'Oroborus' was the first track released by Nikhil off his fourth release as AURA BOREALIS, titled 'Perihelion'. It was released on 14th September, 2021 - on Moscow based electronic music label Spaceradio Records. 

Buy the EP here:
https://spaceradiorec.bandcamp.com/album/perihelion

Cover artwork - Nicoline Rodrigues(R3alm)
Mastering - Pavel Burylichev (Uchu)@ Catbus Studio

AURA BOREALIS - OROBORUS (24BIT / 44.1 KHZ)

'Catharsis’ - the process of releasing & thereby providing relief from strong or repressed emotions.

The original groove was created for an impromptu live jam nearly a year ago, as the backing track for a live veena performance.

Keeping in mind the essence & direction behind the Altarium project, this 19-minute journey was developed & built over a period of 10-11 months at Nikhil’s studio in North Bangalore.

Features programmed layers of Alum Doumbek & Riqq - complimented with a variety of enchanting bell sounds, synthesizers, textural atmos, a punchy bassline, and a haunting, almost ‘cathartic’ electric gutar intro - all arranged carefully over the graceful sound of a Tambura (on E).

The production is an atmospheric / post - electronic tribute to the sense of nostalgia & euphoria that comes with listening to the sounds of our roots.

A huge thanks to Ognen Zafirovski for his work on the final engineering.

CREDITS:

Written & produced by ALTARIUM @ Kosmik Moon Studio, 2023

Bass Guitar (Yamaha RBX-370) played & recorded by Nikhil Sundar

Electric Guitar (ESP MH-250) played & recorded by Nikhil Sundar

Sound Design, Programming and Arrangements by Nikhil Sundar

Mixing / Mastering of group-processed stems by Ognen Zafirovski (Yudhisthira) @ Baba's Mastering Room, Macedonia

Cover artwork design by Nikhil Sundar

℗ Kosmik Moon Records
© Kosmik Moon Records

Catharsis

ALTARIUM - CATHARSIS (24BIT / 44.1KHZ)

Presenting the original '22 cut of 'EMBER DAWN', stem-mixed & mastered by James Dagless (Planet Bob's Music Emporium, UK)

"This recording is, for many reasons, one of a kind. Why? We believe one of the most important reasons is the driving vision behind the album itself. Our vision to create music that is, essentially 'fusion', by blending instrumentation with sound synthesis - is not a new concept whatsoever. However, the goal was to push the boundaries of electronica, IDM & post-industrial music as we know it & compliment these ideas with some of the darker and more elusive meditations of traditional Eastern folk music. Our roots-oriented approach is not just evident because we have featured on this album a Carnatic string instrument, or even for that matter a Shamisen or a Japanese Koto. Rather it becomes strikingly evident when you observe the approach taken in terms of the writing itself. "
- Nikhil Sundar

CREDITS:
Written & produced by Altarium @ Kosmik Moon Studio in Dec 2022

Nikhil Sundar - Electric Guitar, Shakers, Rhythm Programming, Sound Design, Recording, Arrangements & Mixing

Prasanna Kumar - Veena & Arrangements

Stem-mixed & mastered by James Dagless (Planet Bob's Music Emporium, UK)

Cover artwork designed by Nikhil Sundar

This release contains the original master file split into two parts - rendered at 16bit / 48kHz

℗ Kosmik Moon Records
© Kosmik Moon Records

Ember Dawn

ALTARIUM - EMBER DAWN (24BIT / 48KHZ)

New music from Altarium, served fresh. A complex blend of atmospherics, varied rhythmic sections, exotic percussive and resonant sounds, & twilight-influenced textural layers.

Features Nikhil Sundar on heavy guitars, and Edwin Das on guitar atmospherics and guitar fx.

This is a deep, contemplative production - originally designed as a call of some sort from Nikhil to end war, hypocrisy, greed & subliminal control amongst the masses - eventually to be promoted as as piece of intelligent psychedelic prog music.

Release date: February 13, 2024

Designed, written & programmed by Nikhil Sundar
Electric Guitar Fx & Atmos - Edwin Das
Electric Guitar (Palm-Muted Rhythms) - Nikhil Sundar
Mixing & Production - Nikhil Sundar
Mastered by Colin Bennun @ Stooodio Mastering, Bristol (UK)

Cover artwork designed by Nikhil Sundar

℗ Kosmik Moon Records
© Kosmik Moon Records

Invocation

ALTARIUM - INVOCATION (16BIT / 44.1 KHZ)

'Immersion' is the first DJ mix from SOUND OASIS PROJECT - comprising a handpicked selection of atmospheric & texture-rich works of music, seamlessly wound together using advanced modulation units & reverb / delay plugins. All automations have been recorded / processed in real-time.

SOUND OASIS PROJECT - IMMERSION (DJ MIX) (32-BIT .WAV 44.1KHZ)

© Stereogramme Audio / Nikhil Sundar, 2024

Production, Sound Design, Multi-Instrumentals, Atmospherics, SFX, Rhythm Programming, Processing & Mixing for ALTARIUM / MICROBURST ALERT / SOUND OASIS PROJECT / AURA BOREALIS

Owner & Manager of label KOSMIK MOON RECORDS

EXCERPT:
Born in the heart of Bangalore toward the tail end of the Indian monsoon in September 1993, Nikhil's passion for music was unmistakable & strikingly evident since his early childhood. Although his first experience holding & playing an instrument of his own was not before the age of 13, his exposure to music was encouraged and initiated from the age of 6-7. His father was a music enthusiast, more of a record collector than an audiophile - nevertheless, Nikhil would soon come to find that the extensive CD & cassette collection available at home (all of which were purchased at local record stores in India & UK between the years 1995 - 2005) would eventually act as the single most motivating factor for him growing up, pushing him to embark on a musical journey of his own - as a record collector, record producer, multi-instrumentalist & sound designer. To this day, his mantra surrounding the musical artform is comparatively straightforward.

“ TO BE ABLE TO CREATE QUALITY MUSIC, WE NEED TO DEVELOP AN ABILITY TO FORM UNEMOTIONAL, UNBIASED & TECHNICAL OPINIONS ON RELEASES.. TO ACHIEVE THIS, WE NEED TO EXPLORE & LISTEN TO MORE MUSIC ’’

Nikhil Sundar

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