Sundara Karma Explained

Sundara Karma
Landscape:yes
Origin:Reading, Berkshire, England
Genre:Indie pop, alternative rock, indie rock
Years Active:–present
Label:Is Right Records, Chess Club/RCA
Current Members:
  • Oscar Pollock
  • Dom Cordell
  • Ally Baty
  • Haydn Evans

Sundara Karma are an English rock band formed in 2011 in Reading, England.[1] The band consists of lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Oscar Pollock, lead guitarist Ally Baty, bassist Dom Cordell and drummer Haydn Evans.[2] [3] The band's name is derived from Sanskrit words, meaning "Beautiful Karma".[4]

History

2011–2016: Formation and early years

Sundara Karma was formed in 2011 when its members were teenagers attending secondary school.[5] [6] In 2013, after uploading an early demo to SoundCloud, the band was offered the opportunity to be the opening support act for several prominent artists. [7] [8] Over the next three years, the band embarked on extensive tours across the United Kingdom and Europe, while also releasing music that would later be included on their debut album, Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect.[9] [10] [11]

2017–2018: Youth is Only Ever Fun In Retrospect

In January 2017, Sundara Karma released their debut album titled Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect via Sony Music and Chess Club.[12] [13] It peaked at number 24 on the UK Albums Chart and received Silver Certification from British Phonographic Industry.[14] In May 2017, they announced an upgrade to their debut album via social media, adding the tracks "Explore", "Lakhey", and "Another Word For Beautiful" to the original track listing.[15] [16] [17] [18]

2019–2020: Ulfilas' Alphabet and Kill Me

On 1 March 2019, Sundara Karma released their second studio album, Ulfilas' Alphabet, under RCA Records. Ulfilas' Alphabet was produced by Stuart Price and Alex Robertshaw. The album peaked at number 28 on the UK Albums Chart. Ulfilas' Alphabet received positive reviews from The Guardian, NME, Dork, DIY and others.[19] [20]

In May 2020, the band shared three singles titled "Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday", "Invade Safe Space" and "Vision Sick" via SoundCloud. These were unreleased songs from the recording of their 2019 album Ulfilas’ Alphabet.[21]

On 1 October 2020, Sundara Karma released their single "Kill Me" via Chess Club Records.[22]

On 24 October 2020, they released their EP "Kill Me" consisting of 5 songs, including the song of the same name released at the start of the month.

2021–present: Oblivion! and Better Luck Next Time

On 17 September 2021, nearly a year after their fourth EP, the band premiered the single "Godsend". In February 2022, it was followed by the release of the title track off their fifth EP, Oblivion!. The EP was released on 1 April 2022.

On 27 October 2023, the band released Better Luck Next Time, the group's first studio album in over four years. The album has been described as a "departure of sound compared to the electro-pop elements" present on Oblivion.[23] The album received positive reviews from DIY and Dork.[24] [25] Better Luck Next Time peaked at number 13 on the UK Albums Chart, making it the band's first top 20 album in the UK.[26]

Members

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
DetailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
UK
[27]
Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect 24
Ulfilas' Alphabet
  • Released: 1 March 2019
  • Label: RCA
  • Format: CD, digital download, vinyl
28
Better Luck Next Time
  • Released: 27 October 2023[28]
  • Label: Is Right Records
  • Format: CDr, digital download, vinyl, cassette
—

EPs

Title! scope="col"
Details
EP I
  • Released: 23 February 2015[29]
  • Format: 10", digital download
EP II
  • Released: 27 November 2015[30]
  • Format: 10", digital download
Loveblood
  • Released: 4 November 2016[31]
  • Format: 7", digital download
Kill Me
  • Released: 24 November 2020
  • Format: 10", digital download
Oblivion!
  • Released: 1 April 2022[32]
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

TitleYearCertificationsAlbum/EP
"Cold Heaven"[33] 2014rowspan="2"
"Indigo Puff"[34]
"Loveblood"[35] 2015EP I
"Flame"[36] Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect
"Vivienne"[38] EP II
"A Young Understanding"[39] 2016Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect
"She Said"[40]
  • BPI: Silver
"Olympia"[41]
"Happy Family"[42]
"Explore"[43] 2017
"Illusions"[44] 2018Ulfilas’ Alphabet
"One Last Night on This Earth"[45]
"The Changeover"[46]
"Higher States"[47] 2019
"Little Smart Houses"[48]
"Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday"2020rowspan="3"
"Invade Safe Space"
"Vision Sick"
"Kill Me"Kill Me
"Godsend"2021Oblivion
"Oblivion"2022
"All These Dreams"[49]
"Friends of Mine"[50] 2023Better Luck Next Time
"Baby Blue"[51]
"Wishing Well"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New band of the week: Sundara Karma (No 65). The Guardian. 7 August 2015. 2017-01-22.
  2. Web site: Swann . Emma . A quick Reading Festival catch-up with Sundara Karma . DIY Magazine . 27 August 2019 . 2020-10-15.
  3. Web site: Gibsone . Harriet . Sundara Karma: Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect review – chugging indie inevitability . The Guardian . 5 January 2017 . 2020-10-15.
  4. Web site: Pierce . Elspeth . Festival Focus: Reading Festival is not all about the big bands – check out Sundara Karma, Chroma and Touts . Metro . 24 August 2017 . 2020-10-15.
  5. Web site: Introducing: Sundara Karma face 'Hannah Montana syndrome'. Getreading.co.uk. 4 July 2014. 2017-06-05.
  6. Web site: Sundara Karma - Waves at Reading Festival 2013 . BBC . 2020-10-15.
  7. Web site: Live: Swim Deep/Wolf Alice/Sundara Karma, Cardiff 22/09/2013. 2017-06-05.
  8. Web site: "Freshbloom" [Premiere]]. Hillydilly.com. 2017-06-05. 17 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181117104855/https://www.hillydilly.com/2013/07/sundara-karma-freshbloom-premiere/. dead.
  9. Web site: Young Musicians Of The Moment: Sundara Karma. They're 18 And Yep, They've Already Played Reading Festival. 29 August 2014. Huff Post. 2017-01-22.
  10. Web site: Sundara Karma - Concert Archive . concertarchives.org . 2020-10-15.
  11. Web site: Sundara Karma announce biggest UK tour to date, with support from The Magic Gang. Subscribe. DIY. 5 June 2017 . 8 March 2019.
  12. Web site: Yung . Ben . Sundara Karma – "Loveblood" EP . The Revue . 10 November 2016 . 2020-10-15.
  13. Web site: Beech . Dave . Album Review: Sundara Karma Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect . drownedinsound.com . 2020-10-15 . 18 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210618073612/https://drownedinsound.com/releases/19815/reviews/4150789 . dead .
  14. Web site: SUNDARA KARMA - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company. Officialcharts.com. 8 March 2019.
  15. Web site: Sundara Karma on Instagram: "THE UPGRADE. We're adding 3 more new songs to our debut album. First one is called "Explore" - out Friday. Follow the official playlist…". Instagram. en. 2019-07-13.
  16. Web site: Lulu . Oscar . Sundara Karma frontman Oscar Lulu on how Shakespeare's influences still run deep in today's popular culture . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/sundara-karma-frontman-oscar-lulu-how-shakespeare-s-influences-still-run-deep-today-s-popular-culture-a7035616.html . 25 May 2022 . subscription . live . independent.co.uk . 18 May 2016 . 2020-10-15.
  17. Web site: Daly . Rhian . Track Premiere – Listen To Sundara Karma's Euphoric And Driving New Single 'Loveblood' . NME . 13 January 2015 . 2020-10-15.
  18. Web site: Sundara Karma unveil new song 'Lakhey'. Trendell. Andrew. 2017-07-06. NME. en-UK. 2019-07-13.
  19. Web site: Jack . Malcolm . Sundara Karma review – catchy toplines and lissom post-punk . The Guardian . 3 April 2019 . 2020-10-15.
  20. Web site: Williams . Sophie . Sundara Karma – 'Ulfilas' Alphabet' review . NME . 28 February 2019 . 2020-10-15.
  21. Web site: Neale . Matthew . Sundara Karma share three unheard tracks from 'Ulfilas' Alphabet' sessions . NME . 19 May 2020 . 2020-10-15.
  22. Web site: Sundara Karma . Sundara Karma on the depression and desire behind explosive new single 'Kill Me' and its Hannah Diamond-directed video . NME. October 2020 . 2020-10-15.
  23. Web site: 2023-09-07 . Sundara Karma announce Brighton concert in support of third album . 2024-01-09 . Brighton and Hove News . en-US.
  24. Web site: 2023-10-25 . Sundara Karma - Better Luck Next Time . 2024-01-09 . DIY . en.
  25. Web site: Holden . Finlay . 2023-11-29 . Sundara Karma: "I'd like to enjoy the full spectrum of what's on offer in life" . 2024-01-09 . Dork . en-US.
  26. Web site: 2023-12-14 . BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME . 2024-01-09 . Official Charts . en.
  27. Web site: Sundara Karma full Official Chart History Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. 11 April 2017.
  28. Web site: Stickler . Jon . Sundara Karma Announce Third Album 'Better Luck Next Time' For October . Stereoboard.com . 7 July 2023 . 7 July 2023.
  29. Web site: EP I by Sundara Karma. Apple Music. 20 November 2015. 4 March 2019.
  30. Web site: EP II by Sundara Karma. Apple Music. 6 November 2015. 4 March 2019.
  31. Web site: Sundara Karma - "Loveblood" EP. Therevue.ca. 10 November 2016. 5 March 2019.
  32. Web site: SUNDARA KARMA ANNOUNCE NEW EP 'OBLIVION!'. DIY. 11 February 2022. 11 February 2022.
  33. Web site: Listen: Sundara Karma – 'Cold Heaven'. The Line of Best Fit. 13 February 2014. 4 March 2019.
  34. Web site: Indigo Puff - Single by Sundara Karma. Apple Music. 7 October 2014. 4 March 2019.
  35. Web site: Track Premiere – Listen To Sundara Karma's Euphoric And Driving New Single 'Loveblood'. NME. 13 January 2015. 5 March 2019.
  36. Web site: Sundara Karma release fired-up new track 'Flame'. The Line of Best Fit. 9 June 2015. 5 March 2019.
  37. United Kingdom. Sundara Karma. 30 April 2022.
  38. Web site: Vivienna – Single by Sundara Karma. Apple Music. 4 March 2019.
  39. Web site: A Young Understanding - Single by Sundara Karma. Apple Music. 9 February 2016. 4 March 2019.
  40. Web site: She Said - Single by Sundara Karma. Apple Music. 23 August 2016. 5 March 2019.
  41. Web site: Sundara Karma scale 'Olympia' with their new track. Dork. 20 October 2016. 5 March 2019.
  42. Web site: Happy Family - Single by Sundara Karma. Apple Music. 5 March 2019.
  43. Web site: Explore - Single by Sundara Karma. Apple Music. 12 May 2017. 5 March 2019.
  44. Web site: Illusions - Single by Sundara Karma. Apple Music. 9 October 2018. 5 March 2019.
  45. Web site: Sundara Karma announce new album 'Ulfilas' Alphabet', share 'One Last Night on This Earth'. DIY. 1 November 2018. 5 March 2019.
  46. Web site: Sundara Karma unveil new video for 'The Changeover'. DIY. 17 December 2018. 5 March 2019.
  47. Web site: Sundara Karma share video for 'Higher States'. DIY. 13 February 2019. 5 March 2019.
  48. Web site: Sundara Karma share 'Little Smart Houses'. DIY. 20 February 2019. 5 March 2019.
  49. Web site: SUNDARA KARMA RELEASE 'ALL THESE DREAMS'. DIY. 15 March 2022. 15 March 2022.
  50. Web site: Friends of Mine - Single by Sundara Karma. Apple Music. 28 June 2023.
  51. Web site: Sundara Karma Release New Single Baby Blue. Stereoboard.com. 27 July 2023. 27 July 2023.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Sundara Karma".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.