Earthlore Music Collective Makes Its Debut in Chennai
With a packed venue, original compositions and music rooted in indigenous traditions, The Earthlore Music Collective performed live in Chennai.
On 11 October 2026, the Earthlore Music Collective took the stage for its debut performance at The Lab@Shanta, T. Nagar, Chennai. The venue was filled with people who had come to experience the collective’s music, bringing a memorable start to the group’s journey as a performing ensemble.
For the musicians, this was an opportunity to bring together the music they had been developing through the Earthlore Fellowship 2026 and share it with an audience beyond their communities and the fellowship space.
Many Communities, One Musical Space
The Earthlore Music Collective brings together musicians trained through the Earthlore Fellowship, a programme run by ARPO (The Archival and Research Project) with support from Tata Trusts.
The 2026 cohort includes 17 tribal musicians from the Paniya, Jenu Kuruba, Ulladan and Mavilan communities, alongside Himanshu Tipaniya, a folk musician and percussionist from Madhya Pradesh.
Their performances draw on the melodies, rhythms, instruments and languages of their respective communities. Through original compositions and contemporary arrangements, the collective brings these traditions into a shared musical space without losing sight of their distinct cultural roots.
The songs speak of land, life, community and the natural world. Each carries its own stories and musical influences, coming together in a performance shaped by the musicians’ individual experiences and collective exploration.
The Debut Met With a Full House
The group received a long standing ovation from a full house that included music critics, musicians, composers and art enthusiasts. More than just a performance, it was a spiritual experience, said Ramnarayan V, editor of Sruti magazine. Actor and theatre artist Aparna Gopinath, who was in the audience, praised the musicians’ stage presence and confidence.
“We didn't feel like it was the first time you were performing on stage,” she said.
For the fellows, the evening was as much about the joy of performing together as it was about stepping onto a new stage. The excitement extended beyond the performance itself, leaving them eager for more opportunities to play before live audiences.
“I'm waiting to get on more stages and perform like this!” Nandhu said.
More than a first performance
The Earthlore Fellowship creates opportunities for musicians to develop their practices through learning, collaboration and performance. The collective brings these experiences together, making space for musicians from different communities to create and perform alongside one another.
The full house at The Lab @ Shanta was an encouraging start. The next chapter of the Earthlore Music Collective will be written through the music it creates, the stages it reaches and the people it brings into its listening community.
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