Ed Sheeran’s love for the Indian ghatam: How this Mumbai percussionist landed in Ed’s latest album, ‘Play’

In between a jam session with Ed Sheeran in Goa earlier this year, 24-year-old Ganesh Murali Iyer whipped out his phone and opened YouTube. He played a solo mridangam piece performed at a concert by his guru, the renowned Umayalapuram K Sivaraman. “Ed Sheeran flipped hearing that. He was zapped by the possibilities of percussion instruments,” says Ganesh.

In the popular English singer-songwriter’s latest album, Play, Ganesh’s percussion work is showcased in eight tracks, including in ‘Old Phone’, ‘Azizam’ and ‘Symmetry’.

“This is a big win for Indian percussion. A lot of Gen-Z people might have heard the sound of the mridangam or ghatam in popular film numbers, but they might not know exactly know much about the instrument. Earlier, I was viewed as a Carnatic musician, but after playing with Ed Sheeran, new doors have opened. People are looking at newer ways of incorporating Indian percussion instruments in popular music,” says Ganesh, who plays the mridangam, ghatam and kanjira.

Play is opening exciting possibilities for this Mumbai-based musician, but it all started when he got a call to attend a music recording camp in Goa. Interestingly, he had no idea who the main artiste was. “I was blown away when I was told it was Ed Sheeran, because I am a huge fan. He was aware of how the tabla sounds, but instruments like the mridangam and ghatam were new to him. He was keen on using more of these sounds in his tracks.”

At the end of the recording sessions, Ed was so taken in by the ghatam that he wanted to buy one and take it home. “Sensing his interest, I gifted him a ghatam. I hope he plays it often,” says Ganesh.

Just beat it

Growing up in Chembur in Mumbai, Ganesh took to percussion when he was seven. “As my parents had South Indian roots, they pushed me to go to mridangam classes. I was one among many players in a cramped room. I had to fight for my teacher’s attention, and that would happen only if you genuinely played well,” recalls Ganesh.

Ganesh Murali Iyer
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Coming under the tutelage of Umayalapuram Sivaraman, he says, was a “big dream come true”. “Apart from his incredible achievements in the Indian classical scene, Sivaraman himself has been doing international collaborations for a long time; his fusion with European jazz band Aka Moon being one of the big highlights. “He has a big fan following in Belgium,” says Ganesh, “We are all following in the footsteps of percussion legends like him and Vikku Vinayakram.”

With increased awareness about what Indian percussion has to offer, post the Ed Sheeran collab, Ganesh is looking to tap into various possibilities. “I see Ed’s visit to India and his video of ‘Sapphire’ as a big step in taking Indian music to the global arena. I am sure many more international artistes will visit India to do something similar, with their own flavour. I also hope the rap scene internationally wakes up to the sounds of the konakkol and ghatam, because we have a lot to offer in terms of rhythm.”