NYC Radio Live · David Ellenbogen, host

Radhika Samson Ragas Live Festival 2025

October 23, 2025·50 min·4 clips

Radhika Samson shares how her favorite childhood music festival memories in Pune are now happening in New York.

The episode begins with Radhika Samson welcoming the audience to a live radio broadcast from the Ragas Live Festival 2025 in New York City. She immediately establishes personal context by recalling her favorite musical memories from childhood in Pune, India, attending the Savai Gandharva Festival. She draws a direct parallel between those experiences and what's happening in New York, creating a cross-cultural connection. Radhika expresses gratitude to Raga's Life for curating the festival, specifically thanking someone named Brianji for their effort. She reveals a significant cultural detail: such late-night concerts are no longer possible in India due to permission issues, making this New York event particularly special. The host then introduces her musical collaborators, starting with Tejas who plays the Pakhavaj, noting he's known as a percussionist in New York but is also a brilliant tabla and Pakhavaj player. She also introduces her sitar students Shreya and Aditi who are providing Tanpura accompaniment. Radhika acknowledges the early morning timing of the performance, noting she can't see the sun but knows it's about to rise. She invites the audience to participate actively by sitting up and closing their eyes for what she describes as a semi-meditative experience. She explains the musical piece she'll perform is a raga created by her guru. The raga serves as an offering to the first ray of the sun, connecting the performance to natural phenomena. The episode maintains an intimate, conversational tone throughout as Radhika prepares both the audience and musicians for the performance. There's a clear structure of personal reflection, cultural context, introductions, and spiritual preparation. The live radio format creates immediacy, with references to the physical setting and time of day. Recurring themes include cultural preservation, musical tradition, spiritual connection through music, and cross-cultural exchange. The episode serves as both an introduction to the festival and a prelude to the musical performance that follows.

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