The year seems to have flown by, faster than any other year I can think of. I haven’t really nailed why - maybe a combination of my own age and stage in life coupled with the environment around us: it feels like we have returned to a speed faster than ever even after slowing down with the pandemic, alongside technological developments, world events, challenging presidents, wars, It’s all just simply getting fast. With all this going on, it’s hard not to get stuck inside of it or affected. However, I still seem to find the most peace when I retreat to my bubble and sanctuary within, turning to the anchor that has been my anchor for years - my discipline and practice. The focus on the musical craft - the time to learn and to explore.
With my nurturing home practice where often I am solitary, the rest of my artistic practice is filled with people, those who have been consistently in my orbit and also new encounters, new faces. This is the joy of being an artist. This constant ebb and flow between what is familiar and what is refreshing, what and who inspires new thought and creativity.
In truth, it’s hard to even remember what all I did! Sometimes it feels like nothing much, but when i look back and take stock of this year, I am reminded there have been some key projects and also key collaborations & travels that have defined 2025, adding to my growth and enjoyment.
My early January was spent in Kolkata, which has become my yearly ritual- a real chance to polish my chops, be immersed in practice and the art of North Indian Music. I was introduced to Prattyush Banerjee, maestro sarod player by a London-based collaborator, and little did I know at the time this would become an ongoing relationship with a mentor and a new pathway for my musicianship. Nerdy nuances on the violin coupled with deepening my understanding of the style, with someone to guide me to help me connect the dots. Plus, it has been a unique experience to be in a different city from my own Indian roots, a vastly contrasting approach to life and cultural habits.
Returning from India, it was very exciting to be asked by Indian - American composer Shruthi Rajasekar and Warwick University to perform solo Carnatic violin and singing with their University Orchestra and Choir in a new premiere. Though I do not consider myself a typical or traditional Indian Classical player, I thoroughly appreciated exploring the select ragas in the context of her piece, having both improvisational freedom and set material. Also, it felt like the perfect setting, where I was a bridge between Indian Classical & Western Classical, truly understanding what was happening on both sides. I was challenged as well because I rarely sing publicly, let alone, Carnatic music, and Shruthi asked me to sing in some moments of the piece- as you will hear in the video clips. I appreciated being able to learn a new raga and how to deliver a viruttham (improvised raga melody using lyrics.) Congrats to Shruthi for creating such a monumental, outstanding new piece of work! Check more about her here.
BALLADESTE ACTION
One of the main focuses of the Winter into Spring was Balladeste’s two new albums…yes, two!
First, our next duo release…Tara and I had fixed recording dates with our long-time collaborator, multi-instrumentalist and producer Fred Thomas & recording engineer Alex Bonney, which gave us a real push to complete the tracks on the album and get moving! Collaborative composition is not always the most efficient process 😆 We are both extremely meticulous about specific details, plus to merge our joint ideas takes a fair amount of back and forth, experimenting, hearing each other out, and testing ideas. Having a set timeline forced us to get moving, to not get too precious and instead, move forward with a real ‘Yes, and’ attitude. We managed to create a full album and had the chance to perform the fresh off the press work at during on our third gig, part of a longer residency series at SJQ. It’s one thing to write the tunes, and also another thing to let them feel settled enough to perform, and let alone, record. So this was indeed a challenge. But it helped the tunes settle ahead of recording at one of our favorite spots in town, Sands Films…and since then getting this album near to the finish line. Fred’s gave the album his touch with his instrumental additions, weaving magic, really. and we’ve now mixed with Alex. We even did a photoshoot in hastings on the seafront with gorgeous musician and multi-talented artist Tamsin Elliot…so the new album will definitely be out in mid-2026 with very exciting developments that we will tell you about in due course:)
Balladeste x Ana Silvera Live at SJQ, December 2024
Whilst making our next album, Tara and I have also been creating a collection of new songs with our dear friend and brilliant singer-songwriter Ana Silvera, which has been a really beautiful addition to our duo process- the chance to work as we do, but with a third collaborator - a thoughtful artist who brings a fresh perspective and offers a different lens through lyrics and vocal melody. Similar to our duo working process, the different tracks started from small seeds of material, either a texture or instrumental seed or vocal /lyrics idea or melody. Ana also wrote song over two existing Balladeste tunes. This new EP will be out in March with the first single dropping in January, really excited for you to hear:)
Video of ‘Hand in Hand’ here.
EP artwork by Priya Sundram
My ‘Traveling the Face of the Globe: Intimate House Concert’ Series has been a highlight throughout the year for me. The May Edition brought Saied Silbak, one of my closest friends and a beautiful oud player alongside Sura Susso, Gambian kora player and Griot. They played individual sets and then came together (wth me too!) for a few improvised tracks. It felt political, it felt spiritual, it felt soul stirring and also challenging. I didn’t realise that planting the seeds of hosting would also lead to more musical collaborations. Sura has since become a wonderful friend and. a collaborator, and i had the chance to perform with him in London and also in Bath with his go to percussionist Amadou.
The Summer edition in the garden was certainly moving but lighter in spirit, with Aleh Ferreira’s Samba and one of my favorite London-based bands Alvorada. It was the first time I even truly let go and enjoyed the playful interactions of the band and the charming, danceable grooves. And more recently, Tara and I performed Balladeste music alongside Ziyang Huang, erhu player. Truly a night of serenading strings. And i felt totally in my element with violin in hand and Tara by my side:)
Sheherazaad Tour
Had a great time joining Sheherazaad, up-and-coming singer from California on a leg of her Europe tour, along with two other musicians based in the UK, Ashley Blasse on bass, guitar & Arun Janssens on drums. Sheher first approached me to ask if i’d be game to play in January. In this phase of my career, I am trying to focus more on my own music and also reduce travelling, particular long stints abroad. However, once we met, I really liked her music and her vibe. She has so much respect for her collaborators, and I immediately felt like an experienced and mature musician as well as an older sister. And the music connected me not only to my South Asian roots but also to my first days touring as a professional with more popular/experimental styles of music, where I play with more feisty energy! I used octave, distortion, and reverb pedals to add some grit to my usually sweet solos. All in all, we had a great time on and off stage. The entire team grew like a family throughout our days together, credit going to our compassionate tour manager too. And i cannot leave out how wonderful it was to be hot. sometimes we were sticky and underslept from the lack of fans, but even so, it felt freeing to be in 38 degree heat.
We started at Fusion festival, a few hours outside of Berlin, which is in a sense like the communist spirited Glastonbury of Germany. What a vibe! A diversity of music, including punk, metal, and experimental plus it was very organised and the people were emotionally generous. 2 shows there followed by a cozy one in Berlin, and then we drove across to Lucerne where we performed in the city’s festival in the central cathedal. A change of ambience, though still with a lovely vibe and greatly received…and last stop in Munich at an underground club (en route where we hopped in the large gorgeous Swiss lake to cool off), where my parents arrived from the USA to see us in action!
Check out Sheherazaad’s music here
Flamenco has grown increasingly important to me as a recreational and creative outlet. It feels resonant with my journey in Indian music, and also over the last 4 years I started spending more time with the London-based community and developing a sense of belonging in that circle of wonderful people ~musicians, dancers, and beyond. There are regular jams called ‘juergas’ that keep the spirit alive, where dancers and musicians of all levels will just get up and participate!!! I started dancing as well, which has been such passionate addition to my wide set of existing interests and helps to make the link to the music stronger, where the way the dance and music interact are central and integral to the art form.
I perform with the up-and-coming London-based band Identidades from time to time (Bryan Reyes, guitar; Ago Hernandez, percussionist; Carlos de Luisa, singer) and also perform with visiting artists. In August, I had the opportunity to perform with a Madrid-based dancer Cristina San Gregorio at Battersea Spanish and Jamboree in August. and two other beautiful and well-experienced Flamenco musicians, Adrian Sola, guitar & Jasmine villa-lobos, singer.
Flamenco night @ Jamboree
Identidades @ The Angelic
And finally, to get a glimpse of all the stuff in between, no less important, here are some pictures across the year, both work and play! …
performing in Madrid with my dear friend and stunning composer/guitarist Martin Espada & Luis Taverna, percussionist; Moira Smiley & Balladeste string quartet in the begining of October, recording with Tamsin Ellior & Tarek Elazhary in Bristol, Radhika Das at Union Chapel, reunion with my two piano teachers from growing up, backstage at the Roundhouse playing strings for Thee Sacred Souls, Dorset solo adventures, canal jamming with Bryan Reyes, helicopter rides during the Masterclass at Lossenham Farm. and petting a dolphin in Mexico on a family reunion holiday:)
So grateful for the breadth of experiences that continue to shape me personally and artistically. As I set my intentions for 2026 and look forward to the new developments and flow it will bring, I celebrate all that has been so far: the nurture of new and old friendships and musical collaborations, creative adventures, travels, and soulfulness.
