About
Ramakrishnan Murthy, known as RKM, is among the most sought-after young Carnatic vocalists today. Raised in the United States and now based in Chennai, he performs regularly at the Madras Music Season and at festivals worldwide, and is an A-grade artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan.
Growing up in Irvine, California, Ramakrishnan Murthy began Carnatic training in 1997 under Padma Kutty, later studying with violinist Delhi P. Sunder Rajan and then R. K. Shriram Kumar, and moved to Chennai to pursue music. He has won four consecutive Outstanding Vocalist awards and, in 2016 at just 27, the Madras Music Academy's Yogam Nagaswamy Award for Best Senior Vocalist, among the youngest to do so, along with the Isai Peroli award, and has also sung playback for film.
The artistry
Murthy's music is marked by a completely pliant voice, wise aesthetics, precise alignment to pitch, clear gamakas and a faithful patanthara, blending the distilled essence of acknowledged masters with fresh verve. His singing is at once deeply traditional and captivatingly individual.
[Atlas Perspective] Ramakrishnan Murthy is among the most admired and in-demand young Carnatic vocalists. For flagship festivals and the Chennai Season, he is a top choice.
Ramakrishnan Murthy represents the finest of the new generation of Carnatic vocalists and the global reach of the tradition, carrying its classicism forward with wide appeal among younger audiences.