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Sound of Women
A Folk X Hip-Hop Showcase
Performers
The storytellers. The keepers of culture. The warriors of Kumaoni sound.
Krantinaari (Ashwini Hiremath) and Charu Hariharan independently explored the corners of India in search of sounds, stories and inspiration. They found shades of the same story in every region: women excluded from expression, prohibited from even touching instruments. Their collaboration started with one question: why are women missing from the music scene?
Born from the radical belief that hip-hop is folk, they started Sound of Women to empower female artists across the country. The songs carry the weight of changing seasons, disappearing forests, and the emotional and economic impact of climate change on their lives. They speak of migration, leaving ancestral homes in search of survival, cities that offer work but not belonging, and of the longing to remain connected to land and identity.
A revolution through rhythm; a reclamation of expression.
Supported by:
Performers
Krantinaari
Krantinaari (she/her) known as “Voice of Revolution,” is a versatile artist, rapper, and graphic designer from Mumbai, India. Her music, a fusion of Hindi, English, and Kannada, champions women’s empowerment and social justice. Despite gender-based challenges, she pursued her passion for music after studying graphic design in Tamil Nadu. Krantinaari’s lyrics boldly confront gender inequality, climate crisis and tribal women’s lives, inspiring women to amplify their voices. She co-founded Wild Wild Women, represented Indian women music at Denmark’s Roskilde Festival and was a fellow in the global Onebeat residency in the USA. Krantinaari’s impactful work resonates nationally and internationally, marking her a trailblazer in Indian Hip-Hop music.
Charu Hariharan
Charu Hariharan is a percussionist, vocalist, composer, and producer from Kerala, India. Born into a musical family, she initially learned South Indian classical vocal music from her mother, the renowned classical singer Dr. B. Arundhathi. Charu has been a part of a variety of projects, including playing mridangam and khanjira in the quartet O! Shakuntala led by master slide guitarist and Grammy nominee Pt. Debashish Bhattacharya. She has participated in a variety of cross-cultural musical projects, including the prestigious Ethno Sweden music camp and ARPO Earthlore, a project dedicated to documenting and showcasing the music of tribal communities in Kerala, India, on a global stage. She is also a member of the World Folk Ensemble Varldens Band, comprising 14 musicians from 6 countries, Varldens Band has toured across Scandinavia and the UK, earning nominations for the World and Folk Music Awards in Sweden. Beyond her performance practice, Charu is also an accomplished producer, composer, and arranger who has created music for movies, documentaries, and independent releases.
Hemanti Devi
Hemanti Devi is a folk singer and daughter of the iconic Kabootari Devi, the first folk artist of All India Radio from Uttarakhand.
Ganga Devi
Ganga Devi is a mother and folk singer from the village of Gaira.
Pushpa Devi Taiji
Pushpa Devi Taiji is a percussionist and hudukka player, embodying ancestral rhythm.
Khashti Devi
Khashti Devi is a folk singer who sings not for fame, but for love: the healing of her husband battling a heart condition.
Chandreshekhar Tampta
Chandrashekar is a folk singer who is Pushpa Devi’s son representing the Dalit Tamta community of brass workers.
Neha Singh
Neha Singh is a storyteller and show director, weaving powerful narratives through each performance, giving voice to stories long silenced.
