“VARI" is Varijashree Venugopal’s first original music album, produced by Grammy Award-winning artist Michael League, acclaimed for his work with Snarky Puppy.

This album is an enriching exploration of the global soundscape, where Indian classical music meets a diverse array of musical traditions, all brought together by the rhythmic tapestry of Indian percussion. It is a sonic journey with a singular mission: to unite cultures through the universal language of music.

"VARI" in the language of Sanskrit, translates to ‘water’ - a symbol of life, fluidity, and grace. Water embodies purity, clarity, and transparency - qualities that inspire the harmonious interflow of diverse musical cultures within this album.

Each track on "VARI" invites listeners on a transcendent odyssey, merging boundaries and carrying India's rich musical heritage to far-flung corners of the world.

This eagerly awaited album is a vibrant celebration of global diversity, skillfully weaving together sounds, melodies, and rhythms from across the planet. "VARI" serves as a timeless testament to the power of music to bridge cultures, embodying the spirit of world music and the beauty of shared artistic expression.

The Band:

• Michael League on Bass & Synth Bass: the driving force behind the renowned band Snarky Puppy, also the band director of project ‘VARI’.
• Vivek Santosh on Keys: A classically trained pianist holding an LTCL (Licentiate of Trinity College London) Diploma Certificate.
• Pramath Kiran on Percussions: A versatile percussionist, seamlessly bridges classical instruments such as Tabla and Morching with a spectrum of global percussions, including Djembe, Congas, and Cajon, each played with authenticity.
• Jayachandra Rao on Mridangam: One of the stalwarts in the world of Indian rhythm today, is a Mridangam Vidwan.
• Apoorva Krishna on Violin: Apoorva Krishna is a highly accomplished South Indian Classical Violinist in the Carnatic genre.

About the Artist:

Varijashree was widely recognised as a child prodigy who could identify 100 Carnatic ragas at the tender age of 18 months, and began performing Carnatic concerts at the age of 4.

Coming from a rich background of an intricate classical form of music such as Carnatic music, Varijashree is one of the pioneering artists in applying the techniques, fundamentals, and the sound & soul of Indian singing in the global music context.

Apart from being a singer, Varijashree is also a flautist, composer, a song writer, and a music educator.

As an artist of unique capabilities, she has been featured alongside and collaborated with few of the most notable musical personalities in the world such as Bobby McFerrin, Jacob Collier, Michael League & Snarky Puppy, Victor Wooten, Bèla Fleck, Hamilton de Holanda, Eddie Gomez, and more.

Her eponymous original music album “VARI” is just out on GroundUp music, produced by Grammy (R) Award Winning artist Michael League of Snarky Puppy is a conjunction of Indian music and Global music presented on the sonic platter of Indian classical and folk percussion.

The heart and soul of the album lie in its sound with a mission to transcend boundaries.