Illinois resident Praveen Pandikaran grew up between two worlds: his family’s traditional connection to Carnatic classical music and years of exposure to his parent’s Jazz, Rock and Indian film music collection, Praveen soaked up the various styles by learning and respecting their individual history and traditions. He is equally adept at playing the music of Rush, Steely Dan, Ilayaraja or straight-ahead Jazz as he is with improvising in a Carnatic Raga.

Praveen is a 3rd year student at University of Wisconsin majoring in Computer Science who spends several hours everyday working on his music, guitar skills , teaching and wants to be the best he can at what he does.