Sulekh is a musician, producer and entrepreneur based in London specialising in Indian classical music. A vocalist, harmonium accompanist and Tabla player, Sulekh has played live to audiences at home as well as internationally for over 20 years, is the creator of a growing e-commerce venture, producer of three bands and teacher to students from beginner through to concert level.
Sulekh gave his debut solo vocal concert at the well-known Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, London in 2002. His 3 hour performance titled ‘Philosophy of the Saints’ received a standing ovation from a sell-out audience. From there, he was able to launch successful and entertaining recitals in cities around the world including Toronto, Madrid, Munich and Paris.
In addition to being a performance artist, Sulekh is the creator of Tabla Works, a series of HD downloadable lessons giving people of all ages the opportunity to learn Tabla and Harmonium from scratch. The idea of establishing Tabla Works was to make Sulekh’s unique coaching methods accessible to anyone in the world at their own convenience. Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced instructional courses are available to download on any device at Tabla Works.
Nirakar is a band that blend traditional sounds of North India and classic Bollywood melodies with jazz and Latin grooves. As Producer, Sulekh has created a brand of music that not only shows his deep creative knowledge of Raag (Indian scales) but also his ability to express them in the style of contemporary Jazz with non-traditional instruments. To make this unique sound possible, he has assembled a group of highly talented artists from different countries and backgrounds. Nirakar have just made their first 6 track World Jazz live studio recording for release in 2021. They have performed at many prestigious venues such as the National Theatre, The Victoria and Albert Museum, Blenheim Palace, Kings Place, The Inner Temple and The House of Commons.
Sulekh’s versatile vocal repertoire is perfectly suited to The Mehfil Band where he, a female singer, guitarist and Tabla player present light genres of North Indian music such as popular Bollywood songs, Ghazal, Bhajan, Sufi and Folk music. Live video (Mp4) and audio (Mp3) recordings are available on the website.
Sulekh is also the lead singer and founder of The Kirtan Band , a group of musicians dedicated to the chanting of Sanskrit Mantra and devotional songs that is mindful, relaxing and uplifting and brings us closer to our true nature. The band was formed in 2014 and began by playing to small audiences in Yoga centres in North London. Performances at larger festivals such as Colourfest, Barefoot, Secret Garden, Wider Horizons and several others followed. The band are set to be a regular highlight at festivals in 2022 and beyond.
As an instructor to several private students, Sulekh has been both an inspiration and motivation. His step-by-step, structured, yet fun approach to teaching as well as the ability to help students realise their potential has made Sulekh a highly sought-after music coach in the UK. A testament to Sulekh’s method, which he has cultivated over several years, are the many students of his who have become successful performers and teachers in their own right.
Since 2019, Sulekh has presented a monthly music programme called Raag Space Time on Soho Radio. As well as playing a mix of classical, fusion and folk music of the sub-continent, he invites well-known special guests to share their experiences and musical journeys to a wider audience. Listen to Sulekh’s shows here.
In his spare time, Sulekh plays semi-professional Snooker, competitive Tennis as well as the challenge of strategy games such as Poker and Backgammon. His daily meditation acts as a form of relaxation and a way of becoming closer to the Self.