Music connects: Band croons city's sentiments

Swarathma is a Bangalore-based Indian folk-fusion band that holds a special attachment with Mysore, for the group finds its roots in the heritage city.
"Swarathma is a group of six musicians," says lead vocalist Vasu Dixit, brother of singer Raghu Dixit. "It was officially launched in Mysore in 2002. Though we formed the band out of interest in music when in college, we went on to launch the same and peruse music sincerely as the band turned out to become our passion.As most of us in the band hail from this city, we hold a special connection to the place and have also penned some songs that have derived inspiration from Mysore and its surrounding areas."
The band has presented various concerts across the country. Vasu explains, "After the band's official launch, we have presented over 60 music concerts across India and over eight concerts in Mysore city." However, what makes the band members Vasu, bass guitarist Jishnu Dasgupta, percussionist Pavan Kumar, violinist Sanjeev Nayak, drummer Monty Manuel and lead guitarist Varun proud is being declared the best Hindi Band in a music hunt organized by a private radio channel last year.
Pavan Kumar says: "We were declared winners in a national level hunt organized last year, in which over a hundred music bands participated. We also bagged the best band award in yet another contest that was held two years ago."
Swarathma also went international in October last year with a trip to Singapore where it took part in talent showcase and was one of the Indian finalists of the series. The rock band has now been acclaimed by a UK-based producer John Leckie on a British Council soundpad project who has already produced two of the tracks by Swarathma that were recorded at the Yash Raj Studios, Mumbai, recently. "The tracks will be released worldwide shortly after which we will visit UK to promote the same," says a proud Vasu.
The band launched its debut album also named `Swarathma' last month and is presently working on music for a forthcoming Kannada movie. Wish to hear the band members croon? Watch Swarathma perform live at the SDM IMD institute in the foot of Chamundi Hills on Friday at 8.30 pm.