After being in this group for 3 years, there is only one word to describe my time with Raag: Legendary. From imitating jungle sounds and singing the Lion Sleeps Tonight spontaneously in a crowded restaurant to singing on stage in front of thousands, it's been a great time with definitely a lot of random moments. We tend to attract a mixed bag of people with very different backgrounds and personalities, but all united by one passion: music, whatever the genre that may be. You'll see us walking down the street but carrying our music with us, as a cappella tends to be very portable. So you'll see random beatboxing, random harmonies, and random sounds, though it may not always work the first time :). Raag has taken me on a roller coaster adventure, and I'm glad to still be on it, though clinging on for my life at times. Raag and Roll baby!

Danny Lee was born May 12, 1987 in Honolulu, Hawaii. His father was born in the Nyanza Province of Kenya. As a domestic servant to the British, his father herded goats and made curdled cheese. Although reared among Muslims, Lee became a Christian at one point. Lee's mother grew up in Wichita, Kansas. When she later remarried a student from Indonesia, Lee moved to Jakarta, where Lee's half-sister was born. When Lee was ten, he returned to Hawaii to live with his maternal grandparents. After spending two years at Occidental, Lee took his education north, and settled among the Slumraag Millionaires of Stanford University, eventually becoming the leader of them all.

Yes We Can, and Yes I Just Did.

Forged in the intensely hot sands of Gujarat's desert, Hirav is a legend among mankind and womenfolk. Part Bollywood actor, part Stanford student and wholly ravaging, Hirav hails from the 'hood of Irvine, a place so fearsome that the mere mention of it scares both Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg (8 Mile has nothing on Culver Drive). From Hirav's profwessional singing of Shammi Kapoor songs at the age of three (from the acoustically pleasing venue of his shower) to his midnight renditions of "Happy Birthday...Now Shut Up and Give Me Cake", the Gandhi's musical prowess is world-renowned. The quality of his bass and baritone lines, with resounding "doom doom ba da"'s and crisp "doo doo...doo doo"'s makes him stick out (maybe a little too much). Honestly though, Raagapella has been a great experience...we are a tight group of guys that enjoy doing everything together. Whether its getting sexual innuendo-filled choreography down (in the style of our favorite Bolly and Tollywood hits) to eating pizza together, Raagapella is not only an a cappella group but a brotherhood. I am glad I found Raagapella and we are looking forward to making you bob to the sound of our arrangements.

In a forgotten, secluded part of Tibet, hidden behind unscalable mountains and a sea of fog lies a sacred Buddhist monastery, specializing in a secret form of Tibetan martial Arts, whose name remains elusive to this day. It is said that the warriors that emerge from this ancient place are invisible and hold the keys to life itself; they can extract the soul from any living being and incorporate it into their own. It is rumored that Nikhil may be from this monastery. However, Nikhil has many interests including but not limited to doing things, eating, and thinking about things. Many people consider him cool, and there is a very direct correlation between thinking that Nikhil isn't cool and being an idiot. Nikhil also sings. He is also technically a champion in South Asian a cappella. However, there is no trophy for being a champion. That's ok, because the true trophy comes from the inside, man.

Sometimes I step back to think how weird it is that, just two years ago, I'd never even hear of South Asian a cappella. I mean a cappella music, sure–I've been singing since high school and always wanted to learn to do modern harmonies with a smaller group. And I was no stranger to Eastern music, having grown up hearing my dad crank up the Persian music as he painted and listening to Bhangra tunes that my younger brother copped from his friends. But the combination of the two was something that never occurred to me. So I was taken pretty off guard by two guys sitting at a table telling me I ought to sign up for an audition for this thing that was new to me, and frankly pretty weird. But I knew I wanted to sing and the guys seemed nice enough, so I did. And here I am now.

My time with Raagapella hasn't been very long yet, but it's been a never-ending thrill ride. From national competitions to East Coast tours to little dorm gigs or even just chilling out in grad housing on a Saturday night, Raagapella has been not only the creative outlet I was hoping for coming into college, but an awesome group of friends and a whole lot of fun. This year, I get to lead the group–musically anyway. And that's a bit of a scary proposition, but a damn exciting one!

Born into a family with musical roots, my singing gene remained well suppressed until one birthday night when I realized that I actually sounded good. Add to that a helpful friend who spotted the notes in me and asked me to join a fusion rock band at Cornell University called Raga and Rock, and I was suddenly much more confident in my singing ability to be able to perform on stage. Also, Freddie Mercury was never in Raagapella, while I am, which makes me better than Freddie and hence the greatest singer of all time. (Now the doubters may point to the fact that Freddie was not alive at the time of Raagapella, and did not go to Stanford, but such arguments are really feeble and distract from the main point). Seriously speaking, the last year has been a fun experience for me in terms of meeting an awesome group of people, let alone performing with them. In my spare time, I study Electrical Engineering, like to run, play soccer (defence mostly), basketball and cricket.

Have been singing ever since I bumped into Raag's table freshman year. Glad to be developing my voice and making fun music!

I've been singing for a year with Raagapella, prior to which I had no exposure to singing except for occasional outbursts of songs from the Beatles and the Eagles, after an exciting day of listening to my iPod. I do have prior experience playing the keyboard and the classical guitar. The music I generally listen to includes electronic music (Paul van Dyk, Oceanlab, Daft Punk, and similar stuff), soft rock (Eagles, Beatles, Sting, Radiohead, Muse), Spanish guitar/piano/film orchestra classical music, the occasional Hindi/Tamil/Telugu film song, and the occasional R&B. I'm also an avid fan of the Gorillaz.

At Stanford, I'm pursuing an MS in electrical engineering, after gradutaing with a BS in electrical engineering and mathematics from The University of Texas at Austin in 2009. My family roots are in Hyderabad and Vishakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, India, but I've lived in Dubai for nearly my whole childhood.

Hey, I’m Sude and I’m absolutely crazy about singing (often abnormally so in performance!). I’m probably the only member of Raagapella who doesn’t know for sure how long he’s actually been singing in the group…Believe it or not, I still haven’t completed one continuous year in Raagapella, and I’m a senior now! To my credit, however, I was one of the four studly gentlemen who founded the group my freshman year…think of it as an effort to give some structure and organization to our common love for singing…to girls, hehe. Now, in my final year of college, I look back…and just smile. I’m proud of this group and its accomplishments, and I hope that you will support us for many years to come.

So I was number four of the Original Four who founded the group, brought on because a 3 man a cappella group is a bit like the WNBA, an interesting idea but not really worth watching. Watching us grow has been an incredible experience, and outlook for the future looks even more exciting. Raagapella is my first real singing experience, though I've been an avid fan of both Hindi and Western music since before I could walk, and have been playing guitar for about 6 years now. My plans for world domination have thus far been thwarted by an all-consuming addiction to Madden, but the tide could be turning, so watch out.

"Thus have I been an ear-witness of the miraculous astonishing dialogue, never heard before, between Vasudeva and the magnanimous son of Pritha. By the favor of Vydsa I heard this supreme mystery of Yoga -- devotion – even as revealed from the mouth of Krishna himself who is the supreme Master of devotion. And as I again and again remember, O mighty king, this wonderful sacred dialogue between Krishna and Arjun, I am delighted again and again. Also, as I recall to my memory the wonderful form of Hari (5), the Lord, my astonishment is great, O king, and I rejoice again and again. Wherever Krishna, the supreme Master of devotion, and wherever the son of Pritha, the mighty archer, may be, there with certainty are fortune, victory, wealth, and wise action; this is my belief."

My first stage appearance in singing was when I, little Vivek, sang Aladdin's solo in "A Whole New World." Unfortunately, because of the beautiful soloist who was accompanying me, I managed to choke on the spot and said DA instead of THE world. Luckily, the choir allowed me to redeem myself when I dressed up and performed the solo for Cookie Monster in "C is for Cookie." Bollywood and the Beatles came to me the summer after, and rescued me from what seemed to be a fun but lonely path of singing Disney songs, bringing me from playing the keyboard and singing Raj Kapoor classics like "Mera Joota Hai Japani" to constantly listening to "In My Life" to finally becoming part of Raagapella. I was welcomed as Raagapella's first typical freshman…openly wide-eyed, excited, and enchanted by everything that Stanford has to offer. I am excited to be a part of something that has grown so much since I've come to Stanford, along with myself progressing in my personal singing career...although even now you can find me singing along to "Mera Joota Hai Japani", and who knows, even "C is for Cookie" may sneak by once in a while :-).

Hello my name is Antardeb Guharay and I am in Raagapella. We sing songs. Yay songs! Some people call me Bunny. Maybe because once in a fit of rage I drove to North Korea and complained about not wanting to eat Nuclear Fried Dog. And a dog is not a bunny. Hmm or maybe it was that time I won America's Top Model but it didn't work out and they revoked my title because I posed in Playboy. As a Playboy Bunny. Of course there was airbrushing...but honestly, not much. Maybe it was because of that wonderful man Gina, who was the editor. Anyway, being in Raagapella is kind of like when a neo-conservative defenestrates and it's like Raskolnikov filibuster deoxymonohydroxinate.

I’m Sunil Parekh, or Sunny, as these creative guys like to call me, and I gave up a chance at a slammin’ solo career in South Central’s rap industry to come to Stanford and become one of the additions to Raagapella. The group is awesome, and I’m so happy to be a part of it. The guys are the best, especially Indian Indian…I only make fun of him because I wish I was like him. I wish I could understand jokes about perfume turning into coffee beans, but I guess I’m just not Indian enough. Hopefully Raagapella (or my trip to the homeland this December) will take me back to my roots. I have somewhat of an operatic, Frank Sinatra-ish (well, I wish) voice thanks to my years of choral experience, but I’m working on the sweet Indian pop star thing too. I’m looking forward to a great year, with lots of tears ooh, Sarabi moves, and avulavulavulavula. Payce.

Before Raagapella my post-pubescent singing experience consisted mainly of one season in a student choir while an undergraduate at the University of Michigan and frequent visits to karaoke bars during the four years I lived in Japan. The latter largely involved resisting Japanese friends’ efforts to cajole me into singing “Yesterday” (it’s in a terrible key for a bass) and struggling with the higher notes in “Strangers in the Night.” My most recent stage appearance before joining Raagapella occurred last summer in Taipei, where a compatriot and I sang and danced the Swim to a sizzling trombone accompaniment. I am a longstanding fan of both classical South Asian music and Bollywood production numbers. I am delighted to have the opportunity to sing in these traditions, in my natural range (goodbye “Yesterday”), and most of all to sing with such a talented and friendly group of guys.

Born from the shards of a bottle smashed upon the cold pavement one lonely night in Los Alamos, Christopher Lin spent the great majority of his lifetime circling the globe as a folk minstrel. Inspired equally by the works of Denis de Rougemont, William Faulkner, and C.S. Lewis, he sought to sew together the themes of love, death, resurrection, and Götterdämmerung in epic arrangements that proved to be at once too challenging and too passé for the mainstream public. In a moment of despair and destitude, he began hunting for Excalibur, the legendary sword of King Arthur, so that he could end his meaningless existence with an artifact of long-gone eons, an action which he hoped would increase the metaphorical value of his life by at least fifty-four percent. Luckily, on the fortieth day of his intercontinental quest, he discovered within the Cave of Wonders his power animal, a penguin named Charlie. Charlie taught him the ways of the Force and trained him in the ninja arts for the next three years, culminating in his induction into the order of spiritual enlightenment. It was then that he realized his true calling in life -- to work in a fast food chain for minimum wage pay as part of an undercover plot to spark social revolution among the oppressed proletariats. Unfortunately, his applications to various fast food restaurants were rejected, so he instead joined Raagapella, and is having a grand old time practicing the rhythmic prowess he developed in his minstrel days of old.

I joined Raagapella this year (2005) eager to participate in a new, budding group part of the thriving Stanford a cappella scene. It's pretty ridiculously awesome. My last two years in high school back in Houston, Texas were spent (musically) playing the guitar in two regularly gigging bands and singing in a high school choir. Raagapella's a super-cool change in scene and I'm looking forward to see where we go in these next few years.

It's three o' clock in the morning and I'm sitting in a dorm lounge surrounded by a bunch of Raagapella guys. Earlier that night (at around ten o' clock) I had come to visit a friend in that dorm when I randomly bumped into a couple of Raag guys who were chilling there. Before long, the group of three had grown to eight and we were making quite a lot of noise (or should I say music). This is a regular occurrence in my college life. Yes. Music is addictive. My name is Sunthar and Im a senior. The last three years have been a great journey for me. I started off as a music lover who barely sang and over time, the group has helped me improve tremendously as a musician and singer. Coming from Sri Lanka, I had no idea what a cappella was all about, but I guess there is a time to learn everything. Learning couldn't be easier when you have a group of guys who are ready to spend hours teaching you everything that they know about music. I'm really glad that I got a chance to part of such an amazing group. Raag on!!!

Hey, my name is Prasanna, and although I've never had formal singing experience, you can find me humming a tune or singing in my head ALL the time (so now you know why I keep zoning out on you). Singing, and music in general, is one of the most fun things in life for me, so I'm definitely glad I joined Raagapella - it's already been an awesome experience and Raagapella is only going to get bigger and better. I'm 18, from Maryland (EAST COAST!), and I listen to rap, R&B, and Hindi music (in that order, mostly because of the GREATEST artist of all time 2PAC). I love just hanging out with friends, playing basketball, football, video games and pool, and having fun with anything new. My long-term music plan: win American Idol, then become a Bollywood playback singer... hey, goals gotta be high, right?

Hi, I'm Siddhartha! Well, that's my name, at any rate. I'm quite a random fellow, to be honest. I'm likely to do anything at any time, and lately I've been working on eliminating my need for sleep so that I can remain true to the "any time" aspect of that statement. I really like playing tennis and basketball, though I'll be the first to admit that I am perfectly awful at these sports. I play the piano and the guitar sometimes, and the fool at other times. I find everything interesting and am always having an adventure (some might prepend "Quixotic," but you mustn't believe them). Raagapella is the latest in my random progression, and I'm very happy to be here!

After being born in the jungle of South Asia, Benjamin kept to a nocturnal lifestyle in preparation for his eventual interest in computers. He came to the United States after living in the Sahara for a decade. His past accomplishments include saving women and children from fiery busses and burning buildings, all while battling with his internal demons. At an early age, he also found that he could cure a multitude of ailments with his voice, which has always been in the best range around. When he is not singing his doom duh dooms, do-doots, and other sweet bass lines, he is an active member of many cabals and shadow organizations, as well as regularly participating in psychology experiments to further the understanding of the human mind and to aid his fellow human. His aspirations include owning a rocking chair, eating good Indian food, and dying an old curmudgeon.

Hi folks, I am Sachin and I am looking forward to a great first year with Raagapella. About me, well… I am loud, crazy and passionate about most things I do… especially singing. Spent most of my childhood in Dubai. Was a hardcore Hindi music fanatic as a kid…greatly inspired by A.R. Rahman and still a diehard fan. Over the years, I have grown to love classic/hard rock and metal. My favourite bands include Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Queen etc. As a singer I worship Rob Halford, Freddie Mercury, Yesudas and Mohd. Rafi, among others. I am one of those crazy types who believe that rock and roll can change the world. Though reality ensures that I spend a part of my grad life studying abstract aerospace sciences. I wish Raagapella a great year ahead, and hope to have a rocking time with the group.

Hi, I am a doomed grad student at Stanford who can now regain his youth by being part of Raagapella. I joined the group this year (2006) after they helped me realize my husky, wind pipe-like voice was not that bad after all. With this newfound passion, I can be seen singing out loud at 3 AM. Raagapella is answerable to my neighbors who had to witness a silent neighborhood turn into one fighting midnight singers. I used to play the drums for a band back in India. We were inspired by Iron Maiden and Pink Floyd. I used to secretly enjoy hip-hop/R&B music (the metal head image is very demanding!), discovering a vocal percussionist in me. Raagapella will now let me try my experiments with vocal percussion in their music, and I am looking forward to a rollercoaster ride with the group.
Prior singing experience: None
Prior experience making funny noises: Loads
Would I be hungry when you are reading this? : Yes

Kimito deatta kisekiga konomuneni afureteru... I went to a school in Japan that was not accredited by the Ministry of Education. My undergrad Harvey Mudd College is an unknown college in Japan. Therefore in Japan the highest education level I have achieved is preschool. I am not a citizen of the US. Fitting in isn't the easiest task for me wherever I go. But I love the few friends I have from Japan and from Harvey Mudd. I am enjoying my experience at Stanford and in Raagapella and I am glad that I just happened to walk by Braun on the day Raagapella was recruiting for auditions.

"No Revolution Without Beret!"

Hey, thanks for stopping by! I'm Ravi, and I hail from Hyderabad (India) - the city of Pearls and IT Giants :) I'm here at Raagapella 'cos I absolutely love singing. Period. I've been into hobby-sit singing for a while now, but this is the first time ever that I am part of a serious music group! Its been a wonderful experience with the Raagafellas, and I've no doubt that this year shall be my best ever! This time we plan to enthrall the world around - so stay tuned for more of our numbers! T.S. Elliot said, "You are the music while the music lasts"... and with this conviction, I move forward... to pursue newer roads of music, and newer avenues of singing.
Final Word: If you are not with Raagapella, then you're certainly missing something!

Lights...audience...applause!  The stage is certainly one of the places I have always felt most comfortable being and music has always been a key part of my life, yet I never thought that I would end up in an a cappella group! No, not when the last time I sang on stage was in my first grade choir! Well, Raagapella has helped me get back my voice and I am definitely having the time of my life!  Hi, I'm Sashendra. I'm from Sri Lanka and I grew up in Oman. In short I would say that I'm a happy-go-lucky person who loves having a ridiculously eventful schedule and looks on each day as an adventure! Being part of a group where practices are more than just running through songs, whose members are not just part of the same group but a bunch of fun guys who love music, where our cultures, voices and personalities add so much flavour to our songs is an experience that I'm sure I'll cherish forever.

My voice has a gravelly texture. I have many oddities and mannerisms that might merit demolition by oversized Milwaukee's Best Light cans. I dislike dubious ruffians. I seek to break the fourth wall someday, gaze into the void, and elude the satirical fangs of reality.

Alex joined Raagapella because he wanted to sing Disney songs, but instead he found a group of simply amazing people (although it is important that they also sing Disney songs). A complete physics nerd, Alex also likes to play piano, and he plays Super Smash Brothers Melee religiously. He also likes to laugh, which is very useful because it is very easy to get him to laugh. Alex types with the Dvorak keyboard layout, and strongly recommends that everyone else do so as well. His goal in life is to do a triple backflip.

I am a freshman and I'm psyched about Stanford. I have a paper to finish, a CS assignment to submit and a math midterm to worry about right now, but let's talk about happier stuff, like Raagapella. Raag adds the Indian spice to my life and it has been amazing so far- the songs are cool and the Raagafellas are great people to hang out with. I've never been into serious singing before, so it's been quite a learning experience for me as well. I'm looking forward to a great year ahead and the many more years of Raagapella to come!

Hi all, I just got here and am already working way too hard. Raagapella is my only relief in a life flooded with unreasonable amounts of hw, exams and research. I have been singing in choirs and vocal groups since I was five, and was in an a cappella group called "Simple Harmonic Motion" for three years during undergrad, at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. Raag has been awesome so far, and I'm looking forward to being a part of it for the rest of what promises to be a never-ending PhD career at Stanford. Great guys, great times, great songs.

Varun Sivaram is 6'2” with brown eyes so deep one could get lost in them. His muscular build is accentuated by his passionate arms and toned body. It is said that Michelangelo used him as a model for David. In addition to his physical perfection, Varun is a skilled chef, an expert in the art of making omelettes, crème brulee, and chocolate-covered strawberries. Varun spends his spare time playing Guitar Hero, yet he is still a novice.

Jayaram is an award-winning vocalist, percussionist, actor, dancer, and director, who hails from Murrysville, Pennsylvania but has performed and directed across the United States and around the world. In Pittsburgh, he performed with the Civic Light Opera Ministars and Grammy-Winning Robert Page's Junior Mendelssohn Choir.  At Penn State, Jayaram performed with the Singing Lions and Essence of Joy.  While circumnavigating the globe on Semester at Sea, he directed a world music a cappella group known as the Earth Tones.  Studying abroad down under in Australia, Jayaram sang with University of Sydney's Acapelligo.  During medical school, he sang with Dischord at the University of Pennsylvania.  In addition to Western music, Jayaram has performed with and directed Carnatic ensembles at dozens of venues across the United States.  You might also know him from groups such as 201 Garner Court and Second Story Window.  Jayaram is clearly at home on stage, and in his spare time he explores Eastern philosophy, travels the world, and practices as a physician at Stanford.  Browse Jayaram's website at: www.meditationandlife.com.

I was born by the river in a little tent, oh and just like the river I've been runnin' ever since. Well, it was actually Toledo Hospital, but the running part is pretty accurate. If you didn't catch the Sam Cooke throwback, it's alright because I'm confident that I've got something in my repertoire for you. Try Me. I grew up on Motown, R&B, and the like, but I'm always expanding my horizons. Lately, I have had the strangest feeling that A.R. Rahman better watch out because I'm not stoppin' 'til I get enough. In a dream, Michael Bublé once asked me why I'm always Feeling Good. I explained to him that I stick by my motto, "Don't Worry, Be Happy." After all, isn't life all about Love and Happiness? So, while life keeps moving On & On, I'll Be Doggone if I don't spend my Sunday Mornings enjoying this Californication. For now, I'm going to have to Switch gears Suavemente and Stop! in the Name of Love, Raagapella practice, and this Human Biology reading. ¡Azúcar, Habibi!