In an exclusive chat with The Pioneer, renowned Carnatic musician Aishwarya Srinivas takes us through her musical journey, guided by legendary artists, and more.
K. Ramya Sree
Aishwarya Srinivas, the gifted Carnatic musician from India, is gaining worldwide recognition for her ability to blend Indian classical music with Western styles. With over half a million followers on her Facebook and Instagram accounts combined, Aishwarya’s unique style has resonated with audiences around the world. Her captivating voice and innovative performances have earned her a dedicated fan base that eagerly awaits the latest release of her music.
In her music, Aishwarya seamlessly fuses traditional Carnatic Swaras (Solfage in the Indian classical system of music) with Western elements such as electronic beats and synthesizers. Her compositions are a reflection of her deep appreciation and respect for Carnatic music while also embracing the modern and innovative.
In 2020, Aishwarya’s collaboration with Nagaswara Vidwan Mylai Karthikeyan, “Radha Sametha Krishna”, featured among the top 10 singles from India in the BBC Sounds Radio Show. She also has a veritable collection of her music on streaming services such as Spotify.
Today, we introduce you to Aishwarya, who started her musical journey at the age of 12, but it has been since her toddler days that music has been a part of her before she could even speak. She spoke to us exclusively and shared, “As a toddler, I had an innate love for music and the natural ability to vocalise whatever melodies I heard, singing along to bhajans without any formal training. My mother recognized my talents early on and made sure I was surrounded by musical influences, playing recordings of legendary vocalists like M.S. Subbulakshmi and D.K. Pattammal. I absorbed their styles and compositions like a sponge, imitating their techniques and even correcting my own mother’s singing by the age of 2! Long before starting formal classes, I was accompanying my brother to his music classes and assimilating the basics just by osmosis.”
When she turned 10, her Guru, the legendary Padma Vibhushan D.K. Pattammal, took her under her wing and started grooming her music. She is hailed as one of the greatest musicians of all time, a trailblazer who laid the foundations for the musical tradition.
“I realized that I was happiest when my mind was filled with the presence of music. I feel incredibly grateful that music has been a constant companion in my life for longer than anything else. From giving my first public concert at about 12 years old to performing over a thousand concerts at many prestigious venues, making a name for myself, it is a very humbling feeling, especially as someone who came from a very modest background where becoming a performing musician was something unimaginable. I have had such great memories, and the last 20 years have been my true golden time,” she added.
Aishwarya, in this entire journey, was also guided by two other Padma Bhushan recipients, R. K. Srikantan and P. S. Narayanaswamy, and Chevalier Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna. She continues to train with veteran R.K. Sriramkumar. Aishwarya is totally at ease rendering Adi Shankaracharya’s stotras, traditional Carnatic Pallavis, Marathi abhangs, or a fusion of Carnatic and world music. She also performed more than 1000 concerts at various venues in Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, London, San Diego, Tokyo, and South Africa and received several awards, including the Yuva Purandara Award awarded by Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha from the hands of Padma Bhushan V.A.K.Atre, Advisor to Raksha Mantri, the Founder’s Award for artistic excellence awarded by Sree Rama Seva Mandali from Smt. Sudha Murthy, Chairman, Infosys Foundation, and the Rotary Club award for vocational excellence from Rotary Club, Guindy.
Her fusion of Indian classical music with Western styles is unique and captivating. She aims to make Indian classical music “cool” and worthy of adulation among youngsters across the world. But we wondered what inspired her to explore this fusion, and she responded, “I am a classical musician at the very core. Given my pedigree, respect for my musical tradition is of the utmost importance to me. When I indulge in cross genre music or fuse different styles, the key for me is finding organic meeting points between styles that allow each tradition to truly shine. When I compose, I think first from the perspective of my classical foundation in raga and tala, while looking for complementary elements from other genres. I have been greatly inspired by the fascinating work done by maestros Ustad Zakhir Hussain, Kala Ramnath, Jayanthi Kumaresh who have taken the best from Indian classical music and given it a whole new dimension. First and foremost, I make sure I have a solid foundation in the grammar of each tradition I am combining, whether it’s jazz, classical, or other genres. I compose from a place of deep respect, love, and understanding for all worlds of music. I strive to celebrate their shared spirit, while exploring new possibilities. This driving philosophy allows me to integrate different traditions into a harmonious musical offering.”
Hugely popular, both on stage and on social media, Aishwarya began actively engaging with her listeners during the pandemic. Her renditions of Thiruppugazh Muthai Tharu, Vande Mataram, and more recently, her IG reel, My Social Media Mantra have all gone viral. She is among the very few young Carnatic musicians with over half a million followers on Facebook and 20.3K followers on Instagram. She also has a veritable collection of her music on streaming services such as Spotify. She has tapped this support for charity concerts, raising Rs 25 lakh in donations. With her undeniable talent and dedication to her craft, Aishwarya Srinivas is truly a Carnatic musician to watch out for both on and off social media.
Having said that, in today’s digital age, social media has played a crucial role in her success, allowing her to reach a global audience, and the musician finds social media to be a great place to keep in touch with her listeners and let them know about her latest work, releases, and concerts. She explained, “It is also a platform I use to experiment with some musical ideas in a fun way. The response has been overwhelming – many who may never attend an Indian classical concert in person have discovered an appreciation for it online. I love responding to genuine questions from music students confused about raga phrasing or tala. I also collaborate with fellow musicians. Social media has been transformational in allowing me to share my music and directly engage with listeners across the globe. But above all, it has revived interest in Indian classical music among the younger generation.”
As an artist exploring new frontiers, overcoming skepticism is par for the course. She takes her responsibility as an artist very seriously, and the process of conceptualizing, ideating, and bringing a musical vision to fruition is almost like birthing a baby, and we guess that is what makes her a successful person in life.
For her, the purity of Carnatic music lies in its adherence to form and structure – the ragas, talas, and compositions that have been passed down through generations. She said, “My approach is to internalise the core of our tradition so deeply that I can express its essence in fresh ways. I spend many hours absorbing the compositions of past masters, which builds an intrinsic understanding. From this foundation, I can improvise and compose with integrity. Any new directions I explore, whether in rhythm, melody, or presentation, are grounded in respect for my classical music roots. In my music, I strive to build bridges between classicism and contemporary sensibilities. The highest purpose is to spread the spiritual and creative joy innate to Carnatic music. If I can nourish global appreciation for this gift while honoring its roots, I feel I have found the right equilibrium in my artistic journey.”
Whatever we do, there should be a purpose to it, and we wanted to know what she hope listeners take away from her performances and compositions and she said in conclusion, “I wish for my music to touch the hearts and souls of my listeners. To me, music is not mere entertainment. It is a spiritual process. Every note has to be blessed to produce the right emotion and elicit the right feelings in the listener. I strive to convey my spiritual process and thoughts to my listeners in a way they are all able to experience the inherent divinity in the music. I aspire to inspire others to connect with their spirituality through music. Through my music, I hope to ignite a spark within listeners, encouraging them to seek the profound and transformative power of music in their own lives. I aspire to carry forward the invaluable legacy of my illustrious Gurus, inspiring future generations to continue exploring and expanding the horizons of this rich and ancient art form.”
