Folksoul brings marginalised women artistes together through ‘Sound of Women’
Bengaluru: Founded by rapper Krantinaari and musician Charu Hariharan, the collective Folksoul is channeling stories of identity and resilience by bringing marginalised women artistes to the stage.
The project, titled ‘Sound of Women’, was presented by The Nyoli Ensemble at the Bangalore International Centre in Bengaluru. As the spotlights came on, seven artistes took the stage: folk performers Hemanti Devi, Khasti Devi, Pushpa Devi-Taiji, and Chandrashekhar Tamta, alongside Shalini Mohan on bass, Charu Hariharan on percussion and vocals, and Krantinaari aka Ashwini Hiremath, rapper and project curator.
Folksoul aims to create performance spaces where women folk musicians from rural and marginalised communities share their traditions, experiences, and original work. The collective blends folk roots with contemporary sounds like rap and bass to amplify voices often left out of mainstream platforms.
‘Sound of Women’ frames these personal and cultural narratives through music, with each artiste bringing her own regional style and story. The project underscores how performance can become a tool for visibility, dignity, and solidarity.
By placing veteran folk practitioners alongside younger, urban musicians, Folksoul bridges generations and genres while centering identity and resilience at its core.
