Peak Bengaluru Moment: Folk Rock Band Swarathma Sings AI-Generated Song At Cypher 2023

Every day, the vibrant tech hub Bengaluru captures the spotlight with its series of quintessential 'Peak Bengaluru' moments. This city never sleeps, constantly abuzz with its dynamic startup culture, perennial traffic woes, soaring rents, peculiar encounters, and relentless innovation. Adding another feather to its cap, the city witnessed a remarkable 'Peak Bengaluru' moment when Swarathma, an Indian Folk/fusion band hailing from Bengaluru, took the stage to perform a song generated by ChatGPT at the India's Biggest AI conference Cypher 2023.

Twitter user Pritam Bordoloi posted it on X (formerly known as Twitter) and wrote,''Swarathma singing to a song generated by ChatGPT at an AI conference is @peakbengaluru.''

The tweet went viral and has so far garnered 5,455 views and 33 likes.

For the unversed, Swarathma comprises Vasu Dixit (vocals and rhythm guitar), K J Pavan (percussion and vocals), Varun Murali (guitar and vocals), Sanjeev Nayak (violin and vocals), Jishnu Dasgupta (bass guitar and vocals), and Joel Milan Baptist (drums). Their music seamlessly weaves elements of Indian Folk and Classical Music with Western influences like Blues Rock and Reggae. Their lyrics are a reflection of personal journeys and touch upon various social and political themes.

Swarathma has made waves in the music scene with the release of two full-length studio albums, namely 'Swarathma' (2009) and 'Topiwalleh' (2012), in addition to several singles and music videos. They graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine's India edition and were recognized as one of the "25 Hottest Indian Bands." The band's excellence was also acknowledged at the annual Jack Daniels Indian Rock Awards in 2009, where they clinched awards for Best Band, Song, and Album of the Year.

Their musical journey has taken them across the globe, performing in countries like Morocco, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Australia, and Singapore, establishing them as one of India's premier folk rock bands.

Swarathma's story began in 2002 in Mysuru when vocalist and songwriter Vasu Dixit crossed paths with Abhinanth Kumar, a guitarist with a shared vision of creating original music. Joined by K J Pavan on percussions and Arjun on the violin, they formed the band's initial lineup. In 2003, Dixit temporarily parted ways to pursue a Master's degree in Film and Video Communication at the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad. This led to a two-year hiatus for the band, but they regrouped in 2006, welcoming Montry Manuel as their new drummer.