Stage Matters

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In this episode, we sit down with Ramkumar Kanakarajan, better known to the music world as Kanaxx. As one of India’s most prolific and versatile drummers, Kanaxx’s journey is a masterclass in staying grounded while playing at the highest level.

From peeking through a hole in a brick wall in Besant Nagar to watch legends like Sivamani and S. Murali Krishnan, to sharing stages with A.R.Rahman, Harris Jayaraj,   D.Imman, Sean Roldan, Sid Sriram, Amit Trivedi, INDOSOUL by Karthick Iyer, Grey Shack, SNAX, Maalavika Sundar, Kanaxx has seen it all. In this candid conversation, he opens up about the "flashy" early days of his career and his transition into a seasoned professional who prioritizes the soul of the song over technical flair.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Origins: Growing up in the musical hub of Chennai and how being neighbors with maestros like John McLaughlin and Zakir Hussain shaped his subconscious.
• The Philosophy of the "Pocket": Kanaxx explains the fine line between playing for the song versus playing at it.
• The Professional Rigor: Why punctuality is his greatest prep tool and the meticulous work that goes into managing a professional drum kit.
• Stage Realities: Navigating "freak accidents"—from broken kick drum heads during competition finals to beaters getting caught in his pants.
• The Modern Spectacle: How the role of a musician has expanded to include stage persona, time-synced visuals, and creating an immersive experience for the crowd.

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Join us on Stage Matters as we sit down with Tenma—composer, bass player, and the driving force behind Chennai's most vital musical movements.

From his beginnings in a Pursavakkam church choir, soaking up jazz and the sounds of Anglo-Indian string players who worked with Ilaiyaraaja, Tenma’s journey is a powerful exploration of music as both an art form and a political act.

In this deep-dive conversation, Tenma shares:

• The Bass Awakening: How picking up a Yamaha bass for a school farewell, after years of singing, defined his path, and the moment a complex funeral performance revealed the true depth of music.
• The Cultural Vacuum: His frustration with the decline of Chennai's original music scene and the hyper-competitive, yet creatively limiting, college rock circuit.
• The Inseparability of Politics and Performance: Why the performance space in Chennai is still structurally exclusionary and how the fundamental problems of caste and gatekeeping stifle creative evolution and growth.
• The Militant Maestro: An exclusive look at the intense dynamics of running the 19-person Casteless Collective—a band that merged rock, rap, and Gaana music. Hear about the unconventional methods, including fines for "bum notes," he used to mentor diverse musicians and elevate their performance to a near-flawless level.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of music, culture, and social change. Tenma doesn't just talk about music; he talks about building a movement.

Tune in for a raw and insightful discussion on escaping the aesthetic status quo and finding the collective groove.

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In a truly unique and introspective conversation, writer, producer, and lyricist Siva Ananth (Ponniyin Selvan, Madras Talkies) joins Aravind to dissect the very nature of performance, blending personal history with deep philosophical insight.

From a nervous four-year-old on stage to his seasoned perspective on a film set, Siva explores his "complex relationship" with performance, attention, and the fundamental shift facing artists today.

• Stage vs. Screen: Football vs. Cricket: Discover the fundamental differences between the collective, improvisational energy of theatre (where co-actors are allies) and the isolated, technically perfect demands of cinema (where the actor must "switch on and switch off" on demand).
• The Director's Eye: Siva details what makes an exceptional performer: not just talent, but the intelligence and creative choices visible in a first impression. He shares his core belief that a director's job is to guide and choose the best performance, not to micromanage or teach acting.
• The Higher Purpose of Art: Moving beyond mere narcissism, Siva shares how the global COVID experience revealed the spiritual necessity of art—music, film, and performance—to sustain and enrich life, even when compared to life-saving professions.
• The Future of Human Value (The Final Question): The episode culminates in a profound discussion on the dawning AI age. Is AI just the newest tool (like digital color correction), or a threat to the inherent value of the human fingerprint on art? Siva argues for AI to be subservient to the artist, making the mastery of new technology simply the next essential human skill.

A must-listen for anyone interested in the soul of acting, the craft of direction, and the preservation of human creativity in a mechanized world.

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This episode of Stage Matters features a fascinating conversation with Karthick Iyer, the highly accomplished violinist and founder of the popular band, IndoSoul.

Karthik offers a deep dive into the complex world of professional performance, detailing his journey from a traditional Carnatic musician to an international showman and, ultimately, a music entrepreneur.

Key Discussion Points:

• The Performer's Evolution: Karthik outlines the distinct phases of his performing life, from overcoming stage fright in his early years, to mastering technical skills in the studio, and finally embracing the role of a "showman" on large international stages with acts like Raghu Dixit.
• Philosophy and Technique: He discusses the vital difference between clinical technique and being in "the zone," prioritizing the latter as a deeply spiritual and relatable experience for both the artist and the audience. He also explains how IndoSoul balances planned arrangements with completely improvisational solos.
• Preparation and Gear: Learn about his unique pre-show routine, including his strict avoidance of eating before a show, and the evolution of his sophisticated, MIDI-controlled violin rig designed to keep his hands and feet free for movement and expression.
• The Business of Music: Karthik candidly addresses the financial realities of a performing artist. He shares his successful model for building IndoSoul as a brand—where commercial gigs feed the passion projects (Indie music)—and offers sound financial advice for young musicians on savings, emergency funds, and avoiding artistic idealism.
• Life on the Road: He touches upon the physical and mental toll of long shows, his strategies for managing violin-related physical issues (cervical prolapse), and the magical, irreplaceable energy exchange that defines a live performance.

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Join us for a captivating conversation with guitarist and composer Shylu Ravindran, known for his powerful work with the contemporary fusion band Jattayu. Shylu opens up about his extraordinary transition from being a prodigious Carnatic mridangam player—the son of a legendary vidwan—to becoming a groundbreaking Carnatic-influenced electric guitarist.

In this episode, Shylu shares:

• Life Before and After Guitar: How the stage shifted from being a "second home" (with the mridangam) to a "nightmare" (with the guitar) and the five years it took to find confidence.
• The Preparation Process: His essential rule for maintaining a "calm mind" before a gig, why a peaceful soundcheck is paramount, and his surprising pre-show routine.
• The Spiritual Performance: Why he believes music is a sacred ritual and how he enters a "trance world" on stage where the only focus is his bandmates and the monitors.
• The Business of Music: His candid advice on building a successful career in original music by establishing a parallel teaching ecosystem, and why being fit is as crucial as being financially smart.
• Rehearsal & Mistakes: Why "too much rehearsal is bad," how Jattayu balances spontaneous improvisation with a tight structure, and why human "errors and flaws" are necessary for a beautiful live experience.
• Life on the Road: Managing the intense pressure of touring with a close-knit band and the differences between the conservative Carnatic environment and the free-form world of fusion.

Shylu offers a rare, honest glimpse into the dedication, discipline, and sheer joy that powers one of the most exciting voices in Indian contemporary music.

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Join us on Stage Matters as we welcome Chennai's stand-up comedy sensation, Aravind SA. While his stage presence is magnetic, Aravind reveals that his career was a complete accident, rooted not in confidence or wit, but in a profound sense of insecurity, desperation, and a relentless need to be heard.

In this deep-dive conversation, Aravind details the surprising mechanism behind his success:

• The Power of Anxiety: Discover how his "perennially anxious and dissatisfied" personality became the fuel for a thriving career built on "moaning and groaning," and how a friend, seeing his dramatic rants as a hidden talent, first tricked him into comedy.
• The Science of Repetition: Aravind breaks down his intensely detailed preparation process, which involves treating a new joke like a hard-coded script change—requiring writing, focus-group testing, and sandwiching it into the full 90-minute set for seamless integration.
• The Obsessive Loop: Learn about his unique and perhaps surprising post-show ritual: recording and listening to every single show's audio while walking. He explains how this daily habit fuels his iterative process, transforming fear into momentum and moving him from "self-loathing to self-love" one playback at a time.
• The Entrepreneurial Artist: Beyond the jokes, Aravind describes his meticulous "end-to-end entrepreneurial" approach to the live show experience. From pre-programmed voiceovers and specific music medleys to coordinating lighting cues for individual gags, he explains how every technical detail is part of a complex, quality-controlled blueprint.

This episode offers an unparalleled look behind the curtain, proving that for Aravind SA, stand-up comedy is less about winging it and more about becoming an Anxious Architect who leaves nothing to chance.

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Join us for a fascinating conversation with veteran Front of House (FOH) Sound Engineer, Sean Bout, as he takes us behind the console of major live performances.

With over 30 years in the industry, Sean shares invaluable insights, starting from his roots in college rock bands to his current role managing sound for top artists in the Indian and Tamil music scene.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• FOH vs. Monitors: Sean clearly explains the critical differences between the Front of House mix (what the audience hears) and the Monitor mix (what the musicians hear), detailing the demands of handling both roles simultaneously for smaller acts.
• The Preparation Process: Learn about the rigorous week-long prep involved, from vendor selection and console choices to preparing the custom show file for a flawless gig.
• Troubleshooting & Communication: Sean discusses how he quickly manages technical failures on the fly and his stance on stage communication and the use of individual talkback mics.
• Global Gigs: Discover the surprising contrasts between working with well-stocked vendors in India versus the budget and labor challenges faced when touring internationally.
• The Decibel Debate: A crucial discussion on hearing health, maintaining safe sound levels ($\approx 90-95\text{ dB}$) at live shows, and why he's not a fan of the older, excessively loud mixing norms.
• Professionalism & Expectations: Sean offers candid thoughts on what he expects from band members and, most importantly, the need for honesty and transparency from organizers and vendors.

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Join us on Stage Matters as we sit down with Sahib Singh, the bandleader and frontman of the instrumental powerhouse Jatayu. In this candid conversation, Saib details his 15-year evolution in performance, starting with a hilariously accidental debut simply to bunk class .

Sahib takes us beyond the notes, discussing how he conquered stage fright by building a bold onstage persona and the profound shift from focusing on technical perfection to achieving internal freedom while playing. Learn about:

• The Spiritual Performance: Sahib's belief that a great live show is an act of collective consciousness, where the band and audience achieve a "hive mind" or "singularity."
• The Musician's Mental Space: Why the biggest challenge in the Indian music scene is not skill, but ensuring the artist is mentally comfortable to perform at their best, and how he shields his bandmates from logistical stress.
• Gear & Textures: His philosophy on using effects not for solos, but to create unique sonic textures and rhythm.
• The Show Must Go On: How a chaotic mistake—like the drums falling apart mid-song—can lead to the most magical, unforgettable moments of pure improvisation.
• The Independent Grind: The reality of being an independent artist, where success comes from problem-solving and being completely responsible for every aspect of the band's career.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the psychology, spirituality, and business of live performance.

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Stage Matters: Beyond the Classical - A Conversation with Padmini

Join us on Stage Matters for a fascinating chat with Padmini Chettur, a leading contemporary dancer and choreographer. In a genre-bending episode, Padmini takes us from her early training in Bharatanatyam and her eye-opening time at BITS Pilani to becoming a dedicated full-time artist.

She details the decade she spent under the mentorship of the legendary Chandralekha, a period that fundamentally shaped her belief that dance must be political and capable of changing society.

Listen as Padmini breaks down the difference between entertaining an audience and disturbing them, explaining why her work strives for "hyper presence" over the sublime. She also shares the surprising realities of contemporary dance today—from managing a company scattered across cities to her practical advice for aspiring artists on financial sustainability.

Discover what an ideal organizer looks like, the role of failure in a live performance, and why she views the audience as having a responsibility to engage with the art.

Don't miss this deep dive into the philosophy, preparation, and enduring conviction of a major voice in Indian contemporary dance.

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Performing isn't just about technique—it's about presence. Our guest Hrday Sunil shares a powerful, honest look at their evolution from an anxious introvert who dreaded the spotlight to an artist who actively feeds off the crowd. We explore the profound difference between the perfectionism of the studio and the fleeting, beautiful "compromise" of live music.

They detail the practicalities of gig life, the importance of systematic troubleshooting over frustration, and the one piece of advice that helps them survive the "dry months" of a touring musician: just play for the love of the instrument.