Exclusive Interview with Avra Banerjee – Bridging Traditions Through World Music

Avra Banerjee is an accomplished Indian classical musician, composer, and sarod player specializing in world music. With over 60 singles released and recognition from prestigious awards, including the InterContinental Music Awards, Global Music Awards, and Clef Music Award, his artistry blends tradition with innovation.

Based in Australia, he is the founder of SwaraSynthesis, where he composes and arranges across Indian classical, world, fusion, ghazals, sufi, rock, and pop. A voting member of The Recording Academy, Avra continues to influence the global music industry through advocacy, education, and mentorship, while crafting music that resonates across cultures.

Where are you from?

I’m originally from India, where I was born and brought up, and it’s also where I began my musical journey. Professionally, my work took me to the US and Europe, and eventually I settled in Australia, where I continue to live and pursue with both my professional and my music career.

How long have you been making music?

I’ve been learning and engaging with Indian classical music for over 15 years. There were periods when I had to pause formal training due to academic and professional commitments, but I stayed connected by listening to music and attending concerts. Around 10–12 years ago, I picked up my instrument again, started regular practice, and began collaborating with other musicians. Despite having a full-time professional career in IT, I’ve been actively pursuing music at a professional level, not just as an amateur.

How many songs /albums have you released to date?

To date, I’ve released over 60 singles and 7–8 albums over the last 10–12 years as a professional artist. Most of my work is as a composer, with some performances as well. My releases span a wide range of genres from my core strength in Indian classical, fusion, and instrumental music, to world music, Ghazals, Sufi, pop, and rock.

Can you tell us about your latest release and the background/inspirations behind it?

My latest release is ‘Blues Odyssey’, an instrumental composition submitted in the Best Instrumental Music and Global Performance categories. The piece blends the Indian classical sarod with two other string instruments, acoustic guitar and rock guitar. The idea was to explore how these ‘cousin’ string instruments, each with its own tone and character, can coexist and complement each other in a contemporary soundscape. It’s a fusion that reflects both tradition and modernity, and I’ve been fortunate to bring this vision to life through my collaborations.

Another recent release is a contemporary Indian romantic song called ‘Pehli Sawan’, sung by a talented female vocalist Debanjali Lily. The song explores a completely different mood and style, showing the diversity in my musical expression.

How have/did you end up in the music industry?

I was introduced to music as a child by my parents, coming from a culturally rich family. At first, it felt like something I had to do, but over time, that obligation naturally turned into love and passion. I continued learning music for many years, though academic and professional commitments required me to step away for a while.

The turning point came during a professional trip to Denmark. Feeling a bit bored, I brought my instrument along, and that simple act reignited my connection to music. I began collaborating with local Danish artists, and from there, my musical journey fully resumed. That experience set me on the path to where I am today, actively pursuing music professionally alongside my career.

What do you think of the music industry in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic hit?

Frankly, the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 didn’t impact me financially, as I had a full-time job that provided stability. I understand that many musicians were significantly affected, which was very unfortunate. On the positive side, the situation accelerated the concept of remote collaboration and recording, and I was able to work on a few projects this way quite effectively. So while it brought challenges, it also opened new ways of creating and collaborating for many of us in the industry.

Who do you think is the most influential artist?

For me, there are many influences, especially since I work across multiple genres. Starting with Indian classical music, two names that had a profound impact on me are Ust Ali Akbar Khan and Pt. Ravi Shankar. I also drew inspiration from legends like Ust Vilayat Khan, Pt. Nikhil Banerjee, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ust Zakir Hussain, Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri, and my mentor Ust Aashish Khan.

Later, as I explored ghazals, I was deeply influenced by Ghulam Ali and Hariharan. In the world music and jazz space, artists like Chick Corea and John McLaughlin left a strong impression on me. There are many more, but these are the ones who have had the most significant impact on my musical journey.

Who have you collaborated with so far in your career?

I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with over 40 artists during my last 8–10 years as a professional musician. This includes many musicians I grew up listening to and never imagined I would have the opportunity to work with or have perform on my compositions. Many of them are also my friends and colleagues, outstanding in the music industry. Some of the names include Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri, Hariharan, Ustad Rashid Khan, Taufiq Qureshi, George Brooks, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Talat Aziz, Purbayan Chatterjee, Shashank Subramanyam, Ambi Subramaniam, Murad Ali, Rhythm Shaw, Ojas Adhiya, Suchismita Das, and many more.

Many of these collaborations have been strengthened by my close musical partnership with Tamal Kanti Halder, who has arranged much of my catalogue. One collaboration I missed was with the legendary American jazz guitarist Larry Coryell, discussions were underway, but sadly he passed away before it could happen, which was a huge loss.

There are also a few artists I hope to collaborate with in the future, we’ll see how those unfold.

How do you think you differ from other artists?

I think what sets me apart is that I balance a full-time professional career alongside my music, yet I strive to create and deliver work at the highest professional standard. This requires strong time management and dedication. I also started my professional music journey after a gap, which meant getting back into the flow and maintaining a high level of performance was challenging, something I respect deeply in musicians whose profession and passion are the same.

Musically, I’ve matured into a multi-genre artist, which is still relatively rare. I’ve tried to give a distinctive dimension to my Indo-Western fusion compositions, blending Indian classical music with world music influences, Middle Eastern, Spanish, Latin, Bossa Nova, Oriental, or European folk, rather than layering Western elements on top of Indian classical structures.

Another unique aspect of my work is experimenting with odd time signatures, such as 11/4, 13/4, 15/4, or even 8.5/4, which is rarely done and adds a distinctive rhythmic complexity to my compositions.

I’ve also noticed that some quite accomplished musicians have been inspired by my style and are exploring approaches similar to what I’ve done. It’s flattering to see my work influencing others in the industry.

Who will you love to have a collaboration with?

I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with many incredible artists so far, but there are a few musicians I would love to work with in the future, both from India and the Western world. These include Shankar Mahadevan, Pt. Metheny, Béla Fleck, Louis Banks, Sonu Nigam, Rakesh Chaurasia, Shobha Mudgal, and Niladri Kumar. I would love to explore collaborations across multiple genres, blending Indian classical, fusion, world music, and contemporary styles with these artists, it would be both a dream and an inspiring creative experience.

What was the first album you bought as an artist?

I don’t remember exactly when it started, but I do recall that from an early age, whenever I had some money, I would spend it on cassettes of my favorite artists, including the ones I mentioned earlier, whenever a new release came out.

What’s your favorite song at the moment?

There are too many to choose from, so I can’t name others, but if I have to pick from my own work, my latest release, ‘Blues Odyssey’, is my current favorite.

If you had to sell your music collection tomorrow, what album/track would you leave in your draw?

Honestly, everything in my music collection is something I truly value. I only keep top-notch, favorite tracks. I don’t hold on to anything I don’t like. My collection is also quite niche, reflecting my personal taste and the music that inspires me most, so it’s hard to pick just one to keep—everything I have is meaningful.

What is your favorite quote/saying?

I see music as an art form rather than just entertainment. I love to create music that I personally connect with first, and then consider how it will resonate with others. This approach drives me to craft compositions that are intricate and challenging, yet melodious and contemplative for the listener. I often experiment with multi-layered melodies and unconventional rhythms to explore new musical possibilities.

What other hobbies or interests do you have?

Given that I have a full-time job and also dedicate a lot of time to music, pursuing other hobbies feels like a luxury—anything extra could compromise my music, professional commitments, or family time. I used to watch a lot of soccer matches and I have some interest in theatre and films, which I enjoy whenever I get the chance. But increasingly, I find myself drawn entirely to music, it’s like a black hole. At some point, apart from my family commitments, almost everything in my life would perhaps revolve around music.

Tell us more about your upcoming project or this new project?

At the moment, I’m working on two contemporary songs, one of which will be sung by Suchismita Das, an accomplished vocalist, while the singer for the second track is yet to be decided.

In addition, I’m developing an instrumental album featuring 5–6 tracks in collaboration with my musical colleague Tamal Kanti Halder. This album will be contemporary in nature and reflects a multi-genre approach, blending elements of blues, rock, jazz, Indian classical, flamenco, and more. The idea is to create a cohesive body of work where diverse musical influences coexist and complement each other, highlighting the versatility of string instruments and modern compositional techniques.

What’s in the pipeline after this project?

At the moment, I’m not entirely sure what comes after this project. The instrumental album I mentioned will take around 4–5 months to complete, and I’m also engaged with local performance projects here in Perth. I often wish I had more time, sometimes it feels like I need 30 hours in a day!

However, I can’t compromise on sleep, as that would affect my health and everything else I do. I also need to maintain a balance between my professional and personal commitments, which are equally important. For now, my focus is on giving my best to the projects I’m currently working on.

Follow Avra Banerjee Online

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ragamorphism

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avraban/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ragamorphismproductions3066/

Website: https://www.avrabanerjee.com

Song Mentioned: Blues Odyssey