In this week’s episode of From the Ashes, I sit down with Basanth Muralikrishnan, a world-class saxophonist based in Chennai, India. Basanth’s journey is one of blending worlds—combining the rich traditions of Carnatic (Indian classical) music with the fluidity of Western Classical and Jazz. Despite performing on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, what stands out most is his humility and warmth. Together, we explore the challenges and joys of being an artist, navigating neurodivergence, and finding balance between structure and spontaneity. Our conversation was as much about discovering our shared humanity as it was about our individual paths, making this episode a heartwarming exchange between two new friends.

Basanth Muralikrishnan is a saxophonist who hails from a family of musicians, seamlessly blending Carnatic (Indian classical), Western Classical, and Jazz in his playing. Born and raised in the U.S., Basanth now resides in Chennai. He began his formal Carnatic vocal training at the age of three under his mother, Rose Muralikrishnan, a renowned Carnatic vocalist, teacher, and composer. Simultaneously, he trained on the veena and keyboard under his father, N. Muralikrishnan (NMK), a veena virtuoso and a pioneer in developing Carnatic music on the keyboard. His saxophone journey began under the tutelage of maestro Marco Zaragoza, with guidance from both his parents. Basanth has graced prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and has toured with notable artists such as Benny Dayal, Sean Roldan, and Stephen Devassy.

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