Trained as a Carnatic singer but inspired by Michael Jackson, Sangeetha Rajeev worked as a software engineer for three years before thinking, “What the hell, let me just do this.”
“This” was turning into a singer full-time. And Sangeetha did turn pro, but with a difference: she and her band Sarvasva sing Kannada songs influenced by rock. The result of all these efforts is their album Sarvasva, named after their seven-piece band which includes the flute and violin along with bass and rhythm guitars and percussion.
When people listen to the violin, they can headbang to it, when they listen to our flute, they can headbang, We wanted to give the music an Indian touch as well and have an element of fusion.
– Sangeetha
Sarvasva has gained prominence for its focus on Kannada identity in cities like Bengaluru and Mysuru that are dominated by English and the influx of several other languages. In a recent performance in Mysuru, Sangeetha exhorted the audience in Kannada : “Mysurin janre, enu, nidde madthiddira? Eddeli, Rock music na kuthkondu kelbaradu. Eddu ninthu kuni beku.” (People of Mysore, are you sleeping? Get on your feet. You should not listen to rock while sitting. Get onto your feet and dance”.)
Sangeetha has had opportunities in films as well. The song Thinbeda Kammi from the film ‘Lucia’, for instance went viral on the internet.