Dharma

Dharma is a name used by several different acts across electronic music, metal, punk and related styles. The list includes an Italian italo disco duo, a Hungarian metal band, an Indonesian solo-band project, an Italian psychedelic heavy-psych group, a Finnish drum and bass producer, and other artists from Texas, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Los Angeles, Lisbon and Sunderland.

Italo disco

One Dharma is an italo disco duo formed by Luciano Ninzatti and Stefano Pulga. It is known for the 1982 release of Plastic Doll on System Music.

Metal and gothic styles

Another Dharma is a band from Hungary that combines gothic electric rock with metal and related influences. Its music is described as drawing on modern metal, ambient and folk elements, with soul-searching lyrics, and the group identifies its style as Oriental Dark Metal. It has a female singer.

A separate Dharma is a Buddhist-themed metal band founded by drummer Jack Tung, who says the idea began after hearing Tibetan lamas reciting sutras. The group aims to present Buddhist and Taoist culture through music built around throaty eight-string guitars, guttural vocals and traditional Buddhist mantras. Joe Henley provides vocals, with Bull Tsai on bass, Hank Peng on guitars, Jack Tung on drums, Andy Lin on lead guitar, and all of these members are listed as active from 2018. The band presents its music as open to listeners of all faiths or none, and says it wants to spread its beliefs through shows and festivals worldwide.

There is also a Portuguese metalcore band called Dharma based in Lisbon.

Other Dharma projects

One Dharma is an Italian band active since 1999, associated with psychedelic music. Its sound is described as having become sour, dilated and free, with a heavy-psych character often compared to stoner music rather than pop.

Another Dharma is a solo-band project from Indonesia led by singer and songwriter Tommy Dharma Wiratama. This project also involves Singgih Kartika Nugraha on bass and baritone guitar, Kenny Prehara and Pahala Kazhari on guitar, Reno Ferthano on drums and percussion, and Yandie Antonio on keyboards.

A Finnish Dharma works in funk and drum and bass. He produces much of his music in a studio in Helsinki with Prob, has released tracks on Audio Couture and Straight Up Breakbeat, and appears on the net label mono211. He is also part of the nine2five team and performs live bass and guitar with saxophonist Panu Syrjänen.

Other entries include a female musician from Texas with releases on Skrot Up, a small Czech grunge and rock band that mainly plays Nirvana covers, a Hungarian MC from Óbuda, an indie punk band from Los Angeles, and a DJ and electro music producer from Sunderland.