Artist’s Profile

Born in Naihati, not too far from Calcutta in India, Kakoli has bathed in music since her early childhood. Encouraged by her mother, her inherent talent was nurtured from the age of five by the very renowned guru, Sri Gopal Biswasji.

Thus winding her way into the secrets of Indian classical vocal music, Kakoli remained under the guidance of this venerable master till the age of twenty.  Embedded in tradition and spirituality, her first exposure to public was at religious ceremonies and neighbourhood festivities.
 
Settled in Paris since 1974, Kakoli used every opportunity in Europe to unfold the intricacies of her unique talent. Her first major breakthrough as an internationally recognised exponent of the Hindustani tradition of Indian classical music came at the prestigious Bourges Spring Festival in France in 1984. Ever since, her talent has taken her to Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Estonia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Martinique, Guadeloupe, the United States of America and not surprisingly back to her native India.

A recording artist since 1991, Kakoli has four solo albums to her credit. While innumerable intercultural collaborations have coloured her career all along, a special mention must be made of her participation in 1995 in the spectacular musical composition of Michel Garnier, presented at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This composition has also been released on CD.

Kakoli’s openness and curiosity have led her to crossroads with artists of new age pop (Premananda-Turkantam), zouk (Jacob desvarieux), ambient (Dj CAM), and even avant garde rap (IN VIVO)! She chants with ease in compilations of world beat and chill out music which constitute her most recent releases.

She has also given vent to her musical expression in the exciting world of visual arts and films in particular. In 1994-95 her voice accompanied several Indian film classics at the mute film festival in Italy and France. While she still remains an undiscovered treasure for Bollywood, in Europe her voice has appeared in the soundtracks produced for both TV and cinema.

The strong foundations laid by her Guruji and her own unique sense of melody make her one of the most authentic Indian classical singers available in Europe today. Each of her concerts is as spirit lifting as it is heart-warming. She has generously and graciously contributed to music therapy used in Parisian hospitals for healing patients and staff.

Kakoli’s professionnal skills together with her natural charm make her an appreciated teacher of classical hindustani singing. Indeed, this has been central to her life for over two decades now. Her regular students in Paris include people of various ages and backgrounds. She conducts workshops, master classes and lectures on vocal techniques and teaching methods in France and abroad.

Last but not least – after more than 38 years in France, Kakoli remains as ‘Indian’ as ever. Going ‘home’ is an annual ritual accomplished with love and devotion. In the year 2003, in a tribute to her guru Sri Gopal Biswas (in his eighties) and her departed parents, she performed in Naihati for the first time since she left.

Kakoli’s unique artistry is a natural consequence of a life-long devotion to the tradition of North Indian classical music. Her life is like a raga - simple, spiritual and profound and an improvisation at every move.

Recent festivals

2001  Festival de Ris Orangis, France
           Festival des Voix Sacrées in Metz, France

2002  Festival de l’Inde in Boulogne-Billancourt, France

2003  Festival de Ris Orangis, France
Festival Femmes du Monde, Satellite-Café, Paris
Festival de l’Inde, Cité de la Musique, Paris
Festival of Old Music in Tartu, Estonie (within a concert-trip comprising four towns)

2004  Festival de Ris Orangis, France
          Festival de l’Afrique et de l’Orient, Monaco

2005 -many of solo programmes, recording, musical work-shop,& spot
publicity for T.V.

2006- Demonstration concert in different schools(normal) & music schools.
Few of music festivals in france specially in summer.
4 concerts in Italy ,& few places in U.S.A.

2007 -Concert In BASEL( switzerland) ,Beja in Portugal, Concert In Grande Palace (big museum in Paris) & other festivals in summer.

2008--concert in C.R park , New delhi, Ranchi, U.S.A( Atlanta, Chicago,
Indianapolis, Newjercy), many places in France regularly, Kakoli sings.

2009--Rome in Italy, Birmingham & Leicester in U.K & concerts & demonstration in France.

2010---Concerts & classes in France. Concerts in U.K

2011--Concerts in Geneva, DENHAAG (Holland)

2012--2 concerts in HOLLAND, A very big Music festival in Tunisia in North Africa and festivals in France.

2013--Till july Holland, France (as usual) & RABAT in Morocco in North Africa.

Kakoli Sings regularly in Kolkata, when she is there ( small or big manifestations)

2013-OSTI Organisation in 14éme arrodissement - Paris

2013 - CD "POEMES ET CHANTS" de RABINDRA NATH TAGORE

2014 - Concert at Védantic Center of Gretz (France)

2014 - Concert in London at Tagore Center

2014 - MAIDO PROJECT at Pierre Baillot in Paris - France

2014 - Concert à DERBY, north of England

2014 - Concert for Ma Anandamaye's birthday (Centre VEDANTIQUE) at Gretz in France

2014 - Concert in Paris "au Forum 104, Rue de Vaugirard"

2014 - Concert at  Bourbon L'archambault (03160) - France

2014 - Initiation Stage indien singing ( North style) at  Bourbon L'archambault (03160) - France

2014 - Forum Terre du Ciel at Aix les Bains

2014 - Concert in England

2014 - Concert in Geneve (Switzerland)

2014 - Durga Puja - Maison de l'Inde Cité Universitaire - Paris

2014 - Concert and indian singuing initiation in  Marseilles

2014 - Védantic Center in Gretz - Concert for Krishna's birthday

2015 - Concert in Reims

2015 - Concert in Ardèche

2015 - Festival at London "HARROW MUSIC FESTIVAL" ZOROASTRIAN CENTRE HARROW.

2015 - Concert at London in "HARROW CENTER" - Concert DIJOYA and DIPAWALIPA

2015 - Concert for DIWALI Européen Union Center of Bruxelles

2015 - Concert in "Maison de l'Inde" in Paris - DIWALI

2016 - Concert and stage at Association A Ciel Ouvert

2017 - Concert at Derby in UK

2017 - Association "A Ciel Ouvert" at Chardenoux-France : Concert + stage

2017 - Chants and Kathak dance with Sharmila Sharma at Morlaix in Bretagne-France

2017 - Association "A Ciel Ouvert" : Sing stage - Lumière de l'Inde

2017 - Concert at Harrow Concil Center in London

2017 - Concert and stage : Art et Paroles in Bourges-France

2017 - Concert at Bordeaux : "Association franco-indienne Ganapati"

2017 - Concert at Neheru Center in London

2017 - "Association A Ciel Ouvert" in Chardenoux-France : Concert and stage

2017 - Concert at the Good Planet Fondation , Domaine de Longchamp 75116 Paris-France

2017 - Concert and stage at "A Ciel Ouvert"

2017 - Forum "A Ciel Ouvert" at Aix-Les-Bains-France

2017 - Concert in Havres-France

 Solo Albums

1991  « Bonze and Colour »
A fusion of World beat ad meditative Indian melodies

• « Prembhakti » (« Love and Devotion »)

   Nadeswar Records – Traditionnals semi-classical songs
2001 « Bakti Sagar » (« Océan de Dévotion »)
Nadeswar Records – Traditionnals semi-classical songs
2002 « Inde par Kakoli » (« India by Kakoli »)
             ARC Records – Children’s songs inspired by traditionnal texts
2006 « Bondhu, Emon Badale Tumi Kotha »
             Songs of Atul Prasad Sen, Rajani Kanta Sen & Dijendralal Roy
             Nadeswar Records
2007  « Amar Prothomo Gam» – Bengali Songs
             Nadeswar Records
2007 « Vandana Guru Saranam»
             Nadeswar Racords

Collaborations

Michel GARNIER and Pakoune : « Déclaration Universelle » (Universal Declaration), 1997
Dj CAM : « ? », 1997
PREMANANDA  & TURKANTAM : « Mantras »
Jacob DESVARIEUX : « Euphrasine’s Blues » / PLS Music / Sonodisc, 1999
Jean-Claude GENEL & friends : « Source d’Eveil » (Fount of Awakening) / G.P Productions
IN VIVO : « In Vivo » / Sony France, 2001
Jean-Pierre LIMBORG : « Cocoon Attitude Massage » / Distribution Origins 2004

Compilations

« Indian Room »   2003 / Sneak Preview (Indian chill out and vibes)
                              Track : « Ganesh Vandana » (J.P. Le Goff – Kakoli Sengupta)

« Indianism »   2003 /  Apricot Records (Inspiration and respiration)
                              Track : “He More Pia” (J.P. Le Goff)

«  Anoma »  2011 / Seeds n’ Harvest

• Diya Jhalere (Music and voice)
• Sundar Shyam (Voice)
• Shiva Pranam (Music and Voice) 

Participation in the soundtracks for films

« Douche anglaise » ; French Television Production
« La voie est libre », dir. Stéphane Clavier, 1998
« Innocent », French Television Production
« Hanuman », dir. Fred Fougea, Gaumont Productions, 1999