Sundara Karma
Sundara Karma are an English alt pop band formed in 2011 in Reading, England.[1] The band consists of lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Oscar Pollock, lead guitarist Ally Baty, bassist Dom Cordell and drummer Haydn Evans.[2][3] The band's name is derived from Sanskrit words, meaning "Beautiful Action".[4]
Sundara Karma | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Reading, Berkshire, England |
Genres | Alt pop, alternative rock, indie rock |
Years active | 2011 | –present
Labels | Chess Club |
Website | www |
Members | Oscar Pollock Dom Cordell Ally Baty Haydn Evans |
History
2011-2016 (Band formation)
Sundara Karma formed in 2011 while they were teenagers in high school.[5][6] In 2013, after uploading an early demo to SoundCloud, the band were offered to be the opening support for several major acts.[7][8] The next three years saw the band touring relentlessly across the United Kingdom and Europe while also putting out music that would later feature on their debut album, Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect.[9][10][11]
2017-2018
In January 2017, Sundara Karma released their debut album titled Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect via Sony Music and Chess Club.[12][13] It peaked at number 24 on the UK Albums Chart and received Silver Certification from British Phonographic Industry.[14][15] In May 2017, they announced an upgrade to their debut album via social media, adding the tracks "Explore", "Lakhey", and "Another Word For Beautiful" to the original track listing.[16][17][18][19]
2019-2020
On 1 March 2019, Sundara Karma released their second studio album, Ulfilas' Alphabet, under RCA Records. Ulfilas' Alphabet was produced by Stuart Price and Alex Robertshaw.[20] The album peaked at number 28 on the UK Albums Chart.[21] Ulfilas' Alphabet received positive reviews from The Guardian, NME, Dork , DIY and others.[20][22]
In May 2020, the band shared three singles titled "Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday", "Invade Safe Space" and "Vision Sick" via SoundCloud. These were unreleased songs from the recording of their 2019 album Ulfilas’ Alphabet.[23]
On 1 October 2020, Sundara Karma released their single "Kill Me" via Chess Club Records.[24]
On 24 October 2020, they released their EP "Kill Me" consisting of 5 songs, including the song of the same name released at the start of the month.
Members
- Oscar Pollock – vocals, rhythm and acoustic guitar, piano, keyboard, synthesizer (2011–present)
- Dom Cordell – bass, backing vocals (2011–present)
- Ally Baty – guitar, keyboard, synthesizers, backing vocals (2011–present)
- Haydn Evans – drums (2011–present)
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
---|---|---|---|
UK [21] | |||
Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect |
|
24 | |
Ulfilas' Alphabet |
|
28 |
EPs
Title | Details |
---|---|
EP I |
|
EP II |
|
Loveblood EP |
|
Kill Me |
|
Singles
Title | Year | Certifications | Album |
---|---|---|---|
"Cold Heaven"[28] | 2014 | Non-album singles | |
"Indigo Puff"[29] | |||
"Loveblood"[30] | 2015 | EP I | |
"Flame"[31] |
|
Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect | |
"Vivienne"[32] | EP II | ||
"A Young Understanding"[33] | 2016 | Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect | |
"She Said"[34] | |||
"Olympia"[35] | |||
"Happy Family"[36] | |||
"Explore"[37] | 2017 | Non-album singles | |
"Illusions"[38] | 2018 | Ulfilas’ Alphabet | |
"One Last Night on This Earth"[39] | |||
"The Changeover"[40] | |||
"Higher States"[41] | 2019 | ||
"Little Smart Houses"[42] | |||
"Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday"[23] | 2020 | Non-album singles | |
"Invade Safe Space"[23] | |||
"Vision Sick"[23] | |||
"Kill Me"[24] |
References
- "New band of the week: Sundara Karma (No 65)". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- Swann, Emma. "A quick Reading Festival catch-up with Sundara Karma". DIY Magazine. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- Gibsone, Harriet. "Sundara Karma: Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect review – chugging indie inevitability". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- Pierce, Elspeth. "Festival Focus: Reading Festival is not all about the big bands – check out Sundara Karma, Chroma and Touts". Metro. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- "Introducing: Sundara Karma face 'Hannah Montana syndrome'". Getreading.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- "Sundara Karma - Waves at Reading Festival 2013". BBC. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- "Live: Swim Deep/Wolf Alice/Sundara Karma, Cardiff 22/09/2013". Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ""Freshbloom" [Premiere]". Hillydilly.com. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- "Young Musicians Of The Moment: Sundara Karma. They're 18 And Yep, They've Already Played Reading Festival". Huff Post. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- "Sundara Karma - Concert Archive". concertarchives.org. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- Subscribe. "Sundara Karma announce biggest UK tour to date, with support from The Magic Gang". DIY. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- Yung, Ben. "Sundara Karma – "Loveblood" EP". The Revue. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- Beech, Dave. "Album Review: Sundara Karma Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect". drownedinsound.com. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- "SUNDARA KARMA - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- "BRIT Certified - bpi" (To access, enter the search parameter "Sundara Karma" and select "Search by Keyword"). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- "Sundara Karma on Instagram: "THE UPGRADE. We're adding 3 more new songs to our debut album. First one is called "Explore" - out Friday. Follow the official playlist…"". Instagram. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- Lulu, Oscar. "Sundara Karma frontman Oscar Lulu on how Shakespeare's influences still run deep in today's popular culture". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- Daly, Rhian. "Track Premiere – Listen To Sundara Karma's Euphoric And Driving New Single 'Loveblood'". NME. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- Trendell, Andrew (6 July 2017). "Sundara Karma unveil new song 'Lakhey'". NME. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- Jack, Malcolm. "Sundara Karma review – catchy toplines and lissom post-punk". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- "Sundara Karma | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- Williams, Sophie. "Sundara Karma – 'Ulfilas' Alphabet' review". NME. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- Neale, Matthew. "Sundara Karma share three unheard tracks from 'Ulfilas' Alphabet' sessions". NME. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- Sundara Karma. "Sundara Karma on the depression and desire behind explosive new single 'Kill Me' and its Hannah Diamond-directed video". NME. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- "EP I by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- "EP II by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- "Sundara Karma - "Loveblood" EP". Therevue.ca. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- "Listen: Sundara Karma – 'Cold Heaven'". The Line of Best Fit. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- "Indigo Puff - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- "Track Premiere – Listen To Sundara Karma's Euphoric And Driving New Single 'Loveblood'". NME. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- "Sundara Karma release fired-up new track 'Flame'". The Line of Best Fit. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- "Vivienna – Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- "A Young Understanding - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- "She Said - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- "Sundara Karma scale 'Olympia' with their new track". Dork. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- "Happy Family - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- "Explore - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- "Illusions - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- "Sundara Karma announce new album 'Ulfilas' Alphabet', share 'One Last Night on This Earth'". DIY. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- "Sundara Karma unveil new video for 'The Changeover'". DIY. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- "Sundara Karma share video for 'Higher States'". DIY. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- "Sundara Karma share 'Little Smart Houses'". DIY. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.