The members of Swarathma have developed a unique method of releasing each song from their new album individually. | Image credit: Courtesy of Swarathma

It is rare to come across a band that not only plays soulful music but also addresses important social issues. The fourth studio album by Bengaluru-based folk/fusion band Swarathma, Raushanspeaks of being in a state of liberation and floating in a state of inner light.

The band took a different approach with their latest album, deciding to release each song individually. This gave them time to work on each track in the middle of their tour. “This album has no central theme, so each song has its own character. That’s interesting even for us because we don’t know what the next one will be like,” said Varun Murali.

“Bas” is a commentary on the state of the country or the world in general and how the band reacts to it. “I’ve heard some of my friends interpret it very differently and that’s actually great. So I’d love to hear how people interpret it,” Varun added.

The band during a performance. | Photo credit: Courtesy of Swarathma

The next track on the album is ‘Aiyanar Kudurai’, a song about a horse’s journey. This is the first time Swarathma has ventured into a Tamil song. For this, they have collaborated with Anthony Dasan, a well-known folk/fusion artist from Tamil Nadu. During the final mixing and mastering, the band played the song live to see how people react to it. “We enjoy such collaborations as they bring out fresh ideas and styles that sometimes contrast beautifully with our own,” said Sanjeev Nayak.

As part of their current eco-tour series, Swarathma has harnessed solar and clean energy for major concert systems in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Lucknow, among other cities. The initiative has been one of the most rewarding and challenging projects the band has ever undertaken. It started when they were working on a music project with SELCO Foundation, which works on accessible renewable energy in communities. “While composing a song for them, we came up with the crazy idea of ​​powering a 1,000-person concert using renewable energy,” recalls Jishnu Dasgupta.

The conversation set off a wonderful chain of events that culminated in SUNNY, the 100kVA clean energy system that accompanies the band on an eight-city concert tour where the show’s sound, visual effects and sometimes even lighting are powered entirely by solar or clean energy, eliminating the usual diesel generators otherwise used at concerts. “We hope to set a new standard for eco-conscious entertainment and encourage the adoption of sustainable practices in the music industry. This idea fits with the kind of music we make and it has been encouraging to see the response from audiences and promoters alike,” added Jishnu.

As part of the Tour of Trees, the band collaborates with groups working to protect green spaces in urban areas. | Image credit: Courtesy of Swarathma

Recently, Swarathma also supported the preservation of Bengaluru’s green spaces with an acoustic jam session at Cubbon Park.The ‘Tour of Trees’ sees the band collaborating with groups working to protect green spaces in urban areas, a cause that is close to their hearts. “On the appointed day, we move from tree to tree and play acoustic versions of our songs for the trees and tree lovers. The announcements are something like ‘9:00 am: Peepal Tree’, ‘9:30 am: Banyan Tree’ etc. It’s a humorous take on the concert tour format, but with a purpose,” explained Jishnu.