Future Yard continues to cement its reputation as the place to catch boundary-pushing music, and this November it plays host to Sarathy Korwar as part of the city-wide INDIKA Festival. Curated by Milap, INDIKA is a celebration of contemporary and classical Indian arts, and Korwar’s appearance feels like a perfect fit.
Born in the US, raised in India and now based in London, Korwar’s sound is impossible to pin down. Rooted in Indian classical rhythm — he started playing tabla at ten — his music sprawls outwards into jazz, hip-hop and electronica. It’s the kind of cross pollination that feels vital right now: diasporic voices shaping fresh futures.
His debut Day to Day (2016) introduced him as an artist unafraid to weave field recordings, folklore and improvisation into something new. With the UPAJ Collective he reimagined spiritual jazz classics on My East Is Your West, while More Arriving (2019) took things up a notch, fusing rap, poetry and protest into a record that scooped Best Independent Album at the AIM Awards. His last release, KALAK, dives into the idea of cyclical time, delivering hypnotic grooves and political bite — nowhere more so than on the standout track, “Utopia Is a Colonial Project.”
Live, Korwar is magnetic. His performances pulse with polyrhythms, improvisation and a communal spirit that draws the audience right into the heart of the music. It’s part gig, part ritual, part collective experience.
As INDIKA brings a wave of cutting-edge Indian culture to Merseyside, Sarathy Korwar’s Future Yard show promises to be one of the festival highlights. Expect an evening of deep grooves, bold ideas and music that insists on moving both body and mind.
Liverpool Noise’s Steve Kinrade caught up with Sarathy to ask him about this forthcoming gig at Future Yard…
The INDIKA festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. What does it mean to you to be part of such a long-running and respected celebration of Indian culture?
It means a lot! Especially seeing the diversity of artists involved means that we drive home the point about there not being a singular, homogenous South Asian voice. There is room for so much nuance and a multitude of experiences across generations.
Given your music’s focus on identity and culture, how does the experience of performing in a diverse city like Liverpool resonate with you?
Liverpool has been such a centre of migration for centuries that the energy of movement and exchange of ideas is what makes the city such a great place. I’ve always really enjoyed my time in Liverpool, the people, the humour and the vibe.
Future Yard has a reputation for being a unique and community-focused venue. Have you heard much about it, and what are you looking forward to about performing in Birkenhead?
I was not aware of Future Yard before this performance was scheduled, to be honest. But having looked at the programming, I can see how they are doing an amazing job at showcasing such a wide range of music and I’m really looking forward to being there!
Audiences will likely know you from your acclaimed albums More Arriving and KALAK. How will the setlist for this show blend music from your new album with your previous work?
I plan to primarily play music from my forthcoming album, but there will be a few older tunes, ones that are particularly suited to the new lineup of three drummers.
Your new album, There Is Beauty, There Already, is a significant new chapter. What can the audience at Future Yard expect to hear from this record on October 29th?
The live gig has to be different from the recorded album, in my opinion. What I will try to bring is the ethos of my album to the live stage. Rooted in community, hypnotic grooves and fiery percussion exchanges, the live show will hopefully be a dynamic representation of the album but also be its own thing entirely.
For fans familiar with your albums More Arriving and KALAK, what should they expect to experience differently in There Is Beauty, There Already?
For starters, I’ve never made an album exclusively with four drummers before. So sonically, I think it’s very different from my previous albums. I have fallen back in love with the drums and really want to explore the potential, both sonic and emotional, of a drum ensemble. So I think in many ways the new album will sound different but as always is based on the same principles that I value in music making. Those of trust in my fellow musicians, improvisation, intuition over technique and putting the music above all the individuals on stage.
You’ve collaborated with a range of artists from different genres. Will you be bringing anyone with you on stage to help bring this music to life for the Birkenhead audience?
Yes, I will be bringing two fantastic percussionists with me. I’d like to keep this a secret until the gig, so we will not be revealing their names (!), but I believe they are both masters of their craft and are truly inspiring musicians to me. They make me sound better and they give themselves fully to the music.
You’ve spoken about the live show being a different experience from the album. What kind of energy and improvisation will you and the band be bringing to the performance?
The show will feature extended pieces of music with the new show. I try and really get into a space of transcendence through repetition, cyclical patterns and let the music guide us through the show. Leaving plenty of room for improvisation and individual expression the show must maintain a sonic identity of its own.
For someone who has never seen you live before, what would you say makes a Sarathy Korwar concert a must-see event?
Well, I like to think that I bring a special blend of jazz, Indian classical and folk, and electronic influences that is rather unique to our life show. Hopefully, by being there, you can feel like we are making something together in that room, and it feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience because it is, for everyone involved!
Finally, the title of your new album, There Is Beauty, There Already, suggests a hopeful and reflective message. What do you hope the audience will take away from the performance on October 29th?
I am always hopeful. I can’t ask the audience to take anything specific away from the show, but I hope, and the biggest compliment really, would be if they go away feeling moved by what they’ve been part of. I hope the show makes them feel like they are part of something larger than themselves, and I hope it makes an impression!
Milap and Future Yard proudly present Sarathy Korwar
Wednesday 29 October 2025
Future Yard
Tickets
