FEATURED ARTIST *AAYUSHI MILAN KARNIK* INTERVIEW

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Aayushi Milan Karnik - Why

Surat, India

Credit - Aayushi Karnik

Opening with an interesting sitar-sounding guitar progression we're instantly given the taste of India in this production. As the vocals join this piece we're given a soft country/folk-inspired sound. This is a very unique piece of music in the way that it blends western and eastern influences. Receiving praise from the likes of Rolling Stones India they stated the following: "In addition to agile and intricate guitar work, the singer in Karnik leaps out expressively and unfiltered, aided by the depth of the upright bass performed by her schoolmate Gabe Rupe. The duo recorded the acoustic tracks live in single takes, as though they were performing."- Rolling Stones India. This track is one that will add an element of fusion to your Sunday playlists.

STREAM HERE

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After making it to Number 7 in our Top 10 Acoustic, Tamara Jenna reached out to Aayushi Milan Karnik to get to the artist behind this release!

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INTERVIEW

When was 'Why' released?

The Christmas break of 2020

Where are you based?

New York City

When creating the track, who were your biggest artistic influences?

Paul Simon, Chris Thile, Joni Mitchell, John Mayer

How did your collaboration with rolling stones magazine happen?

The Rolling Stones India collaboration happened after my EP, The Summer Children came out last year. I was a part of the indie music scene in India so I had known the people who wrote for the magazine for a while.

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?

That is a tough one but I would say that it would be nice to see the artists be able to support themselves with their own art. Most artists are forced to find a secondary source of income because have a record out there or being a really gifted musician/lyricist/songwriter isn't enough. Although being in that tough spot does inspire a lot of art in a weirdly romantic way.

What do you do to relax?

I put on some Simon and Garfunkel or Joni Mitchell and walk around the East Village in New York City.

What motivates you to create?

I study various kinds of disciplines in music ranging from Jazz to Folk and my goal has always been to merge those influences together and still have a song that is addressing the issues of the condition that is called being human.

How do you develop your artistic skills?

I am currently a Jazz Studies student at Juilliard and will be graduating next month so my development has been a curriculum since last four years. From what I think, my development would be valid if I implemented all of the arranging, ensemble playing and counterpoint studies into my music. Apart from that, obsessive practicing has always helped.

What are your ultimate career goals?

I can say for the next five years. If I manage to keep a Folk Trio, Blues/Rock Trio and a Modern Jazz Quartet going, I think i would be satisfied for a while.

How do you collaborate with other artists?

The other artists that I have collaborated so far are my fellow students at Juilliard and it mostly happened organically as I would end up playing with most of them in an ensemble or a class at school

How would you define your sound?

Folk/Rock/Blues/Jazz. If I can make these four words appear every time I play in no specific order, it would be my sound.

What are your future plans? What can we look forward to for the rest of 2022?

I recently released a Blues/Rock record called 'Troublemaker' under Audiophile Society so I am trying to play music out of that while turning my trio into a Jazz Fusion band. While I do that, my primary goal would be to hopefully record my Folk Band 'Summer Children' and write for a Jazz Quartet.

SPOTIFY - SUMMER CHILDREN EP

APPLE - TROUBLEMAKER

SPOTIFY - TROUBLEMAKER

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