(March 21, 2025) Euphoric Rays from The Echoes of The East instantly draws you in. Music artist Kamini Natarajan recites the Gayatri Mantra while her 13-year-old daughter Shivali Chandrashekar delivers traditional sargam, merging deep house EDM with the soulful sounds of Indian classical music. Set to release on March 21 and produced by composer Ken Elkinson — known for over 100 albums — The Echoes of the East marks Shivali’s debut, offering a fresh take on Hindustani classical music with modern beats. The LA-based teen, who has been singing since the age of two, is giving age-old traditions a new spin. “It’s important to share our unique take on Indian classical music — a style that’s anything but traditional. I want to make Hindustani classical music approachable, especially for second-generation Indians in the US. It feels amazing to put my own spin on this timeless genre and create music that’s truly my own,” Shivali tells Global Indian.
Shivali Chandrashekar
How Kamini’s Devotional Roots Inspire Shivali’s Musical Path
The album marks the first collaboration between mother and daughter, and Shivali owes her musical journey to her mother Kamini, who is an accomplished music artist. She moved to the US in 2002 post marriage and has found her niche in the American world. “It felt like rebuilding from ground up. I started from the scratch with no network and wasn’t sure if my music would connect with people in Los Angeles. My biggest challenge was building the confidence to share my music and have it accepted as it was. On the bright side, I discovered that Los Angeles has several universities offering courses in Indian Classical music—a fact I hadn’t known when I first moved here two decades ago,” says Kamini, who began her musical journey in India with devotional music, recording bhajans for Mirabai and Kabir.
The internet came to her rescue, helping her connect with a group of musicians studying Indian classical music who, though not Indian, shared her passion. She soon realized that most of them were instrumentalists because singing in an Indian language proved challenging. “They are pianists and guitarists who easily switch to instruments like the sitar or sarod, but vocals become a challenge,” she observed.
Shivali Chandrashekar with mom Kamini Natarajan
In the US, she noticed yoga was becoming more popular — a trend that connected with her musical background. “Over the years, devotional music with elements of Indian classical music became my direction and genre.” Having collaborated with various artists over the years, Kamini calls The Echoes of the East special since it’s her first collaboration with her daughter. “It was easier to work and collaborate with my mom because we understand each other and can bounce off our ideas of each other,” says Shivali. “For me this collaboration was fun,” chimes in Kamini, adding, “My music journey exponentially grew after Shivali was born. I was very focussed on my corporate work but after Shivali’s birth I took a pause and wanted to focus on what I really wanted to give to Shivali in terms of legacy, culture and lineage,” says Kamini, who dived deeper into music after her daughter’s birth.
From Home Videos to Gharana Lessons: Shivali Chandrashekar’s Path in Indian Classical Music
Growing up in a home that celebrated Indian music, Shivali developed a deep appreciation for it early on. “I have videos of me singing and performing to Indian music from the age of two. I started learning early from my mother and even performed a bhajan when I was two and a half years old,” says Shivali, who later started her formal training in classical music with her mother’s guru, Pt Arun Dravid, until the age of 10. For the past three years, she has been learning under Dr. Ashish Ranade, the founder of Kalashree Sangeet Academy. “My musical journey began at a young age and I soon discovered my passion and continued to hone my craft. I was fascinated by how different genres could be shaped by various singing styles,” adds Shivali.
Her mother was her first mentor in her musical journey, and over the years, her gurus have broadened her understanding of different styles. “For the longest time, I have had an inclination towards Hindustani classical music. But for the last few years under Pt Ashish Ranadeji, I am learning Marathi abhangs, khayal, bhajan and natya sangeet. Over the years, I have been learning from various gharanas. It’s interesting to see how the styles of each gharana are unique and how they perform a particular khayal,” says Shivali, who is currently learning from the Kirana Gharana. “Formerly I have trained with the Jaipur and Gwalior gharana.”
Navigating Two Worlds: Balancing Indian Traditions with Life in LA
Growing up in Los Angeles like many second-generation Indians, Shivali has embraced the Indian traditions and culture and has learned to navigate and celebrate both the cultures. She says that language, food and music have kept her rooted into her Indian culture. “I know how to read and write Hindi and Tamil. I went to a Tamil school every week for six years to learn to read, write and speak the language since it’s my native language. Food has been a really big part of how I balance my Indian culture. I have started introducing many of my non-Indian friends to our food.” Another way that she stays connected to her roots is through Indian festivals with Diwali being her favourite. “Growing up in LA, it has been easier to balance my Indian roots and American culture because it’s a diverse place with many second-generation immigrants and Indians. I have been brought up in a way that I have been exposed to the best of both cultures,” says Shivali.
For the teenager, music has played an equally important role in connecting her to Indian culture. “Lately, I have been introducing my friends to contemporary Indian music. I’ve always felt at home in both Indian and American cultures, which have shaped who I am. My debut album, Echoes of The East, blends these influences and makes Hindustani classical music — often seen as for experts —accessible and relatable to my generation.”
Debut Album: Mixing Mantras and Deep House
For decades, Indian classical music was seen as a niche art form, understood and appreciated by only a select few. Now, Shivali is adding a modern twist to connect with a new generation. The album features 10 tracks that include mantras, sargams, devotional khayals, and traditional Hindustani music along with deep house EDM. While the tracks share a similar sound, each offers a unique perspective on the genre. Some feature improvisation, and many incorporate harmonizing—a western vocal element—creating a perfect blend of traditional Hindustani and western music. Explaining the creative process, Shivali says, “As soon as we received Ken’s EDM tracks, I began breaking down the sargams and the raags we would set the tracks to. We bounced ideas off each other. My mom contributed the mantras, chants, and devotional parts, while I added the sargams and khayals to the tracks.”
Her style — heavily influenced by the Indian classical music she’s learning and the pulse of global music — has been shaped by both cultures she calls home. Through this album, Shivali aims to make her music and culture more accessible. “I want to preserve Indian classical music because there is a lack of exposure and not enough people know about it. Moreover, it’s an ancient art form whose legacy I would want to pass down to future generations through my work,” says Shivali, who calls her music fresh and a mix of traditional and contemporary. “My style is constantly evolving.”
Making Hindustani Music Accessible to Her Generation
Shivali Chandrashekar wants to make Hindustani classical music more accessible. Many people find classical music hard to grasp, especially if they’ve never heard it before or if it’s presented in a way that feels inaccessible. “We can’t expect everyone to sit through a full classical concert without any background, and that mindset needs to change. Our album makes Hindustani classical music more relatable and easier to understand. By educating listeners, we believe more people will take an interest. Music must evolve with the times, and if we present it in a way that fits today’s lifestyle—especially for teenagers who might not sit through a two-hour concert—they’ll be more likely to explore and appreciate it,” adds Shivali Chandrashekar.
An eighth grader at Valley View Middle School, she’s already setting her sights on an academic and artistic high school next year. With a strong interest in academics, she also plays field hockey and takes part in mock trials. “I’d want to strike a balance between work-life and my creative space. I want to be a lawyer but at the same time continue making music and releasing albums.” An avid guitar player, she enjoys experimenting by setting chords to khayals on her acoustic guitar and mixing piano melodies with additional khayals and ragas. “I enjoy experimenting and I’m excited to see where the future takes me.”
With her debut album out, Shivali is excited to make Indian culture and music more accessible to the new generation. “It’s a very fresh take on classical music and we haven’t heard anything like it before. I am excited to know how people react to it,” she concludes.
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