Sandeep Narayan
Breaking boundaries as the first US-born and raised musician to move to India to take up Carnatic music as a full-time career, Sandeep has set a precedent that many aspiring musicians have since followed. His career spans concert stages across the globe, collaborations that defy genre, and a growing body of accolades that reflect his stature as both a performing artist and a cultural ambassador. Among his honours are a Juno Award nomination, an invitation to become a GRAMMY Voting Member of The Recording Academy, the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from the Government of India, and the title of “Artiste of the Year” by the Mandolin Shrinivas Institute of World Musique.
Sandeep’s story begins not in Chennai or Coimbatore, but in the sun-drenched suburbs of Southern California. Born and raised in Cerritos, California, Sandeep grew up surrounded by melody. His father, K.S. Narayan, was the founding president of the South Indian Music Academy, Los Angeles, one of the earliest Carnatic organisations in the United States, while his mother, Shubha Narayan, is the founding director of the Sampradaya School of Music, one of Southern California’s first Carnatic music schools. His two older brothers, Nikhil and Nirmal, are talented musicians in their own right — music was the heartbeat of their home.
Growing up in North America, his weekdays were shaped by hip hop and pop, while weekends belonged to Carnatic music with family and community. Even so, the classical tradition took deep root. Even as a child, Sandeep was picking up songs by ear, humming tunes he was never formally taught, and by age eleven he was already performing publicly, guided by his mother’s training. That natural gift soon demanded a more rigorous environment. A defining moment arrived when he and his mother made the life-changing move from Los Angeles to Chennai. Leaving behind school and everything familiar, Sandeep immersed himself as a disciple of maestro K.S. Krishnamurthy. The discipline and fiery passion of those early years shaped his musical soul, even after he returned to the US and balanced his academic studies. Following his guru’s passing, Sandeep continued his training for over a decade under the renowned Sanjay Subrahmanyan, a period that ultimately helped him carve his own unique path.
At the heart of Sandeep’s personal life is a partnership that is as artistically rich as it is deeply rooted. In September 2014, Sandeep married Radhe Jaggi, a Bharatanatyam dancer and student of the celebrated classical dance teacher Leela Samson. Radhe trained in Bharatanatyam at Kalakshetra, the classical dance school established by the revered Rukmini Devi Arundale, and has performed in various countries including South Korea, Malaysia, and the UK. She is also the only daughter of Sadhguru, the renowned mystic, yogi, and founder of the Isha Foundation. The couple wed in a private ceremony at the Isha Ashram, attended by family, friends, and eminent personalities from various fields, and currently reside in Chennai, where they pursue their passions as performing artists. Their union is one of mutual creative nourishment. Radhe serves as both Sandeep’s most discerning critic and his most trusted muse.
The turning point in Sandeep’s professional journey came in 2006. After graduating from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Law and Society, Sandeep chose the path few dared: he returned to Chennai for good, dedicating himself entirely to Carnatic music. Breaking into the classical music circuit in Chennai with an American accent and a western sensibility was no easy feat, but his talent won over critics and criticism alike. He has since held an ‘A’ Grade with All India Radio, Chennai since 2010, and has performed extensively across Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Oman, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. What distinguishes him, however, is not only his command of tradition but his fearless exploration beyond it. Sandeep has collaborated with artists from both the Carnatic and Hindustani classical traditions, film composers, folk and jazz musicians, and has even recorded with Hip-Hop and Lo-Fi producers.
In 2024, he co-created the EP Arul with Canadian artist Yanchan Produced, featuring a unique blend of Carnatic with Hip-hop, R&B, and Afro-beats, which earned a 2025 Juno Award nomination — Canada’s highest musical recognition. Beyond performance, his commitment to the next generation is reflected in his work with the Sampradaya School of Music in California, his guidance of Project Samskriti at the Isha Yoga Centre in India, and guest lectures at institutions including Carnegie Mellon University and UC Santa Barbara. Sandeep Narayan is, in every sense, a bridge-builder — anchored in the soul of Carnatic tradition, yet forever reaching toward the world.
