Exploring the Unheard | Prakash Sontakke | TEDxRVCE

Musician Prakash Sontakke talks about the path that led him to create the Swar Veena, an instrument he built himself. He explains how it is constructed, the ways it can be played, and the range of sounds it produces, moving between Indian raga and styles such as blues and fusion. The talk was given at an independently organized TEDx event. Sontakke is a co-composer, vocalist and guitarist on the album Winds of Samsara, which won a Grammy. The description also lists his work as a performer and composer for stage productions, including music for Charandas Chor and Girish Karnad's Yayati.

• Origins and construction of the Swar Veena
• Playing techniques and range of sounds
• Blending Indian raga with blues and fusion styles
• Career as composer, vocalist and performer

Prakash Sontakke takes the audience through the musical journey that led him to create the Swar Veena. He explains how the instrument is built, the different ways it can be played, and the range of sounds it produces, then shows how adaptable it is by moving between blues, fusion, and other styles. A co-composer, vocalist, and guitarist on the Grammy-winning album Winds of Samsara, is the only artist to have won both the Independent World Music Awards (USA) and the Nashville Award for composers. An A-grade artiste of Akashvani and Doordarshan, he has over 2,000 concerts of experience. Prakash has toured extensively with his troupes, namely the Dr. Prakash Sontakke Group (Progressive Hindustani Crossover) and the international trio Lehera (World Fusion). He has composed and directed music for several plays and productions, and his work has been widely appreciated. His music for Charandas Chor and Girish Karnad’s Yayati was critically acclaimed. Additionally, he created the instrument Swar Veena, on which he can play both Indian Raga music and Western-sounding styles. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx