School of Creative
Industries
BA(Hons) Arts Management
Carnatic fusion: Towards a new sound
Carnatic fusion is an emerging practice unique to Chennai, the epicenter of Carnatic music. In Chennai, Carnatic music is contested due to the traditional form having rigid boundaries in structure, aesthetics and values. This research aims to analyse the key dichotomies in the current practice of Carnatic fusion in Chennai by focusing on the characteristics, notions and challenges of this practice. A qualitative methodology has been adopted for this research through in-depth interviews conducted with four practitioners of Carnatic fusion based in Chennai, followed by a thematic analysis. The findings of this study foreground the ethos of Carnatic fusion in creating new sounds and experiences for audiences in Chennai.
carnatic music, carnatic fusion, fusion music, chennai, new sound
art form vs performance, music vs sound, replacement vs reinvention
Jyothsna Akilan
Jyothsna is an aspiring arts manager and Bharatanatyam dancer with a penchant for branding and communications. She has worked with organisations such as COCO Public Relations, Flint Culture Asia and ArtSpire to develop and execute communication strategies for artists, arts organisations and brands.
As a Cultural Scholarship recipient from the Ministry of Culture, India, she is also driven by a passion to contribute to the growth of Indian classical arts. Her work experience over the past two years has led her to develop holistic skill sets in project management, public relations, marketing communications and artist management.