Karthick Iyer

Biography

Karthick Iyer started training in classical music from the age of eight and draws on his experience of over 20 years to embellish his musical ventures.

He started diversifying his classical music training by playing with an instrumental fusion band, Oxygen, while a student in college. He then went on to work with Indo-acoustic Auroville-based band Emergence which was formed in 2006. He has also performed around the world in stages like Glastonbury (UK), Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts (USA), WOMAD (Spain), One Movement (Perth), BBC’s Later with Jools Holland and MTV Coke Studio. He has also collaborated with internationally renowned artists, Susheela Raman, Kay Kay and Indian folk rock band - The Raghu Dixit Project.

He has worked with Oscar winning music composer AR Rahman and with other great personalities from the film industry like Imman and Devi Sri Prasad. He has also worked on instrumental music for the Tamil movie Rummy along with music for movies like Romeo Juliet and 36 Vayathinile.

Iyer TEDxGITAMUniversity, 2014 where he elaborated on his transition from acoustic instruments to electric ones.

Iyer defines his sound as "?niche without being elitist. We are not mainstream pop. At the same time, we have taken Indian classical music to a broader audience, making it something more people can relate to.

Iyer is known for his collaborations with artists from various genres and cultures. The dexterous mixing of different styles is one of the defining characteristics of his music. “There is an ocean of possibilities in the crossover between Indian and Western music. We have to tap the possibilities,” he explains.

His band, Karthick Iyer Live, offers tailored performances in different contexts - from a music estival in the hills, a historic music hall, a corporate event to a fun wedding. He is passionate about his IndoSoul philosophy, and educates people through numerous seminars and outreach efforts.

IndoSoul

Iyer’s first album IndoSoul – Looking to ook eyond was launched on 13 June 2015 to a packed audience in Museum Theatre, Egmore, Chennai. The album comprises of six tracks that draw inspiration from the world wreathing it with the rich musical tradition of India. The motto of IndoSoul, according to him, is to “Take Indian music to the world and bring the world to Indian music. Indo drawing from the idea of an Indian civilization and Soul resulting from a deep, inward experience.”

Historically, India has been a melting pot of many cultures. From Persian and Chinese travellers to Arab and Portuguese tradesmen, India’s past is intimately influenced by the many cultures that came in contact with. Yet the underlying fabric of Indianness still holds. It is not muted by the alliance. It is only made more vibrant, enigmatic and appealing. This is what IndoSoul seeks to accomplish. IndoSoul, according to Iyer, is an ongoing journey of discovery that goes beyond the confines of genre and style incorporating new ideas and movements without losing its essential identity – its firm grounding in Indian classical music.

In Iyer's own words, "IndoSoul is open-minded in the sense that it absorbs and is influenced by different cultures, geographies, and genres from across the world. We have collaborated with musicians from across the globe in an earnest and endless attempt to break the superficial walls between genres, instruments, cultures, languages and bring to the forefront the inner, hidden commonalities.

The album brings together the electric violin, mridangam, guitar, bass, drums and vocals to recreate vivid soundscapes firmly grounded in the classical Carnatic tradition, but with twists and turns to the sonic plot vis a vis edgier more contemporary riffs, textures and lyrics. The act includes Vikram Vivekanand (Guitar), Sumesh Narayan (Mridangam/Percussion), Naveen Napier (Bass), and Ramkumar Kanakarajan (Drums).