(headline image: Varijashree Venugopal -Photo by Daniil Strelnikov)
Varijashree Venugopal, born on March 6, 1991, in Bangalore, India, is a renowned Indian singer and flutist. She is the daughter of musicians Vidwan Sri H.S. Venugopal and Smt. T.V. Rama.
From an early age, Varijashree displayed an extraordinary musical talent, identifying approximately 50 ragas by the age of 18 months and around 200 ragas by the age of four. She began formal training in Carnatic music under Vidhushi H. Geetha at the age of four, learning rare compositions from Vidhushi Vasantha Srinivasan and Vidwan D.S. Srivatsa. Later, she continued her advanced studies with Gaanakalanidhi Vidwan Salem P. Sundaresan.
At seven, Varijashree gave her first full-fledged Carnatic vocal performance at Bangalore Gayana Samaj, receiving acclaim from critics and music enthusiasts. She also trained in flute playing under her father, Vidwan H.S. Venugopal, performing solo and duo concerts and becoming a sought-after recording session artist.
Varijashree is known for combining Carnatic music techniques with world music styles. She is also a composer, songwriter, and music educator. Her collaborations include notable artists such as Bobby McFerrin, Victor Wooten, Béla Fleck, Hamilton de Holanda, Eddie Gomez, Michael League, and Ricky Kej.
In May 2024, Varijashree released her original music album Vari, produced by Grammy Award-winning artist Michael League. The album mixes Indian and global music, incorporating Indian classical and folk percussion with a mission to transcend musical boundaries.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.