~FYC~
Best Dance/Electronic Album
Track Euphoric Rays for Best Dance/Electronic Recording
Echoes of the East
Shivali Chandrashekar, Kamini Natarajan
Ken Elkinson
LISTENING LINKS:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1ZoCjhpJ85nHtRUjAxqRfs
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/echoes-of-the-east/1812597821
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0F1BMHL4W
Featured Track – Euphoric Rays
“With Echoes of the East, acclaimed Indian classical vocalist Kamini Natarajan and her 14-year-old daughter Shivali Chandrashekar deliver a genre-defying debut that fuses the ancient with the avant-garde. The album, which dropped on March 21, 2025, reimagines Indian classical music for a new generation by intertwining it with deep house EDM—resulting in a strikingly global sonic tapestry.”
“The opening track, Rising Waves, sets the tone with an upbeat, joyous energy. Based on the vibrant Indian raga Kamod, the song radiates optimism and movement. Its high-energy beats and shimmering melodies create a sonic landscape that feels like the breaking dawn of a new cultural day—a perfect introduction to the album’s fusion ethos.”
“A Star on the Rise – With Echoes of the East, Shivali Chandrashekar is stepping into the spotlight—not just as a vocalist but as a young creator with vision and intent. Her story illustrates how artistic expression can bridge cultures and generations and how innovation often springs from honoring one’s roots.”
“This is not a fusion born of trend-chasing but one crafted with deep reverence and artistic precision. These are not remixes of tradition, they are reimagining. With careful attention to melody and groove, the album aims to introduce classical Indian soundscapes to audiences who might first encounter them on a dance floor”
About the Project
Echoes of the East is a cross-generational collaboration between Indian classical vocalist Kamini Natarajan and her 13-year-old daughter Shivali, blending deep house beats with the soul of Indian ragas.
Born in Los Angeles, Shivali has embraced both her American roots and rich Indian heritage, and Echoes of the East is a testament to that cultural duality. The album is a unique mother-daughter collaboration, featuring original compositions and evocative vocals from both artists, bridging generations and genres in a way never done before.
Produced by acclaimed composer and producer Ken Elkinson, who boasts a catalog of over 100 albums, Echoes of the East offers a fresh perspective in global fusion music. The album is poised to captivate audiences worldwide, from EDM enthusiasts to lovers of Indian classical music, and everyone in between.
Kamini Natarajan, an established name in world music, has a history of pushing creative boundaries. With Echoes of the East marking her 12th release, she continues to explore new musical landscapes while staying rooted in the rich traditions of Indian music.
“This album is more than just music; it’s a conversation between past and present, East and West, tradition and innovation,” says Natarajan.
Artist Bio
Shivali Chandrashekar
Shivali Chandrashekar is a 14-year-old vocalist and emerging artist making her powerful debut on Echoes of the East, a boundary-pushing fusion album that blends Indian classical music with deep house EDM. Born in Los Angeles, Shivali represents a new generation of multicultural artists confidently straddling heritage and modernity.
She began training in Hindustani classical music at the age of five under the guidance of her mother and mentor, Kamini Natarajan. Her musical journey deepened further through the tutelage of renowned maestros Pt. Arun Dravid and Dr. Aashish Ranade. Together, they have helped Shivali refine her vocal technique, understanding of ragas, and the meditative power of traditional Indian music.
Shivali started performing with her mother as a young 5 year old, often accompanying Kamini to music festivals and workshops around the world. Shivali gave her full length Indian classical music concert at the age of 11 in Nashik, India and received rave reviews by the press and well renowned musicians.
On Echoes of the East, Shivali co-composed multiple tracks, provided lead vocals, and helped shape the album’s artistic direction. Her performances are emotionally resonant, technically refined, and boldly expressive—bridging two worlds with authenticity and confidence. Through her music, she seeks to inspire other young artists navigating cultural duality.
“You don’t have to choose one identity—you can celebrate both,” she says, a sentiment that echoes throughout the album.
Kamini Natarajan
Kamini’s musical journey started in central India. Kamini comes from a long line of devotional singers going back five generations in her family — and is already passing on that tradition to her daughter, Shivali, who began performing at the age of four. Kamini started learning the intricacies and nuances of Indian Classical Music when she was six years old. She spent hours coming up with various improvisations at different time signatures. At the age of ten, Kamini started her rigorous vocal training under the masters of Indian Classical Music. She graduated in vocal music and was in the top position at her University. After years of immersive training, Kamini started performing at various national level music festivals and her performances were judged as “Outstanding” by experts in the field.
Kamini was one of the youngest graded artists from All India Radio, Indore (India), and she regularly appeared in National Television of India.
After moving to Los Angeles in 2002, Kamini collaborated with various music producers and composers. Her song “Devi” is featured along with Anoushka Shankar and Talvin Singh on the Tantra Lounge album. Kamini’s versatility and deep knowledge of music allows her to easily sing and improvise over wide genres of music. She has collaborated with musicians across multiple genres: rock, EDM, Armenian and Persian music, and jazz.
In 2020 Kamini collaborated with GRAMMY-nominated Jai Uttal on the track “Om Namo Bhagavate” from Chants for Meditation Volume 2. She has lent her voice for a song “Karma” in a rock music album with Michael Cutting. Her album Chants for Meditation with composer and producer Ken Elkinson received rave reviews from fans of New Age, World and Yoga Music. Her song was featured in the documentary Child Of Nature. Her song “Tarela” with Armenian singer Vartan went viral and has over a million views on YouTube. Kamini has also composed and recorded music for Terrence McNally’s play The Perfect Ganesh. She also recorded vocals for NPR’s The Imperfect Paradise.
Kamini has performed at major music festivals across California and worldwide: Bhakti Fest, Shakti Fest, Moksha, World Cultural Fest, Yoga Fest, Modesto Unplugged Music Festival, Carlsbad Music Festival, One Love Experience Festival, Veda Mela etc. She has been one of the first Indian Classical singers to perform at some of these events.
Kamini currently lives in Los Angeles, where she teaches Indian classical Music, performs and records. She performs Indian classical and Kirtan devotional music. Kamini frequently performs in the Southern California area and is a much sought after world music artist.
Ken Elkinson
Ken Elkinson, the producer behind Echoes of the East, is a prolific composer and multi-genre recording artist with over 100 albums to his name. Originally from New Jersey and now based in Atlanta, Ken has released acclaimed solo piano works, ambient collections, and electronic music that has been featured on global radio stations, in-flight entertainment programs, and television networks. His catalog spans a wide range of musical styles—from meditative lullabies and atmospheric ambient to jazz-funk and experimental chillout.
Ken is perhaps best known for his 6-CD ambient series Music for Commuting, which was widely praised for its calming effect and earned coverage in major outlets like the New York Times, CNN, and the Washington Post. He’s also produced music for film, yoga, spa settings, and even holiday-themed ambient albums. Elkinson is constantly evolving, blending acoustic and electronic instrumentation with an ear for emotionally resonant soundscapes.
His deep understanding of both ambient sound design and rhythmic architecture made him the perfect collaborator for this project. On Echoes of the East, Ken’s production amplifies the soul of Hindustani classical music while seamlessly wrapping it in immersive, beat-driven arrangements that honor tradition while embracing modernity.