International performing artist and activist Paul Livingstone spent a highly formative teenage year initiating his study of music in India, eventually becoming one of the few American disciples of Amiya Dasgupta, Pt Rajeev Taranath and the legendary Pt. Ravi Shankar. He has performed around the US, South Asia, Europe, and Latin America, developing a reputation as a serious proponent of Indian classical raga music. In 2022 Paul completed a 6-month research fellowship researching dhrupad, one of the planet's oldest living music traditions and performed widely around India and focused study with veena player Ustad Bahauddhin Dagar.

As a composer, Paul brings a grounded knowledge of tradition to his work. He has composed and recorded for film and television, as well as for numerous live theater and dance productions. In 2024 he debuted 'Navarasa' a new work for fretless guitar in a cycle of nine ragas. He has performed on three Grammy-winning records and is featured on diverse world music and jazz crossover records with artists such as the late Juan Gabriel, Alanis Morrisette, Ricky Kej, Ozomatli, Josef Leimberg, Build an Ark, Tyler Childers, Pedro Eustache, and Chrissie Hynde.

Paul leads the Arohi Ensemble and performs regularly as a classical sitarist, fretless guitarist, and world/jazz crossover upright bassist. He is on the music faculty at Glendale Community College as a teacher of Indian and world music ensembles. He has toured India, Pakistan and Nepal and most recently with the ATMA Ensemble at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultrual Centre in Mumbai and the Sawai Gandharva Festival in Pune. He is also the founder of the Soul Force Project, an ongoing performance vehicle combining live music and with a message of nonviolent change-making.

This year Paul released his 11th record 'Night Visions' a alaap/jor duet with master sarod player Partho Sarothy, a sitar sarod duet in pure Maihar gharana style. His 12th record 'Wonder' was released on Earth Day bringing classical artists from India and Bangladesh, together with Jazz artsists from the US and Mexico.

For more info visit www.paulzlivingstone.com and www.soulforceproject.com and find him on social media at @paulzlivingstone.