How ‘Arul’, nominated for JUNO Awards, gives a new twist to Carnatic music

How Sandeep Narayanan and Yanchan Produced came up with 'Arul', nominated for the 54th JUNO Awards in Canada.

Sandeep Narayanan has sung Thyagaraja kritis on several stages, but this one was going to be different.

Recording the popular ‘Manavyalakincharadate’ for a track called ‘Tradition’, the Carnatic singer had to sing traditional lyrics over hip-house Afro beats and rhythms. “I had to get over my mental block of whether it was appropriate,” he mulls, “To be genuinely convinced and tell myself that it’s okay to go ahead was one of the most challenging things about this project.”

‘Tradition’ is the first track of Arul, an EP that resulted due to a musical collaboration between Sandeep and popular Canadian songwriter-music producer Yanchan Produced.

The beats are modern and trendy, while the song and the lyrics are classical.

Arul is a project that has prompted conversation among purists on the way Carnatic tracks are used. Arul is also a project that has appealed to global listeners on its unique approach to blending Western and classical ideas, hence resulting in a prestigious nomination: to the upcoming 54th Annual JUNO Awards in Canada.

At the awards ceremony set to be held in Toronto later this month, Arul will compete, in the South Asian Music Recording of the Year Award category, against the likes of AP Dhillon, Chani Nattan, Inderpal Moga & Jazzy B, Jonita Gandhi and Karan Aujla. “It was extremely flattering to be in a category with such well-known names. I think we have a great chance because our album explores Indian classical-based music. Arul is also a bridge that connects the tradition of India to the modern day.”

The birth of Arul