Aditya Prakash
Aditya Prakash is an Indian-American vocalist and composer based out of Los Angeles. He is trained in Carnatic classical music, and he is one of the youngest individuals to tour with the famous sitarist Ravi Shankar. Aditya Prakash founded the Aditya Prakash Ensemble, where he fuses Carnatic music with jazz, and he recently released his album ISOLASHUN under his own artist name.
"The point of fusion was that it opens your mind to the possibilities of marrying and conversing with so many cultures.”
Sources of Inspiration
“Very important to have a variety of sources, to not be limited by one.”
Starting Music Journey
“For me, it was very important to keep the essence of the raga.”
Diaspora Kid and Fitting In
“I was the only kid in school who did Carnatic music...I always felt like my music didn't resonate with my friends.”
Meaningful Collaborations
“Ravi Shankar is the one who really opened my eyes to the possibility of cross-cultural collaboration in music.”
Messages and Audience
“How cultures can so beautifully blend. There’s so much division in our world, with them vs. us and borders and cultures and religions, music is one thing that gives us a possibility to see that all those things are made up in our head. Music can break that.”
What truly is fusion?
“We’re told fusion music means there has to be Western music. But you can use the elements of this art form that you’ve learned, whether it’s Carnatic or Hindustani or Bhajan singing or any sort of folk art form, the contemporariness doesn’t lie in the music, the music isn’t old or modern or from the past or the present, it’s what you bring to it.”