When Indian ragas blend with western music

Music is the essence of existence for the US-based Carnatic violinist, Ranjani Ramakrishnan, who is excited about her upcoming album ‘Aum’, on which she’s working along with her sister Radhika. She finds the urge to do whatever it takes to be a musician, adhering to the core form of music.“I don’t deviate from the melodic or rhythmic rules during any exposition and I find it interesting to play the same raga in different ways to add flavour to the mode of music. The objective is to make the piece desirable and appealing to non-classical music listeners and encourage them to tune in to Carnatic music. The mode may be different but the intention is pure and simple,” she says.Having been exposed to various styles of music like Hindustani and Western, her upbringing in Bombay has a definitive influence on the music she performs. For instance, when she accompanies musicians on the stage, she aspires to be a lively companion to the artistes, supporting them to captivate the overall musical experience. When she plays for a dance drama, she exhibits the folk tones, traits or pizzicato movements to enhance the humour or emotion that the scene may seek. “The intent is to bring about a confluence of the various musical progressions and styles and present an enriched experience to the listeners,” Ranjani adds.“Only the energy matters to me…it makes me communicate with my innermost being and I enjoy it. Music is beyond cultural, economic and social barriers and that is what music is achieving and promoting; slowly and steadily.”The musician visits the US in March-April during the spring break, before the Cleveland Aradhana Festival, to train kids who participate in the events. “I conduct in-house training for a few. Those classes are easily eight hours each day, split into smaller sections of varied portions, to keep the interest and momentum going.

We continue our classes on Skype the remaining months,” she smiles.Speaking more about the album, she shares about wanting to attempt a new style. “My sister plays Western and Indian Classical music on a seven-string fretted violin called the 'viper'. We play duets occasionally. I am also simultaneously working on an album which is a vocal-violin mix, which forms of commonly heard beautiful compositions of yesteryear stalwarts with an array of western contemporary instruments and elements,” she says.Intrigued by the art of music production and sound design, she composes her own ringtones! “Until a decade ago, we used to have basic phones. So, I’d make personalised tones on it according to whatever song my friends or relatives wanted. I even had a store manager at a mobile shop in Mumbai who would occasionally call me up to his store if any customer was keen on a very specific song on their phone and I would compose it for them,” she explains.Ranjani will be in Chennai during this December season, but she hasn’t planned for any themed-recitals yet. All praise for organisations like Hamsadhwani, which is holding a special special NRI series annually to provide a platform for Indians living abroad, she says such initiatives let the local community to hear the music of these artists who live and learn far away.A disciple of Seetha Ramakrishnan (her mother) and Latha Ramchand, Ranjani has performed everywhere including the most revered World Festival of Sacred Music at the James Armstrong theatre and the Cleveland festival.Ranjani’s 75-year-old mother, who still practices every day, is her inspiration. She has been conducting regular music classes for 50 years. “She also used to play in concerts in and around Mumbai and at the All India Radio, regularly. The environment that prevailed during our childhood paved the way for my musical journey,” she smiles.