logo
NoteWorthy! Harish Sivaramakrishnan gets candid on Agam's new album

NoteWorthy! Harish Sivaramakrishnan gets candid on Agam's new album

Blending genres and delivering tracks that understand the audience's pulse is a rare phenomenon in the world of music. With roots deep in Carnatic music and branches extending towards modernity, Agam, a city-based Carnatic progressive rock band has achieved it for the past 18 years. As their songs continue to hold a special place in many music lovers' hearts, the band led by the lead vocalist Harish Sivaramakrishnan is one step closer to the release of their album 'Arrival of the Ethereal' with the first track The Silence That Remains, to be released today. Four out of eight tracks of the album are set to be released this year with the rest set for next year.
With songs like Veyyon Silli, Paarvanavidhuve, and Job Kurian's Padayatra, Sivaramakrishnan has already marked his signature among music lovers. For a band that predominantly plays Carnatic classical music, the latest album is mostly about bringing wider global styles of music together, while retaining their genre of progressive metal music and Carnatic music. During the past five years since the Covid-19 pandemic, the band members have made an effort to explore different genres of music – from orchestra to western classical. 'We got access to a lot more music. There was much time at home and most of us ventured out into listening to music styles that we would otherwise not have paid attention to,' he shares, adding that this exposure has influenced their sound, making it more diverse.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Father-daughter duo presents evocative episodes from Ramayana
Father-daughter duo presents evocative episodes from Ramayana

The Hindu

time5 hours ago

  • The Hindu

Father-daughter duo presents evocative episodes from Ramayana

The Sangeeta Natya Upanyasam, Sita Kalyanam, organised by Brhaddhvani and held at the Bala Kala Vidhanam auditorium in Tiruchi on Sunday, was an evocative blend of Harikatha, classical dance, and Carnatic music. S. Ramaratnam and his daughter Gayatri Ramaratnam transported the audience into the heart of the Ramayana through a seamless integration of narrative, melody, and expressive dance movements. Mr. Ramaratnam's story-telling skill, soulful music provided by Vasudha and the visually enlivening dance delineating the key episodes in Rama's life, led by Ms. Gayatri and her students from the Silambam Dance School from Bengaluru, were a delight to watch. The evening programme's highlights included the tender portrayal of Viswamitra's affection for Rama, Ahlalya's purgation from punishment when He steps on her stone statue and the climactic Sita Swayamvara, culminating in the joyous wedding of Rama with Sita. The musical score had compositions from Tyagaraja, Arunachala Kavi, Tulsidas and Bharatiyar, adding the required lyrical richness to the performance. The music rendered by Jyotsna, was ably supported by Sanat on the violin, and Sri Sai Vamshi on the mridangam. The performance provided an aesthetically satisfying experience that resonated with connoisseurs and lay audiences alike.

Bengaluru Weather + Carnatic Vocals + Chirping Birds: This park scene was pure bliss
Bengaluru Weather + Carnatic Vocals + Chirping Birds: This park scene was pure bliss

Time of India

time9 hours ago

  • Time of India

Bengaluru Weather + Carnatic Vocals + Chirping Birds: This park scene was pure bliss

Bengaluru isn't just India's tech capital—it's also where tradition and nature collide in the most unexpectedly beautiful ways. And one recent Reddit post proves just that. Amid the city's famous cool breeze and cloudy skies which makes for a perfect weaather, a user stumbled upon a serene Carnatic music performance in the heart of Cubbon Park—and it was everything Bengaluru locals have ever romanticised. Sharing their experience, the user described walking through the park, soaking in the lush greenery and unexpectedly finding themselves in the middle of a live Carnatic concert. With vocals echoing through the open space and birds chirping along in perfect laya, the moment, they said, felt like a scene straight out of a dream. No chaos, no crowds—just music, nature and bliss. Oh man - I love this city! Was walking in cubbon park yesterday in that amazing weather and saw this carnatic music event going on in the middle of the park! The perfect greenary, carnatic vocals and the birds chirping to the laya. by u/IllustratorFresh4423 in Bengaluru by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Netizens join in the conversation The post quickly caught fire among Redditors, especially those who have lived or grown up in Bengaluru. One user instantly recognised the artist as Bhargavi Venkataram, calling her performance 'amazing' and even name-dropping her father, renowned violinist HK Venkataram, who retired as senior director at Intel. Many others chimed in with emotional responses. One called it the 'real culture' of the city and urged everyone to preserve such soulful events. Another noted how similar park concerts are a staple in Chennai during the Margazhi season, but praised Bengaluru's unique weather as adding another dimension to the experience. Some even expressed heartfelt longing, saying they'd imagined such a moment for years but hadn't had the chance to visit Cubbon Park in person.

Reimagining Carnatic presentation
Reimagining Carnatic presentation

New Indian Express

time17 hours ago

  • New Indian Express

Reimagining Carnatic presentation

Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival (CTF) has become the most sought after event even for the established Carnatic musicians outside of India. The festival has been tirelessly engaging the Indian community across the American continent for an annual coming together that celebrates Carnatic as a tradition. This year, visiting the Cleveland festival for the eighth consecutive year is a Chennai-based music institution, Sishyakulam that has reimagined Carnatic tradition's presentation format. Its managing director, the young and vibrant Shankar Santhanagopalan, tells me more about the new format. But first, here are a few broad strokes that will paint the cultural scene of the Indian diaspora in North America. As much as the community is tuned to pop culture and contemporary forms, they prioritise classical artforms over others for their richness and depth. The feasibility and availability for this goes to the pioneering efforts of a few good Samaritans, who sowed the cultural seeds as early as the 1970s. Today many centres of performing arts have mushroomed in various parts. The Indian diaspora's socio-cultural engagements here not only exemplifies how they are dedicated in strengthening their cultural roots, but also demonstrates how traditions are inclusive. Through that lens, they add to India's unity and diversity in a far more pronounced manner. What was missing in this scenario was a place where parents and students could meet, interact with peers from other regions more often without always having to wait for their India trip. This need was met when Sishyakulam proposed the EPIC Choir. 'When we studied the Indian classical music landscape in the United States, we observed that the Carnatic music community was widespread but fragmented. EPIC Choir was conceived to be a platform to bring students from across the country together to be part of something larger than their regional exposure to the artform,' Shankar shared. 'The choral ensemble format enabled us to introduce young learners to contemporary compositions rooted in Carnatic idioms. Since its debut at the CTF in 2015, it has delivered nearly 50 original compositions — each crafted to balance artistic depth with accessibility,' he further explained.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store