Chintan Kalra brings the endless ukulele to Bengaluru this weekend

New Delhi instrumentalist Chintan Kalra has much than a passing acquaintance with astir 20 instruments. “To me, an instrumentality is simply a signifier of expression. It is simply a superpower,” helium says.

He speaks successful presumption of wanting to “tame each instrument” helium came across, but erstwhile helium picked up the unassuming, four-stringed ukulele successful 2016, helium considered it nary much than a “baby instrument” successful a satellite of “serious” ones. The ukulele has the estimation of being a staple astatine campfire jams and sometimes, the limb of prime for that 1 amateur subordinate who wants 4 strings and casual chords to strum. “I ne'er knew what laic down its simplicity,” Chintan says.

It began erstwhile a person near an ukulele astatine his home, with an medium proposal of The Art of Solo Ukulele released successful 2000 which featured Hawaiian artistes Benny Chong, Gordon Mark, Jake Shimabukuro and Byron Yasui. “They sounded symphonic and I could not recognize why. I wondered however 1 could bash this connected 4 strings,” Chintan recalls.

Known for his enactment with bands ranging from stone veterans Parikrama to experimental enactment Kuru Circus to starring Think Floyd, Chintan went connected to make 2 albums connected the ukulele. Endless Strum and Endless Strum II came retired successful 2022 and 2025, respectively, arsenic ukulele meditations that tin enactment immoderate listener successful to a tranquil state.

The archetypal medium featured 40-50 opus ideas that flowed retired of Chintan implicit a span of six years, portion the 2nd saw the summation of a manus drum and a fewer rhythmic elements.

Now, determination is simply a 3rd medium successful the works, which expands the sonic scope to adhd percussion and drawstring sections. Ahead of that album, Chintan is visiting Bengaluru for 2 shows and a store arsenic portion of his Ukulelisten series.

On March 13, helium volition execute astatine ArtKhoj successful JP Nagar, followed by a ukulele store astatine Rainbow Bridge successful Halasuru the adjacent day. On March 15, Chintan performs astatine Bangalore Creative Circus. “My archetypal gigs were successful 2018 and 2019, and then, the pandemic hit. I produced truthful overmuch euphony successful that play of time, I present person 2 to 3 hours of worldly that I prime and take from. They are each improvisational arsenic well,” Chintan says.

He volition astir apt beryllium joined by section instrumentalists connected percussion and guitars successful Bengaluru.

While determination are plentifulness of stories down the songs and his travel with the ukulele that volition helium stock astatine these shows, the intent of the store is to demystify it.

“I americium holding these workshops due to the fact that I privation to stock my excitement implicit this elemental instrument. Anybody tin prime it up, and you ne'er cognize wherever it is going to instrumentality you,” helium says. Often been looked astatine arsenic a artifact synonymous with a chirpy sound, it led Chintan to wonderment however a bittersweet opus would dependable connected the ukulele. He says, “This is 1 much threshold I had to cross. I tin marque you outcry connected the ukulele.”

He points to however the ukulele has a “classical connection” arsenic well, considering astir Indian movie songs which are sometimes based connected Indian classical foundations are easy adapted to this instrument. “Suddenly, it stops being a overseas instrumentality and becomes your ain instrument,” Chintan adds.

The artiste’s circuit comes to Bengaluru aft a abbreviated tally of shows and a store successful Chennai successful December. “Bengaluru has ever been benignant to musicians, euphony and expressions,” Chintan says. In summation to the adjacent album, helium says helium is keen to proceed educating radical astir the wonders of the ukulele.

“I ever bask doing a store with concerts to present radical to the instrument. I americium keen to instrumentality this euphony to schools, colleges and healing workshops. It is rather meditative,” helium adds.

Chintan Kalra’s Ukulelisten takes spot connected March 13 astatine ArtKhoj, JP Nagar and connected March 15 astatine Bangalore Creative Circus. The store is connected March 14 astatine Rainbow Bridge. Details connected linktr.ee/opalart