Strings of love

Violinist Apoorva Krishna on working with the late tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, and more

- Narendra Kusnur

She made news in 2017 by becoming the first Indian musician to receive the prestigious young artiste grant from the London Tarisio Trust. Two years later, violinist Apoorva Krishna had a sudden chance to accompany great guitarist John McLaughlin and tabla maestro Zakir Hussain on the famous Shakti track Lotus Feet at a show in Boston.

Trained in Carnatic music by Lalgudi Srimathi Brahmanandam and Anuradha Sridhar, Apoorva maintains a balance between traditional fare and experimental sound. Her latest album Only Love Is Real has been released by Vedam Records, part of Universal Music. It has collaborations with known musicians like vocalists Vijay Prakash and Varijashree Venugopal, Michael League of the group Snarky Puppy, pianist Aman Mahajan, cellist Aaron Sinclair and multi-instrumentalist Mia Garcia. In an interview, the violinist talks about her new album and her career.

Excerpts from the interview:

How did Only Love Is Real come about?

This album is a deeply personal and raw reflection of my heart. It's an intimate journey of self-exploration and growth, born from the healing power of music and love. My creativity flows from the experiences I encounter, with each piece acting as a mirror to the love that surrounds me and capturing the deep emotions of my personal journey. This album was born from the realisation that in all moments — of uncertainty, loss, growth, and joy — love remains.

What inspired the title? There is no song by that name on the album.

The title is a profound truth I return to again and again. In every high and low, one thing remains constant — love. This isn't limited to a single form. It encompasses divine, familial, community, romantic and self-love. The album was born from this powerful realisation.