Apoorva Krishna, an accomplished Carnatic violinist, is set to release her new album, 'Only Love Is Real', which promises a unique reimagining of Carnatic music through innovative collaborations and a blend of global sounds. Trained in the Carnatic tradition for over 15 years under Lalgudi Srimathi and Anuradha Sridhar, Krishna has carved a niche for herself by seamlessly weaving the intricacies of South Indian classical music into a vibrant tapestry of diverse musical influences.

'Only Love Is Real' reflects Krishna's deep emotional connection to music, drawing from her experiences and passion for blending the purity of her roots with sounds that resonate with the heart. The album explores themes of surrender, acceptance, and the quiet truths of the heart, creating a soul-stirring musical journey. It features a remarkable roster of artists, including Vijay Prakash, Michael League, and Varijashree Venugopal.

Krishna's journey into music began with a strong foundation in Carnatic music in Bengaluru. She is known for her compositions that blend Indian music with Western forms through improvisation. Krishna recalls that her trajectory at Berklee College of Music in the USA exposed her to many other cultures, musical styles and backgrounds, which came together in a common space and felt like a conversation. Having traveled extensively, Krishna noticed that her music is influenced by the spaces she encounters. For example, she recounts recording "Skyline Drive" for her new album on Aaron's (Sinclair) roof, who lives in the mountains on a street called Skyline Drive. She encourages multiple collaborations in her work, finding this process transcends the boundaries of musical technicality.

The album includes a tribute track to the late Zakir Hussain, featuring a second version of her song "Merging Parallels". According to Krishna, Hussain said he loved the song and wished she had created another version.

Apoorva Krishna's work has earned her several accolades, including an Honorable Mention at the BMI Student Composer Awards. She was also featured on the Grammy-nominated album "Shuruaat" by the Berklee Indian Ensemble. In 2017, she became the first Indian artist to receive the prestigious Young Artist Grant from the London Tarisio Trust. Krishna holds a Master's in Contemporary Performance and a Post-Master's Fellowship from Berklee College of Music, where she deepened her vision to merge Carnatic traditions with jazz, Western harmonies, and world music.

Her debut album, "Intuition," featured Shankar Mahadevan. Krishna has performed with legendary artists such as John McLaughlin, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, Bombay Jayashri, and Aruna Sairam. Her artistry has taken her from the Madras Music Academy to the Berlin Tagore Centre, from Bogotá's Jazz al Parque Festival to London's Darbar Festival.

Apoorva Krishna will unveil her new album, "Only Love is Real" at The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, October 17, 2025, in collaboration with District of Raga. The performance is free and open to the public and will celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights.