaga minunm 
(She is a walking treasure, a humble God
She is a sign of traditions, she is soulful)

thulli varum velli nila (2)
(She is like the bright moon)

thuvandhu vizhum kodi idayaaL (2)
(She is very delicate)

vinnodu vilayadum penn andha penn alavo 
(She is the girl who plays with the sky)
sendrEn (I went) hmhmhm 
kandEn (I saw) humhum 
vandhEn (I came)

naan partha pennai nee pArka villai 
nee partha pennai naan pArka villai 
(You haven’t seen the girl that I saw for you
I haven’t seen the girl that you saw for me)

un parvai polay en paarvai illai 
nana kanda katchi nee kaana villai 
(My viewing wasn’t anything like yours
You have no idea what I saw)

en vizhiyil nee irundhaai 
(You were there in my eyes)
un vadivil naan irundhane 
(I was there in your form)

nee indri naan illai 
naan indri nee illaiye
(I don’t exist without you 
You don’t exist without me)

Pon Ondru Kanden

Now available on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5s4K799M4AgKPr2NkfCK3x
and Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/in/album/nilavinte-neelabhasma-feat-cv-bharadwaj-single/1628903101

An adaptation of the Malayalam song from Agnidevan (1995) originally sung by MG Sreekumar. 

Vocals: @bharadwaj-cv
Piano, violin, cello & bass: Krish Ashok

You can hear the original here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d14ROIPH2Mw

Nilavinte Neelabhasma

A kutthu remix of the Game of Thrones theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53c8reh_uh0)


Game of Thrones Theme- Kutthu remix

A Sanskrit adaptation of Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper" with lyrics by Vaishnavi S (http://twitter.com/utprekshaa) & SP Suresh (https://twitter.com/vajrabhrt)

The guitar parts were recorded in 6 separate layers and panned left and right. In the interlude, there is a key change from A to G and the raga playing there is Hemavathi. 

And oh, the wife did some of the backing vocals

Lyrics

All our times have come आगता अस्माकं कालाः 
Here but now they're gone आगम्य गता अधुना
Seasons don't fear the reaper ऋतवो मरणान्न त्रस्यन्ति  
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain नापि वायुस्सूर्यो वर्षाणि च

Come on baby... Don't fear the Reaper आगच्छ प्रिये ... मृत्युम् मा भैषीः 
Baby take my hand... Don't fear the Reaper करमादत्स्व... मृत्युम् मा भैषीः
We'll be able to fly... Don't fear the Reaper उद्गच्छाव ... मृत्युम् मा भैषीः
Baby I'm your man अहं तवास्मि 

Valentine is done  मन्मथोत्सवस्तु नः 
Here but now they're gone परंतु तौ दूरं गतौ
Romeo and Juliet प्रेमलोकं प्राप्य
Are together in eternity... अनन्तसहवासः

Repeat chorus

Artwork credits: http://heylookadistraction.deviantart.com/art/Yama-jii-84521336

Mrityum Ma

Just happened to record my cousin Usha do an impromptu rendition of Krishna Nee Begane Baaro in the style of T Balasaraswathi - slow tempo and expressive. So I have kept the arrangement quite minimal. The raga is Yaman Kalyani

Krishna Nee Begane

A Sanskrit adaptation of Black Sabbath's Iron Man

Lyrics: SP Suresh (https://twitter.com/vajrabhrt) & Vaishnavi S (https://twitter.com/utprekshaa)
Vocals, Guitars, Violin, Bass, Drum programming, Mixing & Mastering: @krishashok

किं सः उन्मत्तः? Is he mad?
द्रष्टुं समर्थो न वा? Can he see or not?
(पद्भ्यां) चलितुं शक्तः ? Can he walk?
उत चलन् पतति ? If he walks will he fall?
जीवति उत मृतः ?  Is he alive or dead?
चिन्तयितुं समर्थः?  Is he capable of thought?
तं न गणयामो वयम् We will ignore him
तेन किमस्माकम्? What does he do for us? 

चित्रायसम् अभवत्  He became steel
महायस्कान्तक्षेत्रे In the great magnetic field
कालम् अतीत्य गच्छति सति He traveled time
मनुकुलस्य भविष्यार्थम् For the future of mankind

कस्यापि न इष्टः  Nobody wants him
भुवनं प्रेक्षते  He just stares at the world
प्रतीकारं चिन्तयन् Planning his vengeance
प्रतीकारं चिन्तयन् Planning his vengeance

अयं मुहूर्तः This is the time
भीतिं प्रसारयितुम् For him to spread fear
परलोकात् परवैरम् Vengeance from the other world
ये तेन मुक्तास्तान् हन्ति Kills the people once saved by him

कस्यापि न इष्टः Nobody wants him
प्रतिमुखीकुर्वन्ति तम् They just turn away from him
कोपि न उपकरोति Nobody helps him
अथ तस्य प्रतिक्रिया Now his revenge

बहुमलपादरक्षाः Boots of lead
भयेन पूरयति तेषां हृदयम् Fill their hearts full of dread
धावन्ति यथावेगम् They run as fast as they can
अयोनरः पुनर्जीवति Iron man lives again

Lohapurusha

An ambient adaptation of Fayyaz Hashmi's famous ghazal "Aaj jaane ki zidd na karo" 

Vocals: Nitasha Sharma (@nitashasharma111)
Guitar, violin, piano, bass, drum & synth programming: @krishashok

Lyrics (language: Urdu)

Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Yunhi pehlu mein bethey raho 
Yunhi pehlu mein bethey raho 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 

Haaye mar jaayein ge 
Hum to lutt jaayein ge 
Aisi baatein kiya na karo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 

Tumhi socho zara 
kyun na rokein tumhey 
jaan jaati hai jab uth ke jaatey ho tum 
jaan jaati hai jab uth ke jaatey ho tum 
tum ko apni qasam jaan-e-jaan 
baat itni meri maan lo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 

Waqt ki qaed mein zindagi hai magar 
Waqt ki qaed mein zindagi hai magar 
chand gharriya'n yahi hain jo aazaad hain 
chand gharriya'n yahi hain jo aazaad hain 
inko khho kar kaheen jaan-e-jaan 
umr bhar na tarastey raho 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 
Aaj jaane ki zid na karo 

Artwork: Moonlight lady by Raja Ravi Varma

Aaj Jaane Ki Zidd Na Karo

A Symphonic Metal Arrangement of RD Burman's "Pyaar Hamein Kis Mod" from Satte pe Satta 
Lead Vocalists: @rvijaynarain, @ashwinvinayan 
Piano, Strings, Guitar, Arrangement/Mixing/Mastering: @krishashok
Chorus: THE INTERNETS feat.
Aakash Mathai, Ashwin Sathish Deshpande (https://twitter.com/trollpwnde), Aakriti Joanna (@aakritijoanna), Shruti Malur (https://twitter.com/nonstopbakbak), Rohwit (https://twitter.com/rohwit), Srinath Sripath (https://twitter.com/_peews), Jayaraj Shankar (https://twitter.com/jjustjazzy), Badaboomtheory(@badaboomie), Vipin Nair (https://twitter.com/musicaloud), Unnamed Entity (https://twitter.com/unnamedentity), Prashanth (https://twitter.com/iprash) + The Connecticut chorus, Girin Nayak (https://twitter.com/nayakgirin), Mythili Menon (https://twitter.com/mythmenon), V Smitha(& Sumo), Vinod Raman (https://twitter.com/diogeneb)

Pyaar Hamein Kis Mod

An acoustic arrangement of "Raah mein bicchi", a thumri that originally featured in the soundtrack of the Shyam Benegal movie, Sardari Begum

Vocals: @suryaragunaathan
Acoustic Guitar: @mediumcoffee 
Classical Guitar: @krishashok
Flute: @indian_music_fan (Vijay Kannan)
Piano, Bass, Violin, Arrangement, Mixing & Mastering: @krishashok




Raah Mein

An alternative arrangement for James Vasanthan's hit "Kangal Irandaal" from Subramanyapuram. 

Vocals: @ashwin-vinayan
Percussion & backing vocals: @mediumcoffee
Guitar, Keyboard, Bass, Arrangement, Mixing, Mastering: @krishashok

Kangal Irandaal

An orchestral instrumental arrangement of AR Rahman's "Pudhu Vellai Mazhai (Yeh Haseen Vadiyan)" from Roja. 

Piano - Sarthak Dev (@sarthakdev)
Violin, Cello, Orchestral arrangement - @krishashok

Pudhu Vellai Mazhai (Yeh Haseen Vadiyan)

An ambient adaptation of Mirza Ghalib's (1797-1869)"Har Ek Baat Pe" from the soundtrack of "Mirza Ghalib", sung originally by Jagjit Singh.

Vocals, arrangement, mixing, mastering: @krishashok
Flute: @indian_music_fan
Piano: @mediumcoffee 

हर एक बात पे कहते हो तुम की तू क्या है
तुम्हीं कहो के ये अंदाज़ ऐ गुफ्तगू क्या है?
At everything I say, you interject with "what are you?"
You tell me what is this kind of cosy conversation?

रगों में दौड़ते फिरने के हम नहीं कायल
जब आँख से ही न टपका तोः फिर लहू क्या है?
That blood that merely flows in the veins is not worthy of anything
It's only when eyes cry tears of blood that it's worthy of praise

जला है जिस्म जहाँ दिल भी जल गया होगा
कुरेदते हो जो अब राख जुस्तजू क्या है?
The fire of love consumes both the heart and the body
what are you doing poking around in the embers trying to rekindle an old flame 

ये रश्क है की वो होता है हमसुखन हमसे
वगरना खौफ ऐ बदामोजी ऐ अदू क्या है?
My envy is that he converses with you,
not the fear that he might mislead you against me


न शोले में ये करिश्मा न बर्क में ये अदा 
कोई बताओ की वो शोख ऐ तुन्दखू क्या है?
Neither the flame has this miracle, nor the lightning this grace,
Will anyone tell me, what is this ill-tempered mischievous/coquettish one.

ps: Urdu purists, please excuse my South Indian accent and likely mispronunciations.

Har Ek Baat Pe

A tribute to Chester Bennington of Linkin Park

Piano: Sarthak Dev (@sarthakdev)
Electric Piano: Suresh Raju (@mediumcoffee)
Violin & Cello: @krishashok

Numb

A Violin, Piano & Cello tribute to Chester Bennington (1976-2017)
Piano: @sarthakdev
Violin, Cello: @krishashok

Somewhere I Belong

An ambient instrumental adaptation of Ilayaraja's "Nee Paartha" from Hey Ram. 
Violin, Cello: @krishashok
Piano: @sarthakdev
Pads, Bass: @mediumcoffee
Arrangement: @mediumcoffee & @krishashok

Nee Paartha

An instrumental psychedelic rock adaptation of Tyagaraja's "Nada Tanumanisham" (Raga: Citta Ranjani)
Lead guitar, rhythm guitar, electric violin: @krishashok
Keys, bass, arrangement: @mediumcoffee
Artwork: Original by mmmmmr on Deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/art/Shiva-with-veena-501583189

Nada Tanumanisham

GET THE CALLBACK TONE here - http://i.imgur.com/B5Wpz.png

Mozzarellasura Linguini Stotram

Based on an idea generated by a cricket match victory, beer and lunch (in that precise sequence) by @onejubb, Visesh and me

Words entirely from the menu of the excellent Tuscana restaurant (http://www.tuscana.in/pdf/tuscananewmenu.pdf - Note:PDF download)

Lyrics

Ai Funghi Linguini Foccacia Capellini Pizza Fettucine Lasagna Penne
Spinaci Bolognese Pesto Minestrone Cannelloni Porfirio Asparagi

Ravioli Spaghetti Alfredo Pescatore Fresco Pomodoro Tagliatelle
Tiramisu Arabiatta Farfalle Stagioni Calzone Gamberi Pepperoncini

Ai Frutti di Mare Quattro Formaggio Risotto con Pollo Paesana Roma
Napolitana Fagioli alla Checca Gorgonzola Gnocchi Carbonara


Mozzarellasura Linguini Stotram

A Cello, Violin & Bass adaptation of Ilayaraja's theme from Punnagai Mannan(video: https://vimeo.com/393260177)

Punnagai Mannan Theme

A Cello and Violin adaptation of Eppo Varuvaaro by Gopalakrishna Bharati in Raga Jaunpuri inspired by the bassline of Eurhythmics' Sweet Dreams (are made of these) 
Video here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pN0wcuYSs4

Sweet Jaunpuri Dreams

A sombre and foreboding orchestral arrangement of Purandaradasa's Jagadhodhaarana. 
Orchestral arrangement done with the excellent (and affordable)Nucleus Lite library

Jagadhodhaarana

A minimalist Flute and Piano adaptation of Ilayaraja's Kannan Vandhu from the soundtrack of Rettai Vaal Kuruvi
Flute: @indian_music_fan
Arrangement: @mediumcoffee & @krishashok

Kannan Vandhu

A quick violin and guitar version of Subramania Bharati's "Chinanchiru Kiliye"

Chinanchiru Kiliye

An orchestral adaptation of Naadaloludai by Thyagaraja in Raga Kalyana Vasantham

Naadaloludai

Thillana in Raga Mohanakalyani 
(Excuse the software mridangist 😁)

Mohanakalyani Thillana

I asked my 80 year old grandaunt (Saraswathi Sankaranarayanan) who is stuck in my place due to the Covid-19 lockdown to record a simple song that my 8 year old son could learn to sing. She picked this 500 year old Tiruppugazh 1328 (Erumayil Eri), and I played the violin accompaniment and added an ambient guitar background
Lyrics/Translation: http://kaumaram.com/thiru/nnt1328_u.html#english

Erumayil Eri

A violin and guitar adaptation of the song from Maryan

Yenga Pora Raasa

I take the ridiculous and the sublime, add cellos, violins, guitars and random internet collaborators to make music of sorts

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