Indian Ocean have been performing their own music for over a decade now. They have toured all over the world and performed at some of the most popular festivals in the world. Recently their album Desert Rain was featured on iTunes as the 4th most successful fusion album in the world. iTunes is a subsidiary of Apple iPod and the world’s largest music bank available on the Internet.

 

Indian Ocean have always prided themselves on original music. They have also composed music for films but always in their unique style. The band is based in Delhi and has performed all over the country. Their blend of folk and contemporary music has given them an identity, which so far cannot be categorised in any specific genre of music. Indian Ocean is formed of four talented musicians:

 

Susmit Sen: He, with Aushim was the founder member of the band. When Susmit started playing, many contemporary guitarists had written him off, as he could not play the blues and other popular songs on his guitar ­­­– a fact that he agrees to even today – but, it is his unique style of playing the guitar, which got the appreciation of many music critics, both in India and abroad. They have compared him to the likes of Mark Knoplfer, Tommy Emmanuel and other legendary guitar players.

  

Aushim Chakravorty: People say that his voice is silk smooth but has also a rustic feel, which reminds one, of the beauty that lies in the ruins of great kings and courts. A self-professed untrained tabla player and singer, Aushim has dazzled many an audience with doing them both simultaneously, which is unheard of and often shunned in the classical music world. If any one asks him which gharana of tabla he belongs to he has a wicked smile on his face and a ready reply that he belongs to the khirki gharana. In fact, he lives in Delhi at a place called Khirki Village.

 

Rahul Ram: He is a PhD in Toxicology from the Cornell University and one of the people who brought the Narmada Bachao Andolan into the limelight. He sounds like a very serious man for whom being a full time musician would not be a proper career choice. But, Rahul is the exact opposite. He is a great fun-loving guy and has a great sense of humour. His bass playing matches his singing prowess. A no-nonsense musician, Rahul is one of the most celebrated bass players in the country. He is also the one who does most of the interaction with the crowd when the band is playing live. He has been known to entertain the crowd with not just his music but also with his humorous banter.

  

Amit Kilam: He is the percussionist, recordist, singer, flautist, and a general good guy. Amit Kilam is the youngest member of the band but as responsible as any other. He is one of the most gifted percussionists ever to grace the stage in our country and one of the drummers who give enough space in compositions for his other band members to shine. He believes that a rhythm structure well executed is far more important rather than just complicated rolls played loudly on the drum kit. 

  

These four different personalities with varied interests and influences are but on the same journey to create an original music, which will be remembered for years after they leave this mortal earth.

   

Name of albums  

United States of America