<p>sw</p>.<p>When Swarathma, a Bangalore based Indian fusion band performed at the annual management fest of SDM-IMD, ‘Naissance - 2011’ on Thursday evening, it was like getting back to the roots. <br /><br />For, the band which has its genesis in Mysore, was thrilled to give a show in city after a gap of nearly two years. The six-member troupe of the band has come a long way since its inception and their last performance in city in 2009, at the same SDM-IMD campus. <br /><br />The band has now grown to a international repute after a series of performances overseas in 2009 and 2010 following huge success of their first album- Swarathma. The band grew a humble beginning at college fests in Mysore is now counted among the best bands in India, as their tale of success continues.<br /><br />Though the winning of best band award in the Radio City contest in 2006 in Bangalore encouraged the boys, the real break for Swarathma was the award of a contract to record their album with EMI Virgin Records, when the band won MTv national contest for emerging bands in 2008.<br /><br />Vasu Dixith, co-founder of Swarathma says the success of the first major album brought Swarathma many laurels. There was no looking back since then. The band members toured United Kingdom twice in 2009, Australia, Singapore, Hongkong and performed at Indian festivals there. They were invited to give a show at birthday celebrations of the King of Morocco last year. Swarathma received wide applause at the musical show at Moroccon capital Maracassh. The band is looking for another tour of United Kingdom and an invite from United States in 2011.<br /><br />Singer and acoustic guitarist Vasu owes the success to team effort of all its members, Pawan (percussionist), Jishnu (Base Guitarist), Sanjeev Nayak (violinist), Varun (lead guitarist), Montry Manuel (Drummer). The acclaim didn’t come easy. <br /><br />The beginning<br /><br />The band saw many ups and downs, break-ups of old friends due to their professional commitments since it was born. Vasu recalls that Swarathma, originally formed as Twin Daffodils was a brainchild of a group of friends who had love and passion for music and musical instruments. <br /><br />It all began when CAVA student Vasu and Abhinanth Kumar, then a student of journalism <br />from Mahajana’s college met each other in college fests. Both had a liking for music and competed for their respective colleges. <br /><br />They seriously took the job to perform together at music fests since 2002. “Sometimes, we begged the organisers to accomodate our programme in college events and were received positively on many occasions,” he says.<br /><br />Another CAVA student Pawan (drummer) and Arjun (violinist) joined the team, even as drummer Montry also became a part of the team. It was this time when the band was renamed Swarathma. However, Abhinanth and Arjun had to part ways due to their professional responsibilities in 2007. <br /><br />“I was disheartened and wanted to quit. But, Montry asked me to hold on. We found Sanjeev Nayak in Bangalore, who got absorbed instantly into band. It was followed by Jishnu Das Gupta from Bengal and Varun. Today, Abhinanth has gotten busy with his profession, but he is a part of Swarathma, continues to be our wellwisher and joins us occasionally to play music,” Vasu Dixith adds.<br /><br />Says Pawan, the band explored different kinds of music, including folk to provide a rich blend to the new productions. It has been a driving force for the success, he opines. For Jishnu, Swarathma has become a part of his life. “It is like a family for me which forced me to quit a job of Brand Manager with ITC Limited,” he told City Herald. <br /><br />Varun tells that a fusion of folk, indi pop and western music element has made the band stand apart. All six artistes have their own uniqueness and has rich influences of different background. <br /><br />“We are quite open for new things which has launched us to today’s position. The band <br />is also trying with Bengali songs with the help of Jishnu along with Hindi and Kannada,” he says. <br /><br />Sanjeev Nayak, who hails from Mangalore says it was nice to grow with the band and learn new things, while Montry tells the team is proud of the band. “We have come up from a small-time start. Now, we are focusing on our next major album in Hindi and Kannada. If one album is on love, the other will be on child abusement to create an awareness in society,” Montry tells. <br /><br /><u><em>To know more about the band visit, www.swarathma.com </em></u></p>
<p>sw</p>.<p>When Swarathma, a Bangalore based Indian fusion band performed at the annual management fest of SDM-IMD, ‘Naissance - 2011’ on Thursday evening, it was like getting back to the roots. <br /><br />For, the band which has its genesis in Mysore, was thrilled to give a show in city after a gap of nearly two years. The six-member troupe of the band has come a long way since its inception and their last performance in city in 2009, at the same SDM-IMD campus. <br /><br />The band has now grown to a international repute after a series of performances overseas in 2009 and 2010 following huge success of their first album- Swarathma. The band grew a humble beginning at college fests in Mysore is now counted among the best bands in India, as their tale of success continues.<br /><br />Though the winning of best band award in the Radio City contest in 2006 in Bangalore encouraged the boys, the real break for Swarathma was the award of a contract to record their album with EMI Virgin Records, when the band won MTv national contest for emerging bands in 2008.<br /><br />Vasu Dixith, co-founder of Swarathma says the success of the first major album brought Swarathma many laurels. There was no looking back since then. The band members toured United Kingdom twice in 2009, Australia, Singapore, Hongkong and performed at Indian festivals there. They were invited to give a show at birthday celebrations of the King of Morocco last year. Swarathma received wide applause at the musical show at Moroccon capital Maracassh. The band is looking for another tour of United Kingdom and an invite from United States in 2011.<br /><br />Singer and acoustic guitarist Vasu owes the success to team effort of all its members, Pawan (percussionist), Jishnu (Base Guitarist), Sanjeev Nayak (violinist), Varun (lead guitarist), Montry Manuel (Drummer). The acclaim didn’t come easy. <br /><br />The beginning<br /><br />The band saw many ups and downs, break-ups of old friends due to their professional commitments since it was born. Vasu recalls that Swarathma, originally formed as Twin Daffodils was a brainchild of a group of friends who had love and passion for music and musical instruments. <br /><br />It all began when CAVA student Vasu and Abhinanth Kumar, then a student of journalism <br />from Mahajana’s college met each other in college fests. Both had a liking for music and competed for their respective colleges. <br /><br />They seriously took the job to perform together at music fests since 2002. “Sometimes, we begged the organisers to accomodate our programme in college events and were received positively on many occasions,” he says.<br /><br />Another CAVA student Pawan (drummer) and Arjun (violinist) joined the team, even as drummer Montry also became a part of the team. It was this time when the band was renamed Swarathma. However, Abhinanth and Arjun had to part ways due to their professional responsibilities in 2007. <br /><br />“I was disheartened and wanted to quit. But, Montry asked me to hold on. We found Sanjeev Nayak in Bangalore, who got absorbed instantly into band. It was followed by Jishnu Das Gupta from Bengal and Varun. Today, Abhinanth has gotten busy with his profession, but he is a part of Swarathma, continues to be our wellwisher and joins us occasionally to play music,” Vasu Dixith adds.<br /><br />Says Pawan, the band explored different kinds of music, including folk to provide a rich blend to the new productions. It has been a driving force for the success, he opines. For Jishnu, Swarathma has become a part of his life. “It is like a family for me which forced me to quit a job of Brand Manager with ITC Limited,” he told City Herald. <br /><br />Varun tells that a fusion of folk, indi pop and western music element has made the band stand apart. All six artistes have their own uniqueness and has rich influences of different background. <br /><br />“We are quite open for new things which has launched us to today’s position. The band <br />is also trying with Bengali songs with the help of Jishnu along with Hindi and Kannada,” he says. <br /><br />Sanjeev Nayak, who hails from Mangalore says it was nice to grow with the band and learn new things, while Montry tells the team is proud of the band. “We have come up from a small-time start. Now, we are focusing on our next major album in Hindi and Kannada. If one album is on love, the other will be on child abusement to create an awareness in society,” Montry tells. <br /><br /><u><em>To know more about the band visit, www.swarathma.com </em></u></p>
