Biography
Rajamani is a rare breed. When most artist spend their whole lifetime mastering one style of music or instrument, Rajamani is completely comfortable with many instruments.. Indian, Middle Eastern and Roma/Gypsy music, from percussion instruments to strings to voice have come to him with much ease.
Hailing from TamilNadu, India, Rajamani has the magic and spirit of the Indian music and fire and passion of the Roma/Gypsy music in his blood and it flows naturally out of him at his live shows.
Rajamani was born in Madurai, TamilNadu, India. He grew up in a family that loved music and dance. He began performing informally at the age of four in his uncles band and was encouraged early on to develop his skills as a musician by his grandmother, his parents and uncles. Over the years, Rajamani studied classical and comtemporary music in often unique settings. Oliver studied tabla and Mirdhangam at an early age. His most recent tabla guru is the renowned tabla Pandit “Aloke Dutta”. Since his early childhood, Rajamani was raised on Tamil folk music, trance music, ancient frame drumming(tappu) of the Dravidian culture of South India and Tamil Christian chants. He was also very fortunate to receive a scholarship to attend the well known Kodaikanal International School in South India. Kodai school changed Rajamani’s whole life and set him on a path different from the average Indian. Here he studied Western classical music, performed in many jazz ensembles and Rock bands while still being part of his very traditional Indian cultural roots. The schooling prepared Rajamani for his journey as a pioneer of worldmusic. He was able to get an early experience of world cultures while still living in India and being raised in a traditional Indian Tamil family. Today this has helped him musically, culturally, linguistically and spiritually to connect with audiences globally.
Rajamani has mastered the art of flamenco from spending time around flamenco masters and Roma/Gypsy Flamencos. He has created his own sound of Flamenco blending the traditional Roma/Gypsy Flamenco with the folk music of India. His music clearly depicts the roots of Roma/Gypsy music beginning in ancient India. Rajamanis vocal skills came naturally also by growing up around beautiful singer in his family and also being around great Indian, MiddleEastern and Roma/Gypsy, Country Western, Jazz and other master singers. He has trained under Snighdha Misra for Hindustani and Bamathi Sudharshan for Karnatic classical vocal music of India.
Professional Experiences
Rajamani has also done extensive traveling in Greece and Israel researching the Roma communities and their music as well as Arabic and Greek music. He has also worked in the Romani Congresss(U.N. Representations for the Roma).
Rajamani has performed/recorded with International artists such as Glen Velez(Grammy winner), Gypsy Kings(Grammy winners and Rumba Flamenco ), Arthur Brown( the God of Hell Fire – Rock and Roll legend), Aloke Dutta (renowned Tabla mastero), Paravai Muniamma (Tamil folk sensation), Ghulam Nizami(Pakistani vocalist and Sitar master), Sheila Mehta( Khatak Dance), Syntron Brothers ( Flamenco Singers), Feyyet Gokece(Turkish Folk singer), Eric Johnson (guitar legend), He has also given musical accompaniment for great poets and story tellers such as Coleman Barks, Robert Bly, David Whyte and renowned German children aurthor Paul Maar. Rajamani has also performed for the Maharajah(king) of Jhodpur, India, Gaj Singh II, Lama Khen Riponche, Prince of Qatar.
He has also been interview by Tamil Jaya Television Station and the BBC World-NPR radio station by Steven Cueves as well as numerious international magazines and radio stations.
Rajamani is an international touring act having toured in India, USA, Canada, Burmuda, Germany, and Israel.