Varijashree – Vari (The Live Sessions) (GroundUp Music, 2025)
Vari (The Live Sessions) reframes vocalist and composer Varijashree Venugopal’s 2023 studio album Vari through a raw, spatially immersive lens. It was recorded in her hometown of Bengaluru and offers seven live reinterpretations that highlight her splendid, alluring, and technical command of vocal techniques. In addition, she navigates between South Indian classical traditions and contemporary improvisation with ease and fluidity.
The live format, arranged by bassist and producer Michael League, introduces subtle shifts in phrasing and dynamic contrast, allowing greater interaction between voice and instrumentation. The mix by Nic Hard and mastering by Dave McNair preserve the warmth and immediacy of the performance without sacrificing clarity.
Rather than replicate the original tracks, The Live Sessions invites listeners into a parallel version of Vari, which is less polished, more intimate, and structurally open.
Musicians; Varijashree Venugopal on vocals; Michael League on bass, keyboard bass and darbuka; Pramath Kiran on drums, cajón, percussion; Jayachandra Rao on mridangam; Apoorva Krishna on violin; and Vivek Santhosh on keyboards.
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.