At a techno rave in Berlin, a raag Bhairavi loop fires up the crowd. In a yoga class in California, chants of "Om Namah Shivaya" fill up the air. Meanwhile, back in India, a teenage girl skips music class to stream Taylor Swift on repeat.
How did the world fall in love with Indian music while India has almost forgotten it?
Now, in a surprising twist, the beats borrowed by the West are returning—louder, prouder, and more meaningful than ever. This isn’t just a musical trend but a cultural awakening.
Indian music is one of the oldest living traditions, with roots stretching back over 3,000 years to Vedic chants. Yet, while Indian sounds have been woven into global hits, the music itself has stayed largely in the shadows.
In The Dawn of Indian Music in the West, Peter Lavezzoli (foreword by Ravi Shankar) charts how Western icons like George Harrison, John Coltrane, and Mickey Hart were captivated by Indian sounds.The paradox is effectively conveyed by tabla player Tanmoy Bose: "If you talk to any music lover in the West, they know more about [Indian music] than Indians … they have a thirst for it, and they are very critical in the West for that reason."
Lavezzoli reminds us that the tabla was borrowed and modified by early Western collectors rather than being discovered. Instead of being assimilated, Indian music was sampled and modified to suit Western preferences.
Even today, some of the world’s biggest pop stars draws inspiration from Indian music-
Ed Sheeran revealed that his hit “Shape of You” started with an Indian-inspired marimba beat, and he’s often praised the rhythms of Indian classical music. Recently, he took this connection further with his 2025 single “Sapphire,” featuring Arijit Singh.
The song blends Hindi lyrics, Indian classical sounds, and visuals from Indian cities, marking Sheeran’s first collaboration with an Indian artist and creating a strong cultural link
Coldplay’s video for “Hymn for the Weekend” showcased Indian imagery and starred Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor. Also, Chris Martin , frontman of Coldplay, called India a “beautiful country” during the Global Citizen Festival India in 2016, where he performed alongside A.R. Rahman on stirring renditions of “Maa Tujhe Salaam” and “Vande Mataram.” The performance, blending Western rock with Indian patriotic anthems, symbolized not just the musical collaboration but cultural reverence - a moment which underscored how deeply Indian music continues to inspire artists across the world.
Of course, The Beatles, especially George Harrison, famously learned the sitar from Ravi Shankar. They brought Indian sounds into songs like “Norwegian Wood” and “Within You Without You,” helping to introduce Indian instruments to Western music during the 1960s counterculture.
According to UNESCO’s Creative Economy Outlook, India’s music sector plays a growing role in the global creative economy, with traditional and contemporary sounds increasingly influencing cross-cultural collaborations—particularly within digital and streaming ecosystems.
Yet, despite this global reach, Indian musicians often remain invisible in worldwide conversations.
Western music is designed for mass appeal - catchy hooks, simple beats, and universal themes make it easy to enjoy. Indian music, by contrast, is rich with complexity and emotion, deeply tied to spirituality and place.
“Pop music is like fast food to the ears,”
Music educator Chris Rooney in InsideSources, comparing mass-produced Western pop to convenience cuisine. Unlike fast food’s instant gratification, Indian ragas and folk traditions unfold slowly, offering a richness that deepens over time - much like a well-simmered meal.
A raag isn’t just a tune; it carries time, mood, and devotion. Folk songs tell stories of crops, harvests, love, migration, caste, and protest. In an interview with The Indian Express, renowned vocalist Kaushiki Chakraborty emphasized that Indian classical music is deeply intertwined with regional folk traditions and ancestral knowledge. “We have to keep listening and learn for longer,” she said—underscoring that this music is not merely a performance art, but a generational legacy that demands patience, immersion, and reverence.
Despite its richness, Indian music has never truly gone global in its original form. The reasons are as complex as its rhythms:
Linguistic & Structural Barriers: Indian music often uses intricate rhythms like Jhaptal (10 beats) or Teentaal (16 beats), which feel unfamiliar to Western ears used to 4/4 time.
Colonial Mindsets: After independence, Indian schools and pop culture promoted Western ideals as more ‘sophisticated,’ pushing traditional music aside.
Lack of Global Platforms: Western artists have long had access to global studios, streaming algorithms, and Grammy-level exposure. Indian musicians, especially in classical and regional styles, lacked such support.
According to Spotify’s 2023 “Echo” campaign report, streams of Indian classical music have jumped nearly 500% in just two years, with almost half of the listeners under 25. Yet, regional and folk artists still get overlooked by algorithm-driven playlists that favor easy, Western-style sounds. Despite growing interest, platforms meant to amplify these voices often silence them—unless they fit a certain mold. For artists rooted in raagas or singing in Maithili, Bundeli, or Assamese, the digital stage acts more like a gatekeeper than a gateway. The result is a painful contradiction: while young Indians seek authenticity, the system pushes them toward repetition. When the music of your own land struggles to find a spot on your playlist, it’s more than an oversight—it’s cultural amnesia.
After years of following Western beats, young India is reconnecting with its own musical roots. Spotify India’s 2023 “Echo” report revealed a 500% increase in Indian classical music streams over the past two years, with 45% of listeners under 25. YouTube channels like Coke Studio Bharat, Maati Baani, and T-Series Bhakti are attracting millions by blending folk and classical sounds in heartfelt ways. Indie artists are leading this movement—Ritviz mixes Marathi vocals with electronic music, Seedhe Maut incorporates classical sounds into rap songs like “Akatsuki,” and Arijit Singh’s unplugged versions of “Phir Le Aaya Dil” and “Duaa” bring back a soulful touch. Beyond the digital world, the National Education Policy (2020) requires arts education in schools, while NITI Aayog and IGNCA support efforts to preserve regional music.
From Bengal’s bauls to Manipuri folk artists, a quiet revolution is happening. After being captivated by Western music for so long, India is finally listening to its own voice again.
Carnatic vocalist and activist T.M. Krishna, speaking at Harvard in 2022 about the connection between art and politics, warned that relying on algorithm-driven platforms instead of traditional practices risks breaking our cultural ties - threatening not just our heritage, but our emotional roots.
For millions of Indians, music is more than just entertainment - it’s memory. It’s the lullaby your grandmother sang, the bhajan at your first Diwali, the folk song carried by the monsoon winds. Indian music holds the soil, loss, history, and resistance - a living record of shared experience.
Sitar maestro Ravi Shankar expressed this beautifully:
“In the silence after a musical performance, we can hear the echoes of our own existence.”
His words remind us that music isn’t just heard - it’s felt in the spaces between notes, where our identity lives.
As Indian music returns home, the goal isn't mere global reach - it's about reviving meaning. Yes, the world may stream our beats, but only we can truly feel their heartbeat.
