NADAKA contemporary Indian and world music

Nadaka is a Canadian-born Indian guitarist best known for his rendition of traditional Indian classical music on a modified guitar specially adapted for Indian music.

Born in Quebec in 1958, Nadaka lives in India since 1974.Music it seems was always a part of his life, first in Quebec then else where, as he leaves his native land at the age of 16 to “travel the world”, spending time in Morocco, Iran and Afghanistan before finally reaching India where he settles permanently. An early pioneer on the eroded landscape of Auroville, near Pondicherry in South India, he participates actively in the ecological and material development of this utopian city in the making. Throughout the years he also wanders through cities, temples and mythical places of the Tamil country which he perceives as his own and sees from so many perspectives.His passion for Indian culture leads him to study its music, learn different instruments and vocal styles. He also conceives and builds a guitar that is specially adapted to play the ragas and subtle tones of Indian music.World Music, Indian Jazz, Acoustic Fusion, these are vague terms to describe his style, but for Nadaka his musical creations are the obvious reflection of his life, a simple assimilation of East and West, the natural outcome of his spiritual quest and inner longing that shapes his day to day life. This of course could never be a solitary achievement. Working closely with many outstanding Indian musicians, Nadaka has recorded and produced many albums with the support of professional collaborators both in India and in Europe.

Nadaka's music may not be easy to classify. Yet many attributes make his style distinct; acoustic purity, dynamism, multi-layered richness and subtle virtuosity are the hallmark of his creations.

Discography

Albums

* "Live in Paris, Nadaka & the Basavaraj Brothers"Here we find different traditions, Hindustan, Carnatic, Jazz, meshing seamlessly without losing their distinctness. We are in a unique zone where Nadaka's Indianised guitar leads us from traditional modes to more jazzy rhythms, from breathtaking fast passages back to soft soothing chords, where the Flute can be quick Carnatic one moment and Sitar smooth Hindustani the next; where the Violin can be intensely percussive or achingly fragile, the Tabla & Mridangam weave subtle accompaniments or explode into a solid wall of sound.

* "Living Colours, Nadaka & the Basavaraj Brothers"

* "Straight to your Heart" - with Ganesh (violin) and Vikku Vinayakram (ghatam) & Selvaganesh (Kanjira)

* "Celebration" - with Ganesh (violin) and Shivamani (drums)

* "The Lotus Trilogy"

External links

* http://www.nadaka.com [Official Site]
* http://psychedelicfolk.homestead.com/Nadaka.html