Saurab Bhargava

Saurab Bhargava is a Chicago-based composer who melds elements from various music styles to create a unique soundscape that he calls atmospheric rock. His latest work, CHROMATIQUE (2009) transcends his previous efforts with a more live, grand, and orchestral sound, while still retaining his signature dream-like quality.

"I consider my albums to be soundtracks for themselves," Saurab says of his work. "I believe that all art forms, including aural and visual, have a deep relationship with one another. Most people tend to approach it from a visual-centric stance - that music serves as a soundtrack for the visual. I try to approach it both ways: try not to think of the sonic as an accompaniment to something visual; rather, think of the visuals as an accompaniment to the music."

Saurab began his musical training as a classical pianist at an early age. In his teens, he began playing guitar, bass and keyboards with local bands in genres varying from punk to blues and classic rock. As a student at Duke University, Saurab played with the three-piece band, Qenga, where he developed his songwriting skills as they crafted the album A FRIEND OF MINE (1999). Upon graduation, Saurab returned to Chicago and continued composing, working solo to develop his own style. Drawing influences from his classical and music theory training as well as from current acts such as Sigur Rós, Radiohead, Jane's Addiction, Massive Attack and The Cure, he began to work on what would eventually become ON THE STEPS OF A DREAM (2005).

For CHROMATIQUE, Saurab again composed all of the music, but enlisted the help of several local musicians to bring the project to life. The album was produced by Dave Suycott (Stabbing Westward, Verbow, Rockets Over Sweden) and engineered by Rick Barnes at Chicago's Raxtrax Studios. In addition, CHROMATIQUE almost exclusively uses live instruments, including horns, strings, piano, organ, harmonium, and multiple drumkits (performed by both Larry Beers of the Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra and Dave Suycott).

"I couldn't ask for finer musicians and people to work with. Dave and Rick pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged me at every step of the process. Every musician brought great care, enthusiasm and skill to the performances."

The result is a musical tapestry that takes listeners on a journey across varied sound and landscapes. "My albums are not meant to be a collection of discrete songs, but rather a complete journey for each listener to interpret how they choose."