From Gujarat to Global Stages
Raised in Vadodara’s vibrant music circles, Kunal Patel first met the harmonium at age seven. What began as an accompaniment instrument soon became his primary voice. Winning All-India Radio’s young artist award at 16 set him on an international trajectory.

Technique & Innovation
Kunal favours a hand-crafted harmonium tuned slightly warmer than standard A440, producing a tone that blends seamlessly with African percussion. His left-hand bellows create wave-like dynamics, while right-hand runs echo sitar taans.

Collaboration with African Musicians

  • Djembe Dialogues : Syncopated call-and-response between harmonium riffs and West African hand drums.
  • Kora-Raga Fusion : Experiments with Senegalese kora players, overlaying raga Yaman phrases on kora arpeggios.
  • Gospel-Ghazal Blend : Nairobi choir harmonies meeting Urdu couplets—audiences describe it as “spiritual déjà vu.”

Educational Outreach
Kunal’s masterclasses at the Conservatoire de Musique de Kigali focus on improvisation—showing students that raga rules can fuel, not stifle, creativity. He emphasises common ground: pentatonic scales appear in both Indian and many African folk traditions.

Quote to Remember

“When bellows breathe, borders disappear.”

Through every performance, Kunal Patel builds bridges—one reed, one rhythm at a time.