Performers:
Mahesh Raghvan, Kartik Raman, Sunil Sunkara, Arjun Ravi Shankar, Anirudh Sharma and Sucheta Sanyal are IndianRaga Fellows from the first-ever India edition of the Fellowship. They presented some of their most popular hits on the TEDx Chennai stage:
1. Tabla Trap Padhant: • Tabla Trap Padhant: Ne...
2. Raravenu: • Rara Venu Gopabala: Ca...
3. Jao Jao: • Jao Jao: New-age Hindu...
The performance took place right after the TEDx talk by Sriram Emani on 'When Classical Goes Viral'. Sriram spoke about the IndianRaga movement where the most talented musicians and dancers are handpicked to collaborate and produce videos that go viral across 65 countries to over 100 million audiences! In just a few years, more than 5000 artists have reimagined the classical arts in a modern-day context, showing how the grammar and essence of tradition can be retained while attracting new and young audiences.
"...Each year, the IndianRaga Fellowship brings together young musicians in North America devoted to carrying on the tradition of Indian classical music. Over the course of a year, these high schooland college-age kids get to collaborate...All of the IndianRaga recordings are released as music videos. The group has made a point of combining Indian music with Western classical music and jazz. Indian music's influence on jazz is pervasive and longstanding. John Coltrane and John McLaughlin are just two of the jazz greats who have been influenced by Indian music." - NPR
"Classical Music Can Go Viral: In February, five prodigiously talented youngsters did a Carnatic-style cover of Sia’s popular song, Cheap Thrills. The KZread video went viral, even attracting the attention of my five- and-eight-year-old nieces, who played it several times on repeat. When I watched it with them, I discovered that something called the IndianRaga Fellowship was behind the video and the end credits mentioned that anyone could apply for the programme." - LiveMint
"Boston-based start-up IndianRaga is giving traditional art forms a modern makeover: When IndianRaga’s videos burst onto social media, the classical community lapped them up for their form and feel. For audiences outside that framework, the concept represented the possibility of foraying into classical forms in a manner that made them exciting and accessible." - Elle Magazine
The genres that IndianRaga works with are rooted in Indian classical performing arts and include Carnatic music (South Indian classical music), Hindustani music (North Indian classical music), semi-classical music, contemporary and fusion music, Indian classical dances including Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Mohiniattam, Kathak, and also ballet, tap, contemporary dance. Their productions also include a wide range of instruments including mridangam, tabla, sitar, violin, flute/bansuri, veena, ghatam, and new-age categories like music arrangement and production with EDM, Trap, Pop amongst others. Their most popular innovations include classical cover songs, a cappella, mashups and remixes of the latest viral pop hits in both western and Indian music. Anyone can apply to join their collaborations, and you can visit www.indianraga.com for more details and application process.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx