Oliver Rajamani was born in Madurai, TamilNadu, India. He grew up in a family that loved music and dance and began performing informally at the age of four in his uncles' band and was encouraged early on to develop his skills as a musician by his grandmother, his parents and uncles. Over the years, Rajamani studied classical and comtemporary music in often unique settings. Oliver studied tabla and Mirdhangam at an early age. His most recent tabla guru is the renowned tabla Pandit “Aloke Dutta”. Since his early childhood, Rajamani was raised on Tamil folk music, trance music, ancient frame drumming(tappu) of the Dravidian culture of South India and Tamil Christian chants.

He was also very fortunate to receive a scholarship to attend the well known Kodaikanal International School in South India. Kodai school changed Rajamani’s whole life and set him on a path different from the average Indian. Here he studied Western classical music, performed in many jazz ensembles and Rock bands while still being part of his very traditional Indian cultural roots. The schooling prepared Rajamani for his journey as a pioneer of worldmusic. He was able to get an early experience of world cultures while still living in India and being raised in a traditional Indian Tamil family.

Rajamani's music clearly depicts the roots of Roma/Gypsy music beginning in ancient India. Rajamanis vocal skills came naturally also by growing up around beautiful singer in his family and also being around great Indian, MiddleEastern and Roma/Gypsy, Country Western, Jazz and other master singers. He has trained under Snighdha Misra for Hindustani and Bamathi Sudharshan for Carnatic classical vocal music of India.

Rajamani is a daily practicioner of yoga and meditation. As a teacher of Indian music and World music and its spiritual culture, he focuses on transmitting the ancient knowledge of naadha yoga to his students.



Contact: 

Oliver's Charity:   MEHAA - Music Education Health Awarness for All