Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life – and travel – leaves marks on you.”
Anthony Bourdain
Using the language of Raga, two ancient instruments come together from the South Indian tradition of Carnatic music to showcase a musical experience reflecting on a backpacker’s journey across South-East Asia and India. Having both recently taken time to travel and learn, Kitha and Mithila convey their paths through the sounds of their stringed instruments, Violin and Veena, whilst using percussion as a way to highlight their different experiences along the way.
Mithila started learning the veena at the age of 8 under the tutelage of Smt Malini Thanbalasingham. She has undergone further training from Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh and now regularly trains with Veena maestro Smt. Padmavathy Anandagopalan. A versatile performer, Mithila is also part of the upcoming British fusion band Project 12 who have been performing across various venues across the UK. She was also part of the national ensemble Tarang for which she was Deputy Orchestra Leader. Mithila now works with the arts organisation ZerOclassikal, funded by the Arts Council, looking to promote British-trained Indian Classical musicians and create commissions radicalising the approach taken to Indian Classical Music.
Kitha is a young London-based violinist who started learning at the age of eleven under her guru Smt.Kalaivani Indrakumar. She underwent further training Kalaimamani M.Nandini and continues to do so with Sri H.N. Bhaskar. She has performed all over the UK and internationally in India, Singapore, Paris and Barcelona to name some countries. She was a member of the national ensemble Tarang and was Orchestra Leader of SAMYO (South Asian Music Youth Orchestra) for whom she has toured all across England in many prestigious venues.
