NADAKA & GOPIKA - Indian World Fusion Concert

Nadaka was born and raised in Quebec, Canada, and began playing various instruments at an early age before settling on guitar when he was 11. He decided to travel around the world when he was 16 and settled in India where he lived for the next 30 years, primarily in the international community of Auroville that was founded in pursuit of deeper consciousness. His love and passion for Indian culture led him to study its music, learn different Indian instruments. He designed and crafted a unique instrument of his own; a guitar specially designed to play the subtle tones of Indian music that he likes to call the “Geet-Taar” (singing strings). He became an active member of India’s contemporary musical scene, recording and performing with many top Indian musicians such as A.R. Rahman, Ganesh-Kumaresh, Vikku Vinayakram, Selvaganesh & Shivamani. He also has a number of successful albums to his credit. Inspired by Indian Ragas and rhythms, Nadaka carries his listeners into his unique musical world that is both modern and rich in tradition. 

Gopika was born in Mumbai, India, the daughter of a well-known artist and patron of the arts, Prafulla Dahanukar and granddaughter of Kesarbai Bandorkar a well-known Indian Classical singer. Gopika grew up taking lessons in Hindustani classical singing and was later drawn to the study of sanskrit mantra chanting. She lived more than 16 years in South India at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville where she met Nadaka. Her multi-dimensional persona has also long pursued other artistic endeavors such as Visual art and photography. Currently, as a synthesis of her research in visual form and vedic sound, she is creating immersive art installations that are meditative in nature using cut paper, light and sound as her medium. She says her artistic goal is “to create both art and music that brings the viewer to an inner state of quiet.” Gopika’s voice carries a refined and soulful quality that reflects her seeking spirit. Nadaka & Gopika presently live in Portland, Oregon, continuing their artistic journey through Art and Music.

"We have combined our talents to create music that communicates a sense joy and peace to our audience. Drawing inspiration from the soul of India that we cherish in our hearts, we make music that carries tradition to a new dimension.”    

Keshava is a gifted young musician with an inborn aptitude for music and rhythm.He first played the Tabla at the age of two and has been performing on stage since a very young age. For the Opening Ceremony of the Common Wealth Games 2010 in New Delhi, audiences around the world shared a moment of great joy seeing the beaming smile and virtuosity of 7 year old Tabla player Keshava performing center stage as he was surrounded by more then a thousand percussionists from the different States of India. Mostly self-taught, he is a born performer and he has shared the stage with many acclaimed artists. He also plays the drum-kit, and he has been learning and performing with the Portland Youth Jazz Orchestra. He joins Nadaka and Gopika on stage, ever ready to perform, improvise and mesmerize his audience.