Quick Facts
Biography
Rajan Somasundaram, best known as Composer Rajan, is a composer, drummer, violinist and music producer based in New York City. He rose to prominence with the creation of a new Carnatic raga (music scale), Svadhya. He composed the theme song of the 10th World Tamil Conference with many international musicians as a tribute to Sangam period poet Kaniyan Pungundranar.Tamil writer S. Ramakrishnan appreciated the selection of Yathum Oore poem as the theme song to portray the Tamil cultural identity.
Early life and education
Rajan was born in Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu state and started learning Carnatic music since he was 9 years at the birthplace of Shyama Shastri. He graduated with a master's degree in Engineering.
Career
In 2017, Rajan created a new Carnatic Raga, Svadhya, and released a single titled ‘Maya- The reflection of Self’ composed in the raga. In 2018, he released the first ever musical form for the prominent Sanskrit Advaita classical literature, Ashtavakra Gita Saksi I, in the raga Svadhya. Rajan has worked on jingles, corporate commercials and documentaries including 'Welcome to North Carolina'. Rajan composed the theme song of the 10th World Tamil Conference scheduled at Chicago. He has composed the first ever musical form for the 2000 year old poetry, Yathum Oore, written by Sangam Period poet Kaniyan Pungundranar. Rajan mentioned that as a tribute to one of the most progressive ancient poetry that calls for unity and equality, he composed the theme song to cover multiple genres of music and brought in many international musicians of varying genres, ethnicity and languages. Singers Karthik (singer) and academy nominated Bombay Jayashri sang the song along with various international artists. on January14th 2020 Rajan Released Album Sandham, collection of Ancient Tamil Poetrycollaborating with Durham Symphony.