Sundara Karma

Sundara Karma are an English indie pop/indie rock/art rock[1] band from Reading, Berkshire, England. The band consists of singer/guitarist Oscar "Lulu" Pollock, lead guitarist Ally Baty, bassist Dom Cordell and drummer Haydn Evans.[2] The Guardian has likened the band to the likes of Arcade Fire and U2.[1]

Sundara Karma
OriginReading, Berkshire, England
GenresIndie pop, alternative rock, indie rock, art rock[1]
Years active2011 (2011)–present
LabelsChess Club/RCA
Websitewww.sundarakarma.com
MembersOscar Pollock
Dom Cordell
Ally Baty
Haydn Evans

History

Formation and early beginnings

Pollock and Evans had been friends since childhood and formed a few bands together before starting secondary school. However, nothing materialized as they moved to different schools. Pollock met Baty and Cordell at the Oratory School.[3] The pair had been in bands together at their old school so the three decided to form a new band together. Evans rejoined the band on drums.[4] The band's name is derived from Sanskrit words, meaning "Beautiful Karma".

In July 2013, they released their debut single, "Freshbloom", via SoundCloud.[5] In September 2013, along with Wolf Alice, they supported Swim Deep for their UK tour.[6]

They made their debut performance at Reading Festival in 2013.

2014–2015: EP I and EP II

On 17 March 2014, they released their second single, "Cold Heaven", via Chess Club Records.[7] In September 2014, their third single, Indigo Puff, was released in promotional CDr format, featuring b-side, "Hustle". The song "Indigo Puff" was used in Mercedes-Benz Australia's 2015 TV ad.[8]

On 23 February 2015, they released debut EP, EP I.[9][10] The band signed to Chess Club Records in June 2015.[11] The follow-up EP, EP II, was released in November 2015. It featured English singer-songwriter, Marika Hackman, in the song "Prisons to Purify". NME said that both EPs have "likened to Arcade Fire, Foals and The Maccabees".[12] Throughout the year, the band have toured with Circa Waves and the Wombats.

2016–2017: Loveblood EP and Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect

In August 2016, the band announced their debut album titled Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect to release in early 2017 via Twitter and their Facebook page.[13] As their promotion for the upcoming album, they released third EP, Loveblood, on 4 November 2016.

The album was then released on 6 January 2017, including the five tracks from the Loveblood EP. It peaked at number 24 on the UK Albums Chart.[14] The band have performed as the support act for Two Door Cinema Club[15] and Bastille. In March 2017, they performed at SXSW 2017.

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] "Explore" was released as a single on 12 May 2017 after premiering on BBC Radio 1 as Hottest Record.[18] "Lakhey" was premiered on NME on 6 July 2017.[19] The upgraded album was later released on 7 July 2017.[18]

From September to October 2017, they did their first UK headline tour, supported by The Magic Gang, including a show at London's Brixton Academy.[20]

In October 2017, the band were announced as the support act for the band Everything Everything for their Alexandra Palace show on 10 March 2018 exclusively on the band's UK tour. They opened the set with a (presumably new) unreleased song then titled simply "Eternity",[21] which features on their second album under the title of "Symbols of Joy and Eternity".

On 9 May 2018, the band announced they had almost finished new music via their official Twitter.[22]

Following this, on 29 May 2018, they announced on their official Instagram page that they were soon to start recording their second album.[23] They later announced on 30 July 2018 that they had finished recording the album.[24] In September 2018, they performed their upcoming new song titled "One Last Night on This Earth" for the first time in Jakarta, Indonesia.[25]

Members
  • Oscar "Lulu" Pollock – vocals, guitar, keyboard, synthesizer, piano (2011–present)
  • Dom Cordell – bass, backing vocals (2011–present)
  • Ally Baty – guitar, keyboard, cowbell, backing vocals (2011–2020)
  • Haydn Evans – drums (2011–present)

Discography

Studio albums
Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[26]
Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect 24
Ulfilas' Alphabet
  • Released: 1 March 2019
  • Label: RCA Records
  • Format: CD, digital download, vinyl
 28

EPs
Title Details
EP I
  • Released: 23 February 2015[28]
  • Format: 10", digital download
EP II
  • Released: 27 November 2015[29]
  • Format: 10", digital download
Loveblood EP
  • Released: 4 November 2016[30]
  • Format: 7", digital download

Singles
Title Year Certifications Album
"Cold Heaven"[31] 2014 Non-album singles
"Indigo Puff"[32]
"Loveblood"[33] 2015 EP I
"Flame"[34] Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect
"Vivienne"[35] EP II
"A Young Understanding"[36] 2016 Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect
"She Said"[37]
"Olympia"[38]
"Happy Family"[39]
"Explore"[40] 2017 Non-album singles
"Illusions"[41] 2018 Ulfilas’ Alphabet
"One Last Night on This Earth"[42]
"The Changeover"[43]
"Higher States"[44] 2019
"Little Smart Houses"[45]

References
  1. "New band of the week: Sundara Karma (No 65)". Theguardian.comaccessdate=2017-01-22.
  2. "Sundara Karma". Billboard.com. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  3. "Introducing: Sundara Karma face 'Hannah Montana syndrome'". Getreading.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  4. "Young Musicians Of The Moment: Sundara Karma. They're 18 And Yep, They've Already Played Reading Festival". Huff Post. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  5. ""Freshbloom" [Premiere]". Hillydilly.com. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  6. "Live: Swim Deep/Wolf Alice/Sundara Karma, Cardiff 22/09/2013". Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  7. "Sundara Karma Announce New Single". Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  8. "Sundara Karma". Facebook.com. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  9. "Sundara Karma – EPI". Discogs.com. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  10. "Premiere: Sundara Karma – 'EP1'". Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  11. "Chess Club Records – sundara karma sign". Chessclub-records.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  12. "Premiere: Sundara Karma". Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  13. "Sundara Karma". Facebook.com. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  14. "SUNDARA KARMA - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  15. "Two Door Cinema Club". Honne. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  16. karma, sundara (8 May 2017). "THE UPGRADE. We're adding 3 more new songs to our debut album. First one is called "Explore" - out Friday.pic.twitter.com/W3gsYg8zXY". @sundarakarma. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  17. "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.
  18. "Sundara Karma unveil new track Explore ahead of debut album re-release". Live4ever Media. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  19. Trendell, Andrew (6 July 2017). "Sundara Karma unveil new song 'Lakhey'". NME. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  20. Subscribe. "Sundara Karma announce biggest UK tour to date, with support from The Magic Gang". DIY. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  21. "Sundara Karma Setlist at Alexandra Palace, London". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  22. karma, sundara (9 May 2018). "The incubation period is nearly complete. It has been a process of deep healing and refinement. From the depths of our slumber we will once again emerge, but until then.. keep buying into the illusion that new music from us is EXACTLY what you need. Many thanks, The Band". Twitter. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  23. "Sundara Karma on Instagram: "Thank you @nbhdweekender thank you people thank you for the patience. We start recording album 2 in a few weeks!! It's gunna knock your…"". Instagram. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  24. "Sundara Karma on Instagram: "Album 2 completed. Just give us the fucking Grammy already ❤️". Instagram. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  25. "Rintik Hujan Iringi Aksi Sundara Karma di Hodgepodge Superfest 2018". Kumparan.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  26. "Sundara Karma | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  27. "BRIT Certified - bpi" (To access, enter the search parameter "Sundara Karma" and select "Search by Keyword"). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  28. "EP I by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  29. "EP II by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  30. "Sundara Karma - "Loveblood" EP". Therevue.ca. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  31. "Listen: Sundara Karma – 'Cold Heaven'". The Line of Best Fit. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  32. "Indigo Puff - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  33. "Track Premiere – Listen To Sundara Karma's Euphoric And Driving New Single 'Loveblood'". NME. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  34. "Sundara Karma release fired-up new track 'Flame'". The Line of Best Fit. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  35. "Vivienna – Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  36. "A Young Understanding - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  37. "She Said - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  38. "Sundara Karma scale 'Olympia' with their new track". Dork. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  39. "Happy Family - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  40. "Explore - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  41. "Illusions - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  42. "Sundara Karma announce new album 'Ulfilas' Alphabet', share 'One Last Night on This Earth'". DIY. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  43. "Sundara Karma unveil new video for 'The Changeover'". DIY. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  44. "Sundara Karma share video for 'Higher States'". DIY. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  45. "Sundara Karma share 'Little Smart Houses'". DIY. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
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