
With Shuruaat, the Berklee Indian Ensemble Begins a New Chapter Berklees in-house Indo-jazz superstars celebrate their first decade and step into the future with their debut album.
By
John Mirisola
July 21, 2022
The Berklee Indian Ensemble
Image by Mike Ritter
Depending on how you look at it, the road to the Berklee Indian Ensembles first album, Shuruaat (Hindi for beginning), was either impossible, or it was inevitable.
Shuruaat album cover
Design by Nikhil Kaul
On the one hand, there were countless hurdles. Take, for instance, the business challenges of a small academic institute working out an international music publishing deal with Sony Music India, or developing fair revenue-sharing contracts with some hundred collaborators. Then theres the sheer unprecedented trajectory of this homegrown college ensemble evolving organically over 10 years into a YouTube phenomenon, now ready to enter yet another new stage as a professional 11-piece collective.
But on the other hand, theres the music itself, with all its inevitable charisma. Watching any one of those performances that have attracted so many millions of viewers, seeing how skillfully the ensemble flows through styles, collaborators, languages, and moods, balancing immense talent with serious fun, its no great mystery how the group, led by Berklee India Exchange Artistic Director Annette Philip B.M. '09, found the conviction to persevere through those seemingly impossible challenges and arrive at this new beginning.
The main thing that has always pushed us are two questions: what if? and why not? Philip explains. We were constantly told by industry professionals, especially who work in India: This is going to be an uphill task. When we got to the 10-year anniversary [of the ensemble], however, I just felt like, you know what, just because it might be hard is not a good enough reason to not do this, or not even not try.
From a Blank Canvas to a YouTube Phenomenon Those two questions-what if? and why not?-have been with the group from the beginning, when Philip was given a blank canvas to create a new ensemble or academic offering at Berklee. She knew the answer immediately: There were these little pockets of Indian music that were being explored more on a theory side or a composition side, but no performing collective that was exploring Indian music in all of its varied forms. So she founded the Berklee Indian Ensemble as a vocal group in 2011, and over its first few years, the ensemble blossomed into a full band that students returned to term after term.
Part of the groups appeal has always been its inclusive spirit. Its a porous collective, Philip says, a space where no matter what your cultural or musical background is, you are able to bring your perspective and your voice into the music, and thats got to flavor the overall sound.... Right from the beginning, the goal was: yes, it is Indian music, but it is a global Indian sound that we are going to create together.
That was a sound that audiences around the globe-and across the internet-responded to. The groups second-ever YouTube video, 2014s interpretation of A. R. Rahmans Jiya Jale, went viral overnight, and within a week had racked up more than a million views. As of today, the song is approaching 53 million views, and is the most popular video on Berklees YouTube channel. And as the millions of views on subsequent videos have proven, that early success was far from a fluke.
Watch the Berklee Indian Ensembles viral hit Jiya Jale:
A New Beginning Ten years on, much has changed for the ensemble. In 2021, the group, which had organically developed a core lineup of 11 musicians-some of whom had been playing with the ensemble since its inception-transitioned from an academic offering to Berklees first professional touring outfit. The ensemble will now focus on raising the schools global profile through its own performances, workshops, and outreach. Meanwhile, students will have access to the ensembles spiritual successor, the South Asian Ensemble, which they can participate in without needing to square the demands of a full-time touring band with the rigors of a Berklee education.
Shuruaat, which collects 10 of the groups most memorable YouTube performances into a cohesive musical journey, is a monument to what the ensemble managed to accomplish through its first decade. Featuring four original compositions alongside covers and collaborations with legends including tabla master Zakir Hussain '19H, singers Shankar Mahadevan and Vijay Prakash, and Bollywood icon Shreya Ghoshal, it really is a full spectrum of what the ensemble has created as a team, as a family, over the last 10, 11 years, says Philip. It includes 98 musicians from 39 countries. And this 98 is only a glimpse-a small glimpse-into the almost 500 people whove been part of the ensemble over the years.
We want our students and our alumni to know that they have rights, and they have to be treated correctly, no matter who their collaborator is.
- Annette Philip, Artistic Director, Berklee India Exchange
The album also marks a milestone in ethical music business practices. We have set up Berklees first-and probably one of the worlds first-equitable, just revenue sharing systems, Philip explains. Weve talked to many music supervisors, music rights activists, etc..., to find a really fair way for everyone who is part of the album-not just the performers, but also the producers, arrangers, and any engineers who are not already paid as a work-for-hire-to share in the albums continued success through a prorated revenue share. For life. Its a radical model that Philip says she hopes sets a precedent for the rest of the music industry. We want our students and our alumni to know that they have rights, and they have to be treated correctly, no matter who their collaborator is.
Ultimately, these thoughtf
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Pronology, a developer of cutting-edge broadcast workflow solutions, showcases the newest capabilities for its StreamFile Core platform at the 2026 IBC Show (S...
01/09/2026
PROTON Unveils Next-Generation FLEXY Camera at IBC 2026
Brie Clayton September 1, 2026
0 Comments
10-metre serialised coax unlocks new perspectives an...
01/09/2026
Hulu Drama The Season Graded with DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton September 1, 2026
0 Comments
Senior Colorist Mark Kueper of Picture Shop crafts ...
01/09/2026
Pluxbox Launches CoreOC to Transform Mission-Critical Media Operations
Brie Clayton September 1, 2026
0 Comments
A vendor-agnostic operational control l...
01/09/2026
Layercake, the company behind the intelligent media workflow platform Streamcake, today announced the appointment of Jon Marquard as Director and Chairperson. T...
01/09/2026
Actus Digital, a LiveU company, will unveil the next generation of its Actus X platform at IBC2026 on LiveUs Stand 7.C24, demonstrating how broadcasters can sim...
01/09/2026
Broadcast Solutions, a leading systems integrator and provider of innovative solutions for the broadcast media industry, delivered transformational technology a...
01/09/2026
Quortex, the intelligent video technology company carved out from Synamedia by Lumine Group, today announced that Odisha Television Network (OTV), the leading r...
01/09/2026
Zixi and Ateme today announced an expanded strategic partnership to help broadcasters and content owners accelerate the transition from satellite to resilient I...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Join Donal Skehan in discovering the best of everyday Italian cooking in brand new series, airing Wednesday 2 September
In this brand-new series, Donal's I...
01/09/2026
RT Supporting the Arts is delighted to spotlight a diverse range of arts, cultu...
31/08/2026
Pixotope Technologies has announced a unified platform offering all Pixotope capabilities across three editions, available with the Pixotope 26.3 release in Q3 ...
31/08/2026
Sampler gains Overbridge multitrack streaming
Elektron's polyphonic sampler, the Tonverk, has just received an OS update that introduces multitrack stre...
31/08/2026
Popular chorus plug-in gains second engine
UVI's latest plug-in offers a fresh new take on their best-selling chorus effect, combining a pair of engines...
31/08/2026
Optus commits 3% of consumer brand spend to First Nations media in new landmark ...
31/08/2026
FingerWorks Telestrators, the industry leader in software-based telestration and live sports analysis solutions, announces its new partnership with Broadcast R...
31/08/2026
ARISDA Bridge Launches: DaVinci Resolve Timecode, Studio Clock, and Work-Time Tr...
31/08/2026
Short Film All That's Left Shot with URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 31, 2026
0 Comments
Intimate drama edited and graded in DaVinci Resolve ...
31/08/2026
Bridge Technologies Announces Support for Blackmagic IP10 Codec
Brie Clayton August 31, 2026
0 Comments
Both booths will showcase each other's tec...
31/08/2026
Creative COW Roundtable, August 23, 2026- AEAI
Brie Clayton August 31, 2026
0 Comments
COWs from around the world assemble to discuss Using AI to Beat...
31/08/2026
Homecoming Artist Spotlight: Susan Tedeschi The Grammy-winning singer and guitarist talks about finding her voice at Berklee ahead of her Homecoming performan...
31/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
31/08/2026
August 31st, 2026 Press Materials Here
TRIBECA STUDIOS RELEASES FIRST-LOOK TRA...
31/08/2026
Digicel Pacific Selects Techtel for PNG Digital TV Head-End Transformation
31 Aug Written By Mal Chandler
Sydney, 31 August 2026 - Techtel has been appointe...
30/08/2026
Free collection includes 15 instruments
Reason Studios have announced that they are making their popular Reason Rack plug-in free, and bundling it with a se...
29/08/2026
Odyssey & Oracle console software update incoming
With a second console now joining their O-Series, SSL have announced the upcoming launch of O-Series V2.0,...
29/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/08/2026
PlayBox Technology is heading to IBC2026 with a clear message: the future of broadcast and streaming is not about replacing everything it is about making what...
29/08/2026
Berklee Announces Fall 2026 Signature Series This years concerts feature MonoNeon, Brandon Woody, Marcus Gilmore, and Caroline Davis, alongside Berklee Asia R...
28/08/2026
KCBS takes the Chargers side, KCAL takes the Rams - with feeds out to 18 partner...
28/08/2026
(L-R) Topher Grace, Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn, Casper Kelly, and Keegan-Michael Key pose with the character Buddy at the Buddy Premiere during the 2026 S...
28/08/2026
The Italian orchestra, reimagined
IK Multimedia have announced the upcoming launch of Sinphonica, a new family of Italian orchestral instruments designed f...
28/08/2026
Voice-isolation plug-in boasts sub-10ms latency
Launched in 2025, CEDAR Audio's Icons range was created with the aim of bringing the company's renow...
28/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...