Biography
Rajamani is a rare breed. When most artists spend their whole lifetime mastering one style of music or instrument, Rajamani is completely comfortable with Indian, Middle Eastern and Roma/Gypsy music traditions, from percussion, strings and voice. Rajamani has the magic, fire and spirit of Indian music and the passion of Gypsy music in his blood and it flows naturally out of him at his live shows.
Early Days
Growing up in a family of music and art lovers, Rajamani began performing informally at the age of four in his uncle’s band and was encouraged early on to develop his skills as a musician by his whole family specifically his grandmother. Since his early childhood, Rajamani was raised on Tamil folk music (Indian Redneck music), Tamil frame drumming (parai), Tamil Christian chants, American blues, country and choral music.
Education
Over the years, Rajamani studied classical and contemporary music in often unique settings. Oliver studied tabla at an early age. His most recent tabla guru is the renowned tabla Pandit “Aloke Dutta”. Rajamani’s vocal skills came naturally by growing up around beautiful singers in his family and also being around great Indian, Middle Eastern and Roma (Gypsy), Country Western, Jazz and other master singers. He also performed in the Long Island University choir, as well as singing Broadway show tunes for Jewish weddings in New York while going through Friends World College. He has trained under Snighdha Mishra for Hindustani and Bamathi Sudharshan for Karnatic classical vocal music of India. Rajamani has lived in Greece and Israel studying Roma (Gypsy) communities and Middle Eastern music as well.
Rajamani has created his own sound of Texas Indian Gypsy Flamenco blending the traditional Roma (Gypsy) Flamenco with the folk and spiritual music of India. His music clearly depicts the roots of Roma (Gypsy) music beginning in ancient India. Rajamani’s experience in flamenco comes from years of spending time around Flamenco masters and performing with dancers.
Rajamani was very fortunate to receive a scholarship to attend the well known “Kodaikanal International School” in South India as well as “Friends World College” an international Quaker education program operating out of New York.
Kodai school changed Rajamani’s whole life and set him on a path different from the average Indian. Kodai school’s international staff and student body widened Rajamani’s musical and worldly mind. Here he studied Western classical music, performed in many jazz ensembles, rock bands, and choir. Friends World College allowed Rajamani to travel around the Globe and study as an apprentice under professional musicians, human rights activists, environmentalist, sociologists, and spiritualists. The “Kodai” and “Friends” education prepared Rajamani for his journey as a pioneer of cultural music guiding him musically, culturally, linguistically, and spiritually to connect with audiences globally.