Soul-stirring, is how you will find their music to be. It all adds up, when you have a name like IndoSoul. The band is the body and soul of Karthick Iyer who blends Indian classical with progressive rock and world music to produce a distinct ‘IndoSoul’ tone.
Playing at bFlat this weekend, IndoSoul by Karthick Iyer is fresh from wrapping up a North American tour and the band promises an evening of old favourites, new compositions and their interpretations of Carnatic standards.
Fronted by Karthick on the electric violin and vocals, the line-up includes Vikram Vivekanand on guitars and vocals, Sumesh Narayanan on mridangam and percussion, Reshwin Nishith on bass and vocals and Ramkumar Kanakarajan on drums.
Karthick confesses that they are a band that loves coming back to Bengaluru. “We’ve performed here several times and absolutely love the crowd. The audience is always open to fresh music and is full of energy. We've had many good shows from The Hindu November Fest to the Grover Wine Festival and many concerts at bFlat. Even before IndoSoul, I have played in the city several times with the Raghu Dixit Project. So personally, Bengaluru always feels like second home to me.”
This show however, Karthick says, will be different. “For the first time, we will be playing a set with all the songs from our latest record – 2 Sides of Karma . The album talks about the various ups and downs that one goes through in life and how the Indian concept of ‘Karma’ affects us. We are excited to be playing a set showcasing all our new songs.”
Representing Indian music with a twist and touring across countries, what would they say is the most exhilarating experience about being a band with their unique identity? “It is all about the possibilities that exist in blending music from various backgrounds with Indian Classical music and creating a sound that is different from the original. Our works involves taking two forms of music and connecting them to make the sum more than its parts.”
Soul searching songs
Crossing over genres, instruments, cultures and languages, IndoSoul seamlessly-infuses Indian classical music with elements of pop, progressive rock, metal and jazz. For what listeners could expect, Karthick says, “We hope they take away the melodies and the dramatic stories our songs create. On a larger perspective, we would also like them to resonate with the concepts we are putting across - be it a story or karma or just about being yourself rather than following the images that society has given us.”
With the line-up change and the way the band has evolved over the last six years it has been on the performing front, Karthick says that every album they bring out offers a discovery of the evolution that the band has undergone.
“Although some musicians have changed, there has been a growth. This has contributed to the music becoming stronger and the ideas more seamless. This evolution is clear in the fact that each album sounds different from its predecessor.”
That sums up the heart, or rather the soul of IndoSoul. Karthick agrees: “The essence of IndoSoul’s music lies in the spirit of collaboration.”
The journey ahead, says Karthick, lies in uncovering the huge potential of blending Indian classical music with other genres. “We are recording our third album now and also started work on our yet-to-be-christened fourth album.”
Catch IndoSoul by Karthick Iyer live at bFlat, Indiranagar, on March 31, 9 pm onwards. Call 25278361.
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