For musicians and organisations beyond Indian classical music
Collaborate with Indian classical musicians on your project
To collaborate with Indian classical musicians on a fusion or crossover project, ask KalaSudha. We bring in the artists we promote and agree fees and credits in writing before work starts.
What KalaSudha arranges for collaborators
KalaSudha arranges collaborations between the Indian classical musicians it promotes and people working in other genres and art forms. We arrange them for:
- electronic music producers, bands and touring artists
- orchestras, opera companies, chamber ensembles and choirs
- composers working on a new piece, and songwriters recording a song
- dance and theatre companies hiring live musicians for a production
- record labels and music publishers
- community ensembles
- festival programmers who want a cross-genre set
- book, literary and art festivals
- conference organisers
The artists we promote include singers and players of sitar, tabla, bansuri (the Indian bamboo flute), Indian slide guitar and piano. Others play sarangi (a bowed instrument close to the human voice), santoor (the hammered dulcimer of Kashmir), pakhawaj (a double-headed barrel drum) and ghatam (the clay pot of Carnatic music).
Every recording we arrange is new, made for your project. Before work starts, we agree each artist's fee and credit with you in writing, along with how you may use the recording or performance. Part of every fee goes to the KalaSudha artists development fund, which pays for concerts, releases and the promotion of the art forms.
Ways to work together
Studio and remote recording
A songwriter or band can find Indian classical musicians through KalaSudha to record on a song or album. They record in the studio or in a remote session. For a remote session, the artist records in their own studio or we record them. After every session, studio or remote, we deliver the parts to you.
Touring together
The artists we promote join your band or touring act on stage for its concerts. The quote for a tour depends on the artists, the dates and travel.
Commissioned pieces
Commission a new piece in which your orchestra, choir or chamber ensemble performs with Indian classical musicians as soloists. An opera company can commission one with our singers or soloists. A composer can work with the soloists on the piece, and a community ensemble or band can play with them.
Dance and theatre productions
A dance or theatre company can hire live Indian classical musicians for a production through KalaSudha, or commission its score from the artists we promote. Singers and instrumentalists can perform on stage with your dancers or cast.
Cross-genre festival sets
We arrange festival sets that pair the Indian classical musicians we promote with jazz, folk or other musicians. Our own concerts Raga Unison at Southampton and Raga Unison at Edinburgh paired the Indian slide guitarist Pandit Debasis Chakroborty with the guitarist Giuliano Modarelli. Our London Ragas Fusion put piano in dialogue with bansuri, tabla and ghatam.
Conferences and book, literary and art festivals
A literary or book festival can include Indian classical music in its programme, alongside readings and talks. The artists we promote can also perform at an art festival or exhibition opening. At a conference, they can perform alongside the talks. To book them, send us an enquiry.
How a collaboration works
- Press Send an enquiry and describe the collaboration you have in mind.
- We reply with a quote. It depends on the artists, the form of the collaboration, the dates and travel.
- Before work starts, we agree each artist's fee and credit in writing with you, and how you may use the recording or performance. A record label or music publisher can work with the artists we promote on the same written terms.
- The artists record their parts in the studio or in a remote session, or perform with you on stage.
- After each recording session, we deliver the parts to you.
Artists
Musicians we promote
Frequently Asked Questions
How can an electronic music producer collaborate with Indian classical musicians?
An electronic music producer can collaborate with Indian classical musicians by asking KalaSudha to arrange a feature on a track or album. An artist we promote records new parts for it, in the studio or in a remote session. Before work starts, a written agreement with KalaSudha sets the artist's fee, credit and your use of the recording. After the session, we deliver the parts to you.
Where can I find a sitar or tabla player to record on my band's album?
You can find a sitar or tabla player to record on your band's album through KalaSudha, which arranges sessions with the artists it promotes. They record in the studio or in a remote session. Other artists we promote play bansuri, Indian slide guitar, sarangi, santoor, pakhawaj, ghatam or piano, or sing. Your band agrees each artist's fee, credit and use of the recording with us in writing before the session.
How do I book Indian classical musicians to tour with my band?
To book Indian classical musicians to tour with your band, send an enquiry to KalaSudha. KalaSudha arranges for its artists to join your tour. The quote for a tour depends on the artists, the dates and travel. Part of every fee goes to the KalaSudha artists development fund, which pays for concerts, releases and the promotion of the art forms.
Can an orchestra commission a piece with Indian classical soloists?
An orchestra can commission a new piece with Indian classical soloists through KalaSudha, which provides them from the artists it promotes. Opera companies, chamber ensembles and choirs can commission one in the same way. The soloists can be singers or players of sitar, tabla and other instruments. KalaSudha puts each soloist's fee and credit, and your use of the performance or its recording, in writing with you before work starts.
Which Indian classical musicians perform with symphony orchestras?
Among KalaSudha's artists, the raga pianist Deepak Shah, the sitarist Jonathan Mayer, the bansuri player Pandit Ajay Prasanna and the tabla player Ustad Shahbaz Hussain have performed with orchestras. A symphony orchestra works with them by commissioning a new piece through KalaSudha, with one or more of them as soloists. Before work starts, KalaSudha agrees each soloist's fee and credit in writing with the orchestra.
How do I hire a tabla player for a remote recording session?
To hire a tabla player for a remote recording session, ask KalaSudha, which arranges remote sessions with the tabla players it promotes. For each project, we agree whether the artist records in their own studio or we record them. Before the session, a written agreement with you sets the artist's fee and credit, and how you may use the recording. When the session ends, we deliver the parts to you.
How are rights and credits agreed when I collaborate with Indian classical musicians?
KalaSudha agrees the rights and credits for a collaboration with its Indian classical musicians in writing with you, before work starts. The agreement covers each artist's fee and credit, and how you may use the recording or performance. A record label or music publisher that wants to work with our artists agrees these terms with KalaSudha in the same way. Every recording KalaSudha arranges is new, made for the collaboration. To license an existing KalaSudha recording instead, see Indian classical music for film and TV.
Can Indian classical musicians collaborate with jazz or folk artists at our festival?
KalaSudha arranges collaborations between the Indian classical musicians it promotes and jazz, folk or other musicians for festivals. We pair the artists and shape the programme with you. Tell us in your enquiry which musicians or styles you have in mind.
Start a collaboration with KalaSudha
Press Send an enquiry with your idea for a recording, a tour, a new piece or a live event. We reply with a quote.