MUMBAI: What is it about ‘good’ music that strikes such a deep chord with us – no matter where it comes from? Is it the genre, the beat, the instruments, the notes, the voice or something else? Exploring answers to these questions has been a rewarding 20 year journey for Karthick Iyer, culminating in the creation of his own unique style of music called ‘IndoSoul’.
An electric violin, an mridangam, an acoustic guitar, bass and drums along with vocals form the core of the band, Karthick Iyer Live. Often seen collaborating with diverse musicians the band breaks down superficial barriers between genres, instruments, cultures and languages to bring out the deep commonalities that define ‘IndoSoul’.
Karthick Iyer has over 20 years of classical carnatic experience, starting from the age of eight, captivating audiences with his soulful voice and emotion-led violin pieces across ‘sabhas’ and other venues.
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Seeking to broaden his horizons, he started playing in the Indian film industry, with A.R. Rahman, Imman, Devi Sri Prasad and other notable music directors. He composed a song for a Bollywood movie along the way, as well as jingles for multiple TV ads.
Karthick then spent a few years performing across the world, in stages like Glastonbury (UK), Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts (US), WOMAD (Spain), One Movement (Perth), BBC’s ‘Later with Jools Holland’ and MTV Coke Studio – collaborating with internationally renowned artists The Raghu Dixit Project, Susheela Raman and Indo-acoustic band – Emergence
The journey has brought him to ‘IndoSoul’, and led him to form his own band, Karthick Iyer Live. The band consists of musicians from diverse musical backgrounds – Vikram Vivekanand on the guitar, Naveen Napier on the bass, Ramkumar Kanakarajan on drums, Sumesh Narayanan on the mridangam and percussion, and Karthick Iyer on violin and vocals.
Karthick Iyer Live seeks to introduce ‘IndoSoul’ to people around the world, and inspire them to appreciate music that they might not have sought out on their own.
“The Indian civilization has stood the test of time, welcoming and absorbing numerous cultures along the way – reinventing itself with every addition, but never losing its depth. In a similar vein, ‘IndoSoul’ goes beyond the confines of genre, seeks out and welcomes other musical influences – while retaining its core identity of Indianness,” said Iyer.
Iyer brings ‘IndoSoul’ to diverse audiences across different languages and cultures. The band, Karthick Iyer Live offers tailored performances at different contexts – it could be a music festival in the hills, an historic music hall, a corporate event or a fun wedding. Karthick Iyer also composes and records music for films, TV and other productions. He is passionate about his ‘IndoSoul’ philosophy, and educates people through seminars and outreach efforts.
