Raghu Dixit

Raghu Dixit

Raghu Dixit is an Indian singer-songwriter, producer and film score composer based in Bangalore, India. He is originally from Mysore and later settles in Bengaluru.

Music and career

He fronts The Raghu Dixit Project, a multilingual folk music band, and is also known for his earlier role as founder and frontman of Antaragni, which he leads for more than eight years. He is a self-taught guitarist and singer, and his wider musical style combines Indian ethnic music with influences from different parts of the world.

His songs are written around everyday emotions and experience, and his vernacular lyrics form an important part of his style. He performs in several Indian languages and is closely associated with folk rock and fusion. Among the songs identified with him are Mysore se aayi, Mumbai, Antaragni, Hey Bhagwan, Har Saans Mein, Gudugudiya and Khidki.

Training and background

Dixit is a gold medallist in a Masters in Microbiology and also holds Vidwat in Bharatanatyam, making him a proficient Indian classical dancer. Despite this academic and dance background, he becomes better known as a self-taught composer and musician.

Recordings and performances

In 2008, The Raghu Dixit Project releases its debut album, Antaragni: The Fire Within. Dixit performs more than 250 concerts across India. He also joins Springboard Surprises' Roots Festival for a series of shows in Northeast India alongside international acts including Israel's DUB LFO and England's Too Late Lucy.

Other work

Alongside his band work, Dixit composes music for contemporary dance and theatre productions. He writes and produces music for most productions by the Indian contemporary dance group Nritarutya. His theatre work includes Girish Karnad's Hayavadana for TopCast and Black Coffee's Body Catcher, both of which bring him critical acclaim as a composer for stage productions. He also composes music for feature films.

Influences

His songs are influenced by Shishunala Sharif, the Karnataka saint and poet.