kaveri

dekhna aisa nahi rahega desh

Svaraaga

Sree Kanthimatheem

favourite lounge

Rock The Raga

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

@krishashok's reimagination of the Malayalam classic from the movie Kireedom, with vocals by yours truly. Loosely based on Job Kurian's cover for Asianet Rosebowl.

Cello, piano, violin, acoustic guitar, arrangement: Krish Ashok
Key: C minor
Beat: 3/4 120 bpm

Original song credits:
Composer - Johnson
Lyricist - Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri
Singer - M G Sreekumar

Original song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rznLiOZUVLo&feature=kp
Job Kurian's version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGUTb6QaGTU

Kanneer Poovinte

Bach's Badinerie from Orchestral Suite No. 2 and improvisation in Carnatic style.

Bach - Badinerie (cover)

Vidya Sankaranarayanan (https://www.facebook.com/vidya.sankaranarayanan) is an extraordinarily talented Bharatanatyam dancer who trained under the legendary Thanjavur Kittappa Pillai (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._P._Kittappa_Pillai). She is, in the rich tradition of T Balasaraswathy, a gifted vocalist as well. 

She also happens to be my cousin so this is a family production of S Chidambaram's classic "Kanda naal mudhalaai" in Raga Madhuvanti. 

It's a trip hop version featuring violin, cello, keyboard and programming by me. The chords used are primarily variations of Gm, D and A 

Lyrics Translation

My love overflows my dear since seeing you, holding a spear (vEl) in your hand (kai), oh compassionate son of Shiva.

The people will come and sing (paaDum) songs (paNNisai) for you, Kandan (a name for Murugan) my child (baalan), to bring you happiness (sugam).

My heart has not forgotten (marakavillai) your blue (neela) peacock (mayil). I have not forgotten this love (nEsam) mixed with affection (paasam). Oh this sharp-eyed festive (kOla) prince (kumar) has been in the temple (kOvil) of my mind (mana). Showing a small smile (kurunagai), he placed (sooti) a fragrant flower (narumalar) of love within us. 

(source: http://www.karnatik.com/c1437.shtml)


Kanda Naal Mudhalaai

A Tamil adaptation of Bo Diddley's classic "Before you accuse me" (made famous by Eric Clapton)

Vocals: @ranjani-shanker
Lyrics: Subhashini Vinay (twitter.com/neelavanam) 
Piano: @hariflute
Guitars, Violin, Bass, Arrangement: @krishashok

கேளாயோ நீ, சொற்கள் அம்புகள்,
கேளாயோ நீ, சொற்கள் அம்புகள்.
நம் காதலே பெரும் கனா,
விடையிலா ஒரு வினா!

Have you heard, (your) words like arrows pierce.
Have you heard, (your) words like arrows pierce.
Our love,  like a perfect dream, 
(ended like) A question without an answer.

நம் வானிலே, நிலவேன் இல்லையோ,
நம் வானிலே, நிலவேன் இல்லையோ,
வாழ்கைப் பூந்தோட்டத்தில், மலர்களே பூக்கவில்லையோ.

Why is it we have not had a moon to brighten our eventide?
Why is it our life did not bloom in a garden of flowers? 

வாராதே திரும்பி, நினைவுகளில் சுகமிலை,
வாராதே திரும்பி, நினைவுகளில் சுகமிலை,
துள்ளியாடும் மீன்களென வேண்டும் ஒரு வாழ்கை.

Don't come back, memories cannot be cherished.
Don't come back, memories cannot be cherished.
(I feel like a fish out of water and this is not what I want.) 
I want to swim in this vast expanse of life, happily. 

Abheri Blues

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

G Saraswathi, my 74-old grand aunt, taught me more about the finer nuances of Carnatic music than my violin teachers & a collaboration with her has been long pending. This is a Trip Hop adaptation of Muthuswami Dikshathar's Sree Kanthimatheem set in Raga Hemavathi. The vocals were recorded in a single take. 

Pallavi:
Sri Kanthimathim Shankara Yuvathim
Shree Guruguha Jananeem Vandeham
 
Anupallavi:
Hreemkaara Beejaakaara Vadanaam Hiranya Manimaya Shobaa Sadanaam
Paaka Shaasanaadi Deva Vinutham Parashuraama Natha Hima Shaila Suthaam
Shuka Shounakaadi Sadaaraadhithaam Shuddha Thaamraparnee Thatasthithaam
Shankadyashtotthara Sahasra Kalashaabhisheekha Modaam Surahithaam
 
Meaning: (From T.K Govinda Rao’s book)
I prostrate before goddess Kantimati, the young (“Yuvathim”) bride of Sankara. I prostrate (“Vandeham”) before the mother (“Jananeem”) of Guruguha. Her face (“vadana”) is of the form (“akaara”) of mystic Bijakshara – Hreem. She is established in the lustrous (“shoba”) golden (“Hiranya”) mansion (“sadanam”) studded (“maya”) with gems (“mani”).She is extolled (“vinutham”) by Indra (“paaka shasanaa”) and other celestials (“deva”). She, the daughter (“suthaam”) of Himavan, is worshipped (“natha”) by Parashurama. She is always venerated (“araadhitham”) by Suka, Saunaka and others (“aadi”). She dwells (“sthithaam”) on the banks (“Thata”) of the crystal-clear (“shuddha”)  river Tamra Parni. She is anointed with holy waters from 108 (“Shankadyashtotthara”)  pitchers (“Kalasha”) and conches. She is benevolent (“modam”) to the celestials.  

The Alapana section for Sree Kanthimatheem (https://soundcloud.com/krishashok/sree-kanthimatheem). I've kept it as a separate track for those who prefer to get straight to the song

Hemavathi Alapana

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

Bantureethi Kolu Carnatic fusion in the ragam Hamsanaadam

Bantureethi- Carnatic Fusion- Chandramouli

Kaaveri

Original Composition by Paul Jacob for the Chennai Sangamam Festival Jan 2009
Lyrics from Silappathikaaram.

Kaaveri (Composed by Paul Jacob)

Bloom

Free download in hi-definition format of your choice! 

http://dualismrecords.bandcamp.com/

Acclaimed folk rock band come together with electronic artist to launch a remix of "Naane Daari", a song that celebrates the power of youth. 

About - Swarathma 

Swarathma is an award winning folk-rock band from Bangalore that comprises Vasu Dixit (vocals and rhythm guitar), Pavan Kumar KJ (vocals and percussion), Varun (lead guitar and vocals), Sanjeev Nayak (violin and vocals) and Jishnu Dasgupta (bass guitar and vocals). 

www.swarathma.com 

About - Dualist Inquiry 

Dualist Inquiry is the brainchild and solo project of Sahej Bakshi, a music producer, guitarist and cerebral agent who graduated from the Thornton Music School at USC in Los Angeles, CA, in 2009. Since returning to India in 2010, Sahej has grown to be considered one of the leading producers and live performers of electronic music in India, releasing original music and touring extensively. 

www.dualistinquiry.com

Free Download

Swarathma - Naane Daari (Dualist Inquiry remix) Free Download

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