Akshay Anantapadmanabhan: The Professional Mridangam Artist

Born in Mumbai, brought up in New Jersey, studied in New York and moved to Chennai, India to become a full-time professional mridangam artist.  The one thing that stayed with me throughout all my experiences is music.  My art today is a reflection of all those influences. 

I took the “plunge” as a full-time professional musician about five years ago and moved to Chennai.  Why?  Well, Chennai is to Carnatic music as New York is to Jazz. And to be the best, you have to compete against the best.  I have always envisioned becoming an ambassador of the mridangam and Indian rhythm in hopes of spreading their unlimited potential.  An inspiration for me in this realm is definitely Zakir Hussain and how he has established the tabla as one of the most popular Indian percussion instruments globally.

For me, this journey has been incredible so far, filled with learnings, struggles and successes.  Moving away from my family, friends, and my lifestyle to pursue the art that I love certainly seemed like a daunting task when I left.  But now, I feel like I have found myself in music – an Encounter that I hope to develop and cherish for the rest of my life.

For more information about my music performances, projects, and experiences, visit: www.AkshayLaya.com

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