DREAM
I had a dream where I found myself floating, not knowing where I was and where I was headed. This is a song about that delicate and vulnerable dream where I was in search of something that I’d lost along the way - that spark that keeps the child in me alive, enabling me to love, and receive love the way I did when I was born. Pure, doubtless, and open.
LYRICS
Heege yeke heege?
Ee daari, yeke heege?
Kadalu daati, guriya sero reeti
Manasu toogi, toogi haaro reeti
Elli iruvenendu, tiliyadante
Saaguta baanali
Eegale teli, teli hogo
Aase moodi, kaiyya chaachi
Iruve naanu, hrudaya kadava teredu
Marali huduki, haleyadondu bhaava
Daari deepadante, kaayutiruva
Preetiya kanasanu, kaanuve eega
TRANSLATION
Why is this so? Why is this journey so? The way this journey crosses oceans, in search of the road to the destination; The way the mind swings, and sways, Without knowing the whereabouts of this journey, Cruising in the skies; Kindles a wish to stay in the state of floating. I am with my arms wide open, The doors of my heart are open, Searching and seeking for a long lost emotion, Which has been a guiding force, That dream which is called ‘Love’, Is the dream that I want to dream now.
Varijashree Venugopal - vocals, finger snaps
Michael League - fretless baritone electric guitar, Prophet 6, Moog Matriarch, ARP Omni, Minimoog bass, vocal percussion
Rajhesh Vaidhya - veena
Sarfaraaz Khan - sarangi
Music and lyrics - Varijashree Venugopal
Arrangement - Varijashree Venugopal,
Michael League, and Pramath Kiran
RANJANI
‘Ranjani’ has been one of my favourite ragas ever since I was a child. The phrases that my father sang to me 30 years ago, instilling the soul of Ranjani in me, still resonate in my ears. ‘Ranjani’ in this album, is my thread of thoughts through the raga, travelling with world companions adding spices in the form of Banjo, robust Carnatic violins, classical and folk rhythms from India.
Varijashree Venugopal - vocals
Béla Fleck - banjo
B.C. Manjunath - mridangam, Konnakkol
Michael League - Moog Matriarch, Minimoog bass, percussion programming
Pramath Kiran - taala, udubu, shells
Gurumurthy Vaidya - chende
Sindhu H M, Smitha H M, Mattur Srinidhi - violin
Raja K - thavil
Dakshinamurty - nadaswaram
Music - Varijashree Venugopal
Arrangement - Varijashree Venugopal,
Michael League, and Pramath Kiran
HARIVAA JHARI
The nature of water to flow is something that has always amazed me. No matter the ups and downs; the flowers and thorns; the sunlight and storm; it keeps flowing. As smooth and as graceful as water is, if it unleashes its inner energy, it could wash anything away into nothing. I am comparing my journey here, with that of water’s. What am I in search of? And what is it that’s holding me back? What’s my inner potential? How do I unconditionally stay in the state of flow?
LYRICS
Hasi hagalu, sooryana kiranava heeruve
Kadu raatri, modadaarbhatada haniya kudive
Mugdha hoovina meleri, jaarbandiyaaduve
Chucchi churukaagisuva mullina jothe, jootaatavaaduve
Harivaa jhari naanu, holevaa tere naanu
Saavira aasegala deepake, tireyaaguve
Dudidu baayaarida paadagala, naa tanisuve
Mulugi melelu, ninna paapagala toleyuve
Payana mugidamele, ninna jothege naa saaguve
Harivaa jhari naanu, holevaa tere naanu
TRANSLATION
The dawn is raw, and I absorb the young rays of the sun; The night is thick & grey, and I drink the water of the thunderstorm; I climb upon the dome of an innocent flower and play slide; I play hide-and-seek with the prickly thorns; I am a flowing stream, I am a shining wave. I am the source to the light of a thousand wishes; I quench the thirst of tired feet; Dip yourself in me and rise, and I shall wash your sins away; When your time is over, I shall travel with you in your eternal journey; I am a flowing stream, I am a shining wave.
Varijashree Venugopal - vocals
Michael League - Moog Matriarch, ARP Omni, Minimoog bass, surdo, bendir
Pramath Kiran - ghunguroo, morsing, percussion programming
Raja K - thavil
Dakshinamurty - nadaswaram
Boodyappa H K, Raghavendra H M, Dinesh, Prakasha, Yogamurty, Ranjith, Srinivasa - dollu
Music and lyrics - Varijashree Venugopal
Arrangement - Varijashree Venugopal,
Michael League, and Pramath Kiran
LIQUID LIGHT
Music and lyrics - Varijashree Venugopal
Arrangement - Varijashree Venugopal,
Michael League, and Pramath Kiran
Calling out to that invisible force that accompanies us throughout the day - the guiding light that shows us the way, nourishes us with the best of thoughts and comforts our soul. That force resides in the form of a mystical tonic-shifting Carnatic raga Kamboji in this song.
This is the only English song on this album, and my first.
LYRICS
Come, give me a morning hug
Come, lead me to the day
Come, show me a worthy path
Today, that tells me all the math
Sing a song, that no one’s sung
Ring a bell, that no one’s rung
Come, take a walk with me
Beneath, the million shining stars
Come, give me a good night kiss
Tonight, send me on my dreams
Sing a song, that no one’s sung
Ring a bell, that no one’s rung
Liquid light, liquid light…
Varijashree Venugopal - vocals
Rajhesh Vaidhya - veena
Praveen D Rao - harmonium
Pramath Kiran - snare drum, hand kick, pile of sticks, Tibetan hand cymbal
Raja K - thavil
Madhusudan S, Celestine Gerald,
Sathyamurthy, Chandrashekar - dholak
Dakshinamurty - nadaswaram
Lucy Woodward, Sofia Ribeiro, Magda Giannikou, Adriana Ospina, Silvia Ospina, Juan André Ospina - backing vocals
Michael League - electric bass, percussion programming
JAATHRE
Music - Varijashree Venugopal
Arrangement - Varijashree Venugopal,
Michael League, and Pramath Kiran
‘Jaathre’ is the term for an Indian rural carnival. This song submits to an intense groove, creating a thread of melodic dialogues with Indian classical Solfege. An exciting inspiration of Carnatic raga Hemavathi and the wild folk grooves depict the inescapable bounce of a Jaathre.
Varijashree Venugopal - vocals
Rudra Kumar - shehnai
Madhusudan S, Celestine Gerald,
Sathyamurthy, Chandrashekar - dholak
Pramath Kiran - nakara
Michael League - ARP Omni, Mellotron, Moog Matriarch, Moog Matriarch bass, electric bass, percussion programming
Nic Hard - percussion programming
TEARDROP
Music and lyrics - Varijashree Venugopal
Arrangement - Varijashree Venugopal,
Michael League, and Pramath Kiran
Following the journey of a teardrop emerging out of many various situations of life, anticipating every turn of event. The teardrop keeps flowing through the highs and lows, eventually becoming one with the ocean of emotions that we hold inside our hearts.
LYRICS
Betta guddagalaa haadu,
Mullina daariya nova maretu,
Biddu, eddu,
Jaari haridu.. haridu..
Bhaavagala saagarava seru,
Nenapugala aleyanthe nee haaru,
Nade munde oo kannaa haniye,
Bidade nee haadu baalaa daniye.
TRANSLATION
You cross the mountains, You forget all the pain that’s inflicted upon you in the course of your journey, You fall, You rise, You slide, and flow.. Go merge into the ocean of emotions, Jump like a wave of memories, Keep moving on, Oh, tear drop, Stop not your song, Oh, sound of life.. barren land.
Varijashree Venugopal - vocals
Michael League - Moog Matriarch, electric bass, pandeiro cuadrado, Iranian tar
Pramath Kiran - nakara, manjira
Rudra Kumar - shehnai
Madhusudan S, Celestine Gerald, Sathyamurthy, Chandrashekar - dholki
SUMMANIRU
Purandara Dasa, a saint poet from the 1400s satirically speaks about the limits and the ferocity of the human mind, hoping to silence its every acute thought. He gently nudges to silence one’s mind, to pay no heed to unsolicited opinions of the outside world, and to rather look inside and become one with the music of the silence.
LYRICS
Summaniru manave
Ninnolu neenu
Yaaraadaru aadali avararthiya
Dooradali ninthu nodadiru
Meeri avarannu nee
Ahudallavendare
Gaaru maadi ninna doorigelevoro
TRANSLATION
Oh mind, keep to yourself, look within. No matter what the world says, Stay put, keep to yourself. If you present a challenge, You will only be dragged into altercations. Oh mind, keep to yourself, look within.
Varijashree Venugopal - vocals
Rajhesh Vaidhya - veena
Madhusudan S, Celestine Gerald,
Sathyamurthy, Chandrashekar - tamate
Gurumurthy Vaidya - pakhawaj
Pramath Kiran - nakara, ghunguroo, shekere, rainmaker, manjira, dambdi, Tibetan cymbals
Michael League - Moog Matriarch, Minimoog bass, vocal percussion, percussion programming
Music - Varijashree Venugopal
Lyrics - Sri Purandara Dasa
Arrangement - Varijashree Venugopal,
Michael League, and Pramath Kiran
NEE
Music and lyrics - Varijashree Venugopal
Arrangement - Varijashree Venugopal,
Michael League, and Pramath Kiran
‘Nee’ means ‘You’ in Kannada. Each one of us has a ‘Nee’ in our lives, who has opened a new world to us, who has helped us discover profound ways to love. Here I compare the lack of ‘Nee’ to a starless sky.
LYRICS
Nanna naradolagina jenu nee
Nanna usirolagina raaga nee
Nanna jagadolagina soorya nee
Nanna irulolagina chandra nee
Nee…
Neenillavaadare, ee baduku
Taare illada aakaasha
Nanna nalivolagina belaku nee
Nanna nenapolagina katheyu nee
Nanna manadolagina bhaava nee
Nanna haadolagina jeeva nee
Nee…
Neelillavaadare, ee swaragala saagara
Baradu bhoomi
TRANSLATION
You are the honey that runs in my veins,You are the melody of my breath,You are the sun of my world,You are the moon of my night sky,You…A life without you is like a sky without stars.You are the light that emanates in my happiness,You are the story embedded in my memories,You are the emotions of my mind,You are the life of my song.You…Without you, this ocean of music is but a barren land.
Varijashree Venugopal - vocals
Rudra Kumar - shehnai
Madhusudan S, Celestine Gerald,
Sathyamurthy, Chandrashekar - dholak
Pramath Kiran - nakara
Michael League - ARP Omni, Mellotron, Moog Matriarch, Moog Matriarch bass, electric bass, percussion programming
Nic Hard - percussion programming
SEARCH
Music and lyrics - Varijashree Venugopal
Arrangement - Varijashree Venugopal,
Michael League, and Pramath Kiran
This song happened during the COVID lockdown when we were all trying to just hang in there and keep our spirits up, finding a positive side in the most distressing of situations. It’s not all that bad after all - if you look at it closely, there’s always a ray of hope.
LYRICS
Mullina totadolage huduku, ondu gulabi sikkeetu
Aarbhatisuva sidilolage huduku, ondu belakina kidi sikkeetu
Kochchikondhoguva aleyolage huduku, ondu muththu sikkeetu
Hudukaatada yaanadolage, hosa daari sikkeetu
Hosa bhaava moodeetu, hosa belaku kandeetu
Manasina kanninolage huduku, ondu guri sikkeetu
Kaalada jaaladolage huduku, ondu kshana sikkeetu
Hrudayada baditadolage huduku, ondu laya sikkeetu
Hudukaatada yaanadolage, hosa daari sikkeetu
Hosa raaga keleetu, hosa katheyu teredeetu
Badukige hosa artha bandeetu..
TRANSLATION
Search within the field of thorns, you may find a rose;
Search within the thunderous lightning, you may find a spark of light;
Search within the crashing waves, you may find a pearl;
In this journey of searching, you may find a new path;
You may feel a new emotion, you may find a new light.
Search within the eyes of the mind, you may find a new vision;
Search within the maze of time, you may find a moment;
Search within the heartbeat, you may find a rhythm;
In this journey of searching, you may find a new song;
A new tune may be born, a new story may unfold;
A new meaning to life may be found.
Varijashree Venugopal - vocals, carnatic flute
Rajhesh Vaidhya - veena
Ojas Adhiya - tabla
Michael League - acoustic guitar, electric bass, Mellotron
CHASING THE HORIZON
An energetic ride through the twists and turns of Carnatic Raga Vakulabharana dressed up as a party vibe. Adding to the thrill is the camaraderie between the Bandolim, Bass, Mridangam and Morsing.
Varijashree Venugopal - vocals, finger snaps
Hamilton de Holanda - bandolim
Victor Wooten - fretless electric bass
K.U. Jayachandra Rao - mridangam
Pramath Kiran - morsing
Michael League - electric sitar
Music - Varijashree Venugopal
Arrangement - Varijashree Venugopal,
Michael League, and Pramath Kiran
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Music and lyrics -
Sri Purandara Dasa
Arrangement -
Varijashree Venugopal,
Michael League, and Pramath Kiran
A student who begins his or her learning in Carnatic music is taught this Geetham at the very beginning in honour of Lord Ganesha, signifying my roots as a musician.
This traditional composition of Purandaradasa’s juxtaposed with acapella is a marvellous fresh sonic space to sink into.
A Carnatic melody wrapped in the silk of western harmonies, comes a full circle for me.
LYRICS
Sri gananatha sindhoora varna
Karuna sagara kari vadana
Lambodara lakumikara
Ambaasuta amaravinutha
Siddhachaarana ganasevita
Siddhivinayaka te namo namo
Sakalavidya aadipoojitha
Sarvottama te namo namo
TRANSLATION
Leader of the Ganas, radiant in red, With an elephant's grace, a sea of mercy spread. Son of Parvathi, bestower of boons, Saluted by devas, his presence alight.
Served by Siddhas, with music sweet, Obstacle remover, at his feet. Salutations, to him we say, Guiding us through each obstacle's fray.
Worshiped by sages, in learned embrace, Greatest of all, in his divine grace. Salutations, to him we send, Our journey's start, our obstacle's end.
KANNADA
Music - Varijashree Venugopal
Lyrics - Padmanabha Bhat
Arrangement - Varijashree Venugopal,
Michael League, and Pramath Kiran
Kannada is the language of my state Karnataka in South India. This is the language that I think in, and dream in. This poem written by Padmanabha Bhat celebrates the language Kannada, and the enormously colourful culture that emanates from Karnataka.
LYRICS
Ammanaa madilali attare kandanu
Ramisuta nudivalu jo laali;
Nammedeyalliya novigu nalivigu
Kannada nudigale jokaali;
Chiguru meeseya hudugana olavigu
Chigare kangala hudugiya cheluvigu
Kattida setuve kannada;
Uri uri bisilina bevarina danivigu
Churu churu hasivina karulina koraligu
Huttida haadu kannada;
Kannada... jeevada munnudi kannada
Kannada... bhaavada kannadi kannada
Kannada kannada kannada
Saavira bageya nudigala kaadu
Savide mugiyada jenina goodu
Arivina deepa kannada;
Samatheya kanasanu ellede bitthuva
Sakalara manasali anudina beleyuva
Alisada guruthu kannada.
TRANSLATION
Like a mother, upon hearing the cries of her child,
Comforts it with a soft lullaby;
The joy and sorrows within our hearts are cradled by the sweet sounds of the words of ‘Kannada’;
‘Kannada’ is the bridge between the sparks in the young beautiful eyes;
‘Kannada is the song born to the sounds of the toiled and the hungry;
‘Kannada’, is a prologue to our being
‘Kannada’, is a mirror to our emotions
‘Kannada’ is a forest, rich with multiple dialects,
A bee-hive that offers boundless sweetness,
‘Kannada’ is the light of wisdom;
Spreading the joy of equality and kindness,
‘Kannada’ shines ever brightly in our hearts.
Varijashree Venugopal - vocals
H.S. Venugopal - carnatic flute
K.U. Jayachandra Rao - mridangam
Praveen D Rao - harmonium
Pramath Kiran - kanjira, hand kick, caxixi, pile of sticks, tala, ghunguroo, tala
Michael League - electric bass, percussion programming
Raja K - thavil
Madhusudan S, Celestine Gerald, Sathyamurthy,
Chandrashekar - tamate
Boodyappa H K, Raghavendra H M, Dinesh, Prakasha, Yogamurty, Ranjith, Srinivasa - dollu