Amakumo is a newly formed duo blending the delicate resonance of the koto with expressive instrumentals and vocals. Featuring koto performer Brandon Lee and multi-instrumentalist Amla, their music merges tradition and innovation, drawing from classical, Japanese, folk, and other global influences. With immersive soundscapes and emotive storytelling, Amakumo crafts ethereal and immersive soundscapes that bridge tradition and innovation.

Amakumo will be performing from around 8:10pm

The Saraswati-Benzaiten Quartet is an instrumental collaboration of classical music from India and Japan. The ensemble consists of the South Indian veena and the Japanese Koto and Shakuhachi. Iyer brothers, Ramnath Iyer and Gopinath Iyer, on the veena, Brandon Lee on koto and Adrian Sheriff on shakuhachi will come together to present common melodies of both systems showcasing the strong musical and spiritual connection between India and Japan while highlighting the differences in the musical approach.

The name of the ensemble denotes the two musical Goddesses from India and Japan who both play a musical instrument. Saraswati plays the veena (now called Saraswati veena) while Benzaiten plays the Japanese zither.

The ensemble’s artistic vision is to produce sounds that are unique and never before heard, connecting the musical and spiritual ethos of both musical systems.