About

Aarnav Hastantram is a highly versatile musician, singer, and multi-instrumentalist whose work effortlessly bridges the gap between Eastern and Western musical traditions. With a foundation rooted in rigorous classical training across two distinct cultural hemispheres, Aarnav has cultivated a unique artistic voice that spans vocal performance, instrumental mastery, composition, and linguistic scholarship.

Aarnav’s grounding in Indian Classical Carnatic music is profound, shaped by training within some of the most respected musical lineages. Introduced to the tradition at age eight by his mother, Esha Ramesh, he possesses a rare flair for absorbing and mastering complex compositions by ear.

His Carnatic Vocal and Veena training are firmly rooted in the prestigious Karaikudi tradition, having studied under the esteemed A G Gnanasundaram. To further his rhythmic mastery, Aarnav trained in the Mridangam under the tutelage of Karaikudi Krishnamurthy. This deep, authentic immersion into Carnatic music has allowed him to master intricate forms including Jathiswarams, Varanams, Krithis, and Thillanas and given him a profound understanding of Indian classical structure and improvisation.

Complementing his Eastern traditions, Aarnav’s early musical education was defined by a broad and eager exploration of Western instruments. He built a strong theoretical and instrumental foundation by learning the piano, organ, and trumpet, alongside orchestral percussion.

Beginning his Western Classical vocal training at age 11, Aarnav's progression has been exceptionally rapid. Within two years, he achieved his ABRSM Grade 8 Singing with distinction, followed by the completion of his ARSM Diploma as a treble in December 2024. Now a tenor, he is an active member of the prestigious Rodolfus Choir and is currently working towards his LRSM diploma in Higher Education.

Alongside his performance career, Aarnav is a dedicated educator. He actively teaches both Carnatic and Western vocal music, passing on his dual-heritage expertise and rigorous technical foundations to the next generation of singers.

Aarnav has been composing since the age of 10, writing for a wide array of ensembles ranging from full orchestral works to quartets, quintets, and solo instruments. He regularly composes and arranges music in both Indian and Western traditions, showcasing an innovative ability to blend structural elements from both worlds.

Aarnav’s discography reflects his dual musical identities. His album Il Primo (2024), recorded professionally in an Oxford church, is a 14-track exploration of Western classical repertoire spanning from the 16th century onward, featuring works by Handel, Mozart, Purcell, Fauré, and Puccini.

His groundbreaking project, East Meets West (2024), is a conceptual feat not seen since the 18th-century innovations of Muthuswamy Dikshitar. The album features Western classical compositions meticulously arranged into the Indian Carnatic form using Swarams, Alapanes, and Gethams across a diverse variety of Ragas. 

Aarnav firmly believes that a singer must fully grasp a text to properly pronounce and interpret the music. This philosophy has driven him to exceptional linguistic and literary achievements. Vocally, he sings proficiently in French, German, Italian, Latin, and English, alongside Indian languages like Kannada, Tamizh, Sanskrit, Hindi and Telugu. 

Beyond the stage, Aarnav is an author and literary professional. Having completed formal qualifications in French and German, he is currently studying Russian and Hindi. His expertise in language and literature extends to formal French book editing (French Grammar in Practice), as well as the publication of literature (22 Poems For Life), articles, and books that complement his broader mission of bridging cultural and linguistic divides.