Meet Surya Ensemble

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Surya Ensemble a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Surya Ensemble, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

As a group immersed in world music here in Atlanta, maintaining our creativity is vital. We must find ways to keep the spark flying between us and the music!

So we focus on working together as there’s nothing that sparks our creativity like working with one another. We are all very creative and talented people, having our own unique and diverse styles. We play together regularly, preparing for upcoming shows, improvising, and bouncing ideas off each other. We incorporate instruments from different cultures and new rhythms into our sound, and this helps us evolve as a group and keep things exciting.
Then, we set aside our rehearsal time for free-form jamming, but with a twist. Sometimes we might focus on a specific rhythm or a single melody to guide us, but we encourage each other to explore new directions within those boundaries. After all, we don’t just perform music – we live it!
All Surya’s members also work solo, and we each have our own side projects. These personal explorations bring fresh energy, new ideas and perspectives back to the ensemble. It keeps things interesting for everyone.
Atlanta’s audiences are incredible, too! Their positive energy is contagious. Seeing people enjoy our music motivates us, and it’s another huge source of inspiration for us.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

If you’re seeking a unique and enchanting experience in Atlanta, we invite you to discover Surya, our captivating world music group. We are a creative ensemble of performers who bring vibrant and soulful music concerts to Atlanta, GA. Our music tells stories, evokes emotions, and gets your feet tapping. It’s a fusion of East and West, tradition and modern flair, it’s something truly unique. Our music is like a journey beyond borders and genres. Surya Ensemble consists of musicians from all over, brought together by our love of sharing stories through music.
At our concerts, you’ll hear familiar instruments like the violin, guitar, and viola, alongside unique ones like Persian drums and the Shehnai. Our member Michelle captivates audiences with her innovative violin performances across Atlanta, while playing alongside notable artists and performing at exclusive events. Sean, a versatile guitarist prominent in Atlanta’s music scene, is known for his eclectic styles, collaborations with famous artists, and performances at major events. Catherine, a seasoned musician, classically trained violinist and violist, collaborates with prestigious ensembles and corporate giants. Nima, a highly skilled Santour and Daf player, has led numerous folklore concerts in the U.S., including performances in Atlanta. Ankit, the soulful Shehnai player and composer for the Surya Ensemble, performs at exclusive events across Atlanta and the U.S., especially at Indian weddings. Our performances are further enriched by the presence of a cultural dancer, Maria, which adds an extra layer of color and energy to the performance. Maria, a multi-award-winning Bellydance artist and choreographer, blends Western, Indian, and flamenco styles, captivating audiences across Atlanta’s venues.
Surya show is an experience that will move you, energize you, and leave you wanting more. So, if you’re looking for a fantastic night out, make sure to add a Surya concert to your list of things to do in Atlanta. We promise a night you won’t forget, a boundless musical adventure like no other! Check our website www.suryaensemble.com for more information about Surya Ensemble and to secure your tickets for our upcoming live music events in Atlanta.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three qualities or skills that were most impactful in your journey as a group are musical open-mindedness, active listening, and collaboration skills.
So, musical open-mindedness, this is where it all starts. We all came from different musical backgrounds, we all had a strong foundation in our own musical styles, but learning to appreciate and integrate styles from other cultures was crucial. When performing world music, we must embrace the unfamiliar and step outside our comfort zones. As for the advice for someone early in their journey, explore traditional music from the region you come from and music genres you’ve never listened to before, or find local musicians from different cultures to perform with.
For us, active listening was a game-changer. We had to learn to listen not just to play our own parts, but to truly understand how each part fit together and build on each other’s ideas. World music is all about conversation between instruments and cultures, that’s why learning to hear the nuances of different styles was essential for us to perform authentically and creatively. So you need to pay close attention to how instruments interact and how melodies develop.
As for collaboration skills, world music is often a group effort, and so is our ensemble. We had to learn to communicate our musical ideas clearly, find compromises, and use each other’s strengths. This allows us to create unique pieces and keep our music fresh. So if you’re just starting out, play with other musicians as often as possible. This will help you hone your ability to listen, respond, and adapt in a musical conversation.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

Rather, we would like to say who is the ideal audience we would like to invite to our concerts.
Although everyone is welcome at our events, the ideal person to catch our world music shows in Atlanta would be someone with an open mind and open ears. We love audiences who are open to new sounds and rhythms. They come with a sense of adventure, ready to be surprised by instruments they might not recognize or the energy of music they’ve never felt before. The ideal concert-goer would appreciate the beauty of music that transcends borders.
We love sharing the musical journeys we take people on. So, someone who enjoys the feeling of being transported to another place through music would be a great fit. They appreciate the cultural tapestry that world music creates, and get swept away on a musical journey.
Additionally, a respectful listener who appreciates the quieter moments in a piece and the intricate interplay between instruments, who can feel the universal language of music we’re creating, is someone we love to perform for. And if you want to support the local music scene, we’d definitely like to see you at our shows in Atlanta!

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