
In India, music fans are diving into classical music. Recent data shows that over the last two years, India's classical music consumption grew by nearly 500% on Spotify. And while users of all ages are tuning into these songs, more than 45% of listeners are under the age of 25. Classical music, it turns out, is indeed for everyone.
Indian musical instruments have a rich cultural heritage and are consumed widely not just in the country, but across the world. Generations of artists have taken this music to listeners across the globe, with instruments such as the sitar, flute, tabla, and more, recognized and beloved everywhere. So, to celebrate and highlight this legacy, we launched Echo, an initiative that puts the spotlight on Indian classical music and musicians. Over the past three months, we've focused on the flute, tabla, and sitar, educating our listeners via playlists that celebrate artists who have mastered each instrument, including sitarist Rishab Rikhiram Sharma with the Soulful Sitar playlist, flutist Naveen Kumar with the Fascinating Flute playlist, and multi-percussionist Anuradha Pal with the Tabla Rhythms playlist.
NEXT
All three of these artists, along with more than 30 additional Indian classical instrumentalists, recently put their talents together to record a first-of-its-kind piece that celebrates India's rich classical music heritage.
Composed by Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, Kautilya (The Echo Project) blends traditional Indian instruments with modern production techniques.
Kautilya' revolves around the soulful sounds of the sitar, the rhythmic beats of the tabla, and the enchanting melodies of the flute, explained Rishab. Drawing inspiration from the rich heritage of Indian music ragas, these three instruments gracefully whisk listeners away to another realm of musical enchantment.
September is the month of the sitar. You've probably heard the stringed instrument before, even if you don't realize it. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) by The Beatles prominently features the sitar. George Harrison, the lead guitarist of the band, was introduced to the sitar by Ravi Shankar and became fascinated with the instrument, Rishab explained to For the Record. The collaboration between Ravi and George was a significant moment in the history of Western and Indian music. The influence can be heard on The Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. George played the sitar on several tracks, including Within You Without You, which was entirely composed by Harrison and heavily influenced by Indian classical music, shared Rishab. Other popular songs that feature the sitar include The End by The Doors and Paint It, Black by The Rolling Stones.
For the Record chatted some more with Rishab about the rise in classical music in India and the captivating sounds of the sitar.
You first picked up the sitar when you were 10. Why were you so drawn to the instrument? I picked up the sitar when I was 10, but I had been eyeing it for a couple of years before that. My parents put me in vocal lessons when I was eight-Hindustani vocals primarily. I come from a family of musical instrument makers, so it's a tradition in my family to go through vocal lessons before we even pick an instrument. My great-grandfather believed that in order to make good instruments, you need to be a musician first and understand the music.
I saw sitars being made in our factories and being sold in our shops, and there was just so much hype and grandeur around the sitar. And my dad always used to say, You know, you can play this instrument, but you have to learn it properly, have respect for it, and receive proper training. Only then can you pick it up. So I was always drawn to the instrument, but my dad wouldn't let me touch it for the longest time.
Now I always try to keep the sound of my sitar very authentic. I don't like much distortion or other funky effects on the sitar. I like preserving the integrity of the instrument and the sound it is known for. The sound has been the same for hundreds of years.
What was it like to work with Spotify for the Echo campaign and composing the original song Kautilya ? Working with Spotify on this project was hands down one of my favorite collaboration experiences. I was so excited. For the song, the turnaround time was pretty quick because I was at a point where I was writing a lot of songs every day. I composed the whole song in New York, sent Spotify a demo, and the team vibed with it.
Then I flew down to Mumbai to work with the entire group and we recorded in multiple studios. The song is a hit. It's a revolutionary project.
Our data shows that in India, streams of classical music are growing on Spotify. Why do you think people are tuning into this music? I think people are just becoming more aware of the benefits of Indian classical music. I try to promote the mental health benefits of the sitar and Indian classical music in general. There are various studies about music enhancing your mood and making you feel a certain way.
To get someone like me to meditate, you have to set the right environment. I try to create that safe space and that environment where people can actually meditate. It can have a very deep impact on you. I've seen people weeping at my shows, and sometimes they are smiling from ear to ear. So everyone goes through their own journey when they listen closely to the depth of the instrument or the music.
And now, all these other wonderful playlists are also generating that awareness. This is great for the future and makes me so happy.
How has Indian classical music moved beyond the borders of the country? I live in New York, so I can speak for at least the East Coast, or America at large. A lot of people use our music for meditation because of its high m
Europe Stories
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
04/09/2025
Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), in collaboration with Dalet, has been a...
07/08/2025
July 8 2025, 22:30 (PDT) Tata Motors & Dolby Bring Dolby Atmos to Harrier.ev, R...
15/07/2025
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN THE UNIT...
15/07/2025
TV SIM builds for the future with high efficiency transmitter from Rohde & Schwa...
15/07/2025
Harmonic's Hybrid, AI-Powered and Live Sports Streaming Innovations are Key ...
15/07/2025
The well-known and well-loved 4099 has been completely revamped. It features amazing CORE+ technology, which eliminates distortion and extends dynamic range, a ...
15/07/2025
Comscore Partners with HyphaMetrics to Launch Advanced Person-Level Audience Mea...
15/07/2025
Peak audiences of over half a million tune into both Kerry v Tyrone and Donegal ...
15/07/2025
PROTON Announces Production Facility Expansion Ahead of IBC2025 posted: 15/07/2025
Proton Announces Production Facility Expansion Ahead of IBC2025
Alongs...
14/07/2025
Enhancing Public Service Broadcasting with
Innovation, Accuracy & Sustainability
New regional detail and local towns featured...
11/07/2025
If you've ever wondered what might be playing in Clark Kent's headphones...
11/07/2025
AI and Multimedia Authenticity Standards Collaboration launches two papers to guide the future of AI integration, today at the AI for Good Global Summit
The...
10/07/2025
The current holder of the prestigious Thomson Foundation Young Journalist of the Year Award has been forced to stop reporting over fears for her safety in Afgha...
10/07/2025
Spotify is turning up the volume on Australian music with a multipronged initiative designed to highlight the dominance of Australian artists on the global stag...
10/07/2025
This is not a drill: Oasis is back on the road-marking its first live performanc...
10/07/2025
The music industry depends on fresh ideas, bold voices, and emerging talent. Yet across the U.K., too many young musicians lack the space to develop their craft...
10/07/2025
10 Jul 2025
VEON and Cohen Circle Secure Investor Commitments for Kyivstar Listing Kyiv, New York, Dubai, and Philadelphia - July 10, 2025 - VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq:...
10/07/2025
Thursday 10 July 2025
The Very Small Creatures
Jaime's Treetop Tales
Emerald
BooSnoo! Christmas Mashup
Pip & Posy's Spooktacular Party
The Very Sm...
10/07/2025
Thursday 10 July 2025
Brand new rewards are coming to Sky customers, with free ...
10/07/2025
Comscore Achieves Full JIC Certification for National TV Measurement Including...
09/07/2025
Wednesday 9 July 2025
Sky Broadband now has the UK's fastest broadband spee...
09/07/2025
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced Jeff Williams will transition his role as chief operating officer later this month to Sabih Khan, Apple's senior...
08/07/2025
In an era where digital threats to journalists are becoming increasingly aggressive and widespread, MediaSafe Africa launches as a vital online resource to help...
08/07/2025
This summer, as the energy builds for one of the biggest moments in women's ...
08/07/2025
UKTV today announces that Richard Watsham, Chief Creative Officer at UKTV and Global Director of Acquisitions for BBC Studios/UKTV, has decided to step down fro...
08/07/2025
SAN JOSE, Calif. - July 8, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced a reco...
08/07/2025
Arvato Systems Optimizes Customer Communication with AOK Niedersachsen
New project in the statutory health insurance sector
Arvato Systems and AOK Niedersach...
08/07/2025
On August 7, Apple Arcade is adding four exclusive games to its diverse catalogue of more than 200 fun games for players to enjoy, all free from ads and in-app ...
07/07/2025
** MEDIA ALERT **
VIZ Media Ignites AX 2025 with Star-Studded Panels, Exclus...
07/07/2025
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA As Apple Music marks its 10th anniversary this year, Apple unveils its most ambitious creative project to date: a brand-new state-of-the...
07/07/2025
RT has announced that Mark Bignell has been appointed Commissioning Editor for Comedy following a public competition. This senior editorial position will drive...
04/07/2025
The Summer Reading Challenge has inspired children across the U.K. to embrace a ...
04/07/2025
Friday 4 July 2025
Watch the trailer here https://youtu.be/Od5WpvWmDr8
Further...
04/07/2025
The Pitch comes to RT Radio 1 airwaves this Sunday at 7pm. The Pitch is a brand...
03/07/2025
For our Vario-Jib, as well as for a repertoire of weights, we now have carts that make transport easier...
03/07/2025
One of our latest innovations: Slider Drive Unit!
Our Vario Slider not only comes with improvements and new features, but also with its own drive unit!
Our i...
03/07/2025
The 360 EVO lives up to its name: 360-degree rotation not only on the pan axis, but also on the roll axis, enables filmmakers to take their creative visions eve...
03/07/2025
What a buzzing few days at BSCExpo in London!
We were thrilled to connect with so many talented professionals from the world of cinematography.
A huge thank ...
03/07/2025
ADOLESCENCE - Shot with Panther Tower"The whole rig had to be detachable mid-episode
Netflix limited drama series Adolescence has been gaining attentio...
03/07/2025
** MEDIA ALERT ** Shonen Jump Store Hosting Los Angeles Pop-up During Anime Exp...
03/07/2025
Thursday 3 July 2025
David Harewood and Matthew Broome in Mozart: Genius for Hi...
03/07/2025
The Sky WNT Fund supports Womens National Team players with a 30,000 bursaryThursday 3 July 2025
Sky Ireland has announced the four recipients of the 2025 Sky...
02/07/2025
Calrec expands ecosystem at NAB 2025 giving broadcasters access to dynamic workflows and ultimate flexibility Helping broadcasters meet the shifting needs of me...
02/07/2025
02 Jul 2025
VEON Raises USD 200 Million in Private Bond Placement Dubai, July 1, 2025: VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON), a global digital operator ( VEON ), announces ...
02/07/2025
Brand new factual series follows mechanic and self-taught engineer Dom Chinea as he makes the move of his life to the far west of Cornwall
UKTV today announces...
02/07/2025
Rohde & Schwarz acquires ZES ZIMMER Electronic Systems GmbH and expands its T&M ...