Preserving the Roots —
Folk Music Traditions of India
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The Amarrass Society for Performing Arts (ASPA) is a not-for-profit organisation established in 2010 to preserve, revive and promote India’s folk music traditions while creating sustainable livelihoods for folk musicians and folk instrument makers.
Our work began with field recordings in Rajasthan, where we encountered two urgent challenges: traditional songbooks, passed down orally through generations, were eroding and getting lost, with each generation knowing a little less than the last. Similarly, the art of making traditional folk instruments was being lost.
These traditions hold generations of music, knowledge, stories and cultural memory. We work with the last great remaining singers, poets, musicians and craftspeople who carry this knowledge — documenting their traditions, keeping them alive, making them accessible and creating opportunities for the next generation.
Our Mission:
Making Music Sustainable
We believe music is memory. The songs of our ancestors carry stories, knowledge and cultural identity that must not be lost.
But preservation alone is not enough. Traditions survive when they are practised, performed, shared and able to support the people who carry them.
Our work brings together three interconnected pillars:
ARCHIVAL
Protecting the Source
We document rare folk songbooks, musical traditions, stories and knowledge before they disappear. These archives are made accessible to the public and, importantly, returned to the musicians and communities as a living reference for future generations.
REVIVAL
Bringing Traditions Back to Life
We take archival knowledge beyond documentation and back into practice — through performances, recordings, cultural programmes and the revival of traditional instrument-making and craftsmanship by showcasing them, doing workshops.
SUSTAINABLE
Creating a Living Legacy
We create pathways for folk musicians and craftspeople to earn dignified and sustainable incomes through showcases, performances, touring, recordings, digital platforms and global opportunities. In partnership with Amarrass Records, we connect traditional music with new audiences, presenting them at world class venues, international festivals such as Roskilde, WOMAD, Ancient Trance Festival, among others to make it an economically viable way of life.
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From Preservation
to Possibility
We do not simply archive traditions. We keep them alive.
By connecting heritage with contemporary audiences, musicians with opportunities, and knowledge from the past with the generations of tomorrow, ASPA works towards a future where India’s folk traditions are not only preserved, but continue to evolve, thrive and sustain the communities that carry them.
Connect with Us
Want to learn more about our local movement or have a question? We're here to listen and engage with you. Reach out to us to be a part of the conversation and together, let's build a better future.