Karma6 is a brand new Bangalore band all set to perform its maiden concert on June 30 at Madira, concept lounge bar located at No 8, Excellency, Papanna Street, St Mark’s Road.
Karma6 is an ensemble of six of Bangalore's finest musicians, mentored by Sandeep Chowta, versatile musician and composer whose musical oeuvre ranges from Jazz blues to background scores to item numbers, winner of three Filmfare awards and the new head of Columbia Records in India.
Hand-picked by Sandeep Chowta, the members of this pop band are already well-known in musical circles and are getting together for the first time to play together as a full-fledged group.
Says Sandeep, "The world will sit up and notice Karma6. I have high hopes of this home-grown band. I will be composing original music for their debut album that will be released in the near future". All the musicians have performed together on various occasions, and share "an easy vibe", as they like to say.
Karma6's is represented by front man and guitarist Alwyn Fernandes. He played with Sandeep Chowta in the band Pulse, and currently works with him as a sessions guitarist on his albums. Mark Lazaro, the vocalist has lent his voice to everything from church choirs and male gospels to the multi-generic band Phenom.
Growing up in Dubai, guitarist Tony Das began his musical journey singing with the radio, to bands like Mr Big and Extreme. At 19, he played with Mixed Fruit Jam in St.Joseph's, and then moved on to heavy metal band Bhoomi. He frequently jams with Thermal and a Quarter and toured with them for their recent shows abroad.
Drummer Tillu began playing the drums in his school band at the age 13, and has grown to be quite a drummer himself, having worked with the likes of his uncle Gerard Machado and Amit Heri.
Bassist Prakash is a man of many talents. He not only strums the guitar, he also teaches it, and produces music and radio jingles at his in-house studio.
Prakash studied electronic engineering, and combined his education with his passion by working as a sound engineer and playing in his college band Cryptic.
Rounding off this assembly of powerhouse talents is the baby of the group, 19-year-old Karan Joseph, who plays keyboards in Karma6. Karan was playing the piano at 5, and has trained with the Bangalore School of Music. He branched out because he wanted 'play it by ear', and got noticed at a karaoke club in the city.
He occasionally dabbles in theatre for 'the adrenaline rush', and cites jazz pianist Keith Jarret as his inspiration.