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Sundara Karma

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Sundara Karma
Sundara Karma playing Hippodrome, Kingston Upon Thames in 2015
Sundara Karma playing Hippodrome, Kingston Upon Thames in 2015
Background information
OriginReading, Berkshire, England
GenresIndie pop, alternative rock, indie rock
Years active
  • 2011 (2011)–2024 (2024)
LabelsIs Right Records, Chess Club/RCA
Past members
  • Oscar Pollock
  • Dom Cordell
  • Ally Baty
  • Haydn Evans
Websitewww.sundarakarma.com

Sundara Karma were an English rock band formed in 2011 in Reading, Berkshire.[1] The band consisted of lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Oscar Pollock, lead guitarist Ally Baty, bassist Dom Cordell and drummer Haydn Evans.[2][3] The band's name is derived from Sanskrit words, meaning "Beautiful Karma".[4]

History

[edit]

2011–2016: Formation and early years

[edit]

Sundara Karma was formed in 2011 when its members were teenagers attending secondary school.[5][6] In 2013, after uploading an early demo to SoundCloud, the band was offered the opportunity to be the opening support act for several prominent artists. [7][8] Over the next three years, the band embarked on extensive tours across the United Kingdom and Europe, while also releasing music that would later be included on their debut album, Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect.[9][10][11]

2017–2018: Youth is Only Ever Fun In Retrospect

[edit]

In January 2017, Sundara Karma released their debut album titled Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect via Sony Music and Chess Club.[12][13] It peaked at number 24 on the UK Albums Chart and received Silver Certification from British Phonographic Industry.[14][15] In May 2017, they announced an upgrade to their debut album via social media, adding the tracks "Explore", "Lakhey", and "Another Word For Beautiful" to the original track listing.[16][17][18][19]

2019–2020: Ulfilas' Alphabet and Kill Me

[edit]

On 1 March 2019, Sundara Karma released their second studio album, Ulfilas' Alphabet, under RCA Records. Ulfilas' Alphabet was produced by Stuart Price and Alex Robertshaw.[20] The album peaked at number 28 on the UK Albums Chart.[21] Ulfilas' Alphabet received positive reviews from The Guardian, NME, Dork , DIY and others.[20][22]

In May 2020, the band shared three singles titled "Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday", "Invade Safe Space" and "Vision Sick" via SoundCloud. These were unreleased songs from the recording of their 2019 album Ulfilas’ Alphabet.[23]

On 1 October 2020, Sundara Karma released their single "Kill Me" via Chess Club Records.[24]

On 24 October 2020, they released their EP "Kill Me" consisting of 5 songs, including the song of the same name released at the start of the month.

2021–2024: Oblivion!, Better Luck Next Time, and disbandment

[edit]

On 17 September 2021, nearly a year after their fourth EP, the band premiered the single "Godsend". In February 2022, it was followed by the release of the title track off their fifth EP, Oblivion!. The EP was released on 1 April 2022.[25]

On 27 October 2023, the band released Better Luck Next Time, the group's first studio album in over four years. The album has been described as a "departure of sound compared to the electro-pop elements" present on Oblivion.[26] The album received positive reviews from DIY and Dork.[27][28] Better Luck Next Time peaked at number 13 on the UK Albums Chart, making it the band's first top 20 album in the UK.[29]

On 23 September 2024, the band announced that they would "step away from making music as Sundara Karma",[30] and the following day announced Live for the Last Time, a series of four farewell concerts.[31] The band split following their final concert on 8 December 2024 at O2 Forum Kentish Town.[32]

Members

[edit]
  • Oscar Pollock – vocals, rhythm and acoustic guitar, piano, keyboard, synthesizer (2011–2024)
  • Dom Cordell – bass, backing vocals (2011–2024)
  • Ally Baty – guitar, keyboard, synthesizers, backing vocals (2011–2024)
  • Haydn Evans – drums (2011–2024)

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions and certifications
Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[21]
Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect 24
Ulfilas' Alphabet
  • Released: 1 March 2019
  • Label: RCA
  • Format: CD, digital download, vinyl
 28
Better Luck Next Time
  • Released: 27 October 2023[33]
  • Label: Is Right Records
  • Format: CDr, digital download, vinyl, cassette
 13

EPs

[edit]
List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
EP I
  • Released: 23 February 2015[34]
  • Format: 10", digital download
EP II
  • Released: 27 November 2015[35]
  • Format: 10", digital download
Loveblood
  • Released: 4 November 2016[36]
  • Format: 7", digital download
Kill Me
  • Released: 24 November 2020
  • Format: 10", digital download
Oblivion!
  • Released: 1 April 2022[25]
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

[edit]
Title Year Certifications Album/EP
"Cold Heaven"[37] 2014 Non-album singles
"Indigo Puff"[38]
"Loveblood"[39] 2015 EP I
"Flame"[40] Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect
"Vivienne"[41] EP II
"A Young Understanding"[42] 2016 Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect
"She Said"[43]
"Olympia"[44]
"Happy Family"[45]
"Explore"[46] 2017 Non-album single
"Illusions"[47] 2018 Ulfilas’ Alphabet
"One Last Night on This Earth"[48]
"The Changeover"[49]
"Higher States"[50] 2019
"Little Smart Houses"[51]
"Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday"[23] 2020 Non-album singles
"Invade Safe Space"[23]
"Vision Sick"[23]
"Kill Me"[24] Kill Me
"Godsend" 2021 Oblivion!
"Oblivion!"[25] 2022
"All These Dreams"[52]
"Friends of Mine"[53] 2023 Better Luck Next Time
"Baby Blue"[54]
"Wishing Well"

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "New band of the week: Sundara Karma (No 65)". The Guardian. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  2. ^ Swann, Emma (27 August 2019). "A quick Reading Festival catch-up with Sundara Karma". DIY Magazine. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  3. ^ Gibsone, Harriet (5 January 2017). "Sundara Karma: Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect review – chugging indie inevitability". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  4. ^ Pierce, Elspeth (24 August 2017). "Festival Focus: Reading Festival is not all about the big bands – check out Sundara Karma, Chroma and Touts". Metro. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Introducing: Sundara Karma face 'Hannah Montana syndrome'". Getreading.co.uk. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Sundara Karma - Waves at Reading Festival 2013". BBC. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Live: Swim Deep/Wolf Alice/Sundara Karma, Cardiff 22/09/2013". Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  8. ^ ""Freshbloom" [Premiere]". Hillydilly.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Young Musicians Of The Moment: Sundara Karma. They're 18 And Yep, They've Already Played Reading Festival". HuffPost. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  10. ^ "Sundara Karma - Concert Archive". concertarchives.org. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  11. ^ Subscribe (5 June 2017). "Sundara Karma announce biggest UK tour to date, with support from The Magic Gang". DIY. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  12. ^ Yung, Ben (10 November 2016). "Sundara Karma – "Loveblood" EP". The Revue. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  13. ^ Beech, Dave. "Album Review: Sundara Karma Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect". drownedinsound.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  14. ^ "SUNDARA KARMA - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  15. ^ a b c d "British certifications – Sundara Karma". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 30 April 2022. Type Sundara Karma in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  16. ^ "Sundara Karma on Instagram: "THE UPGRADE. We're adding 3 more new songs to our debut album. First one is called "Explore" - out Friday. Follow the official playlist…"". Instagram. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  17. ^ Lulu, Oscar (18 May 2016). "Sundara Karma frontman Oscar Lulu on how Shakespeare's influences still run deep in today's popular culture". independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  18. ^ Daly, Rhian (13 January 2015). "Track Premiere – Listen To Sundara Karma's Euphoric And Driving New Single 'Loveblood'". NME. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  19. ^ Trendell, Andrew (6 July 2017). "Sundara Karma unveil new song 'Lakhey'". NME. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  20. ^ a b Jack, Malcolm (3 April 2019). "Sundara Karma review – catchy toplines and lissom post-punk". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Sundara Karma | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  22. ^ Williams, Sophie (28 February 2019). "Sundara Karma – 'Ulfilas' Alphabet' review". NME. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  23. ^ a b c d Neale, Matthew (19 May 2020). "Sundara Karma share three unheard tracks from 'Ulfilas' Alphabet' sessions". NME. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  24. ^ a b Sundara Karma (October 2020). "Sundara Karma on the depression and desire behind explosive new single 'Kill Me' and its Hannah Diamond-directed video". NME. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  25. ^ a b c "SUNDARA KARMA ANNOUNCE NEW EP 'OBLIVION!'". DIY. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  26. ^ "Sundara Karma announce Brighton concert in support of third album". Brighton and Hove News. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Sundara Karma - Better Luck Next Time". DIY. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  28. ^ Holden, Finlay (29 November 2023). "Sundara Karma: "I'd like to enjoy the full spectrum of what's on offer in life"". Dork. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  29. ^ "BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME". Official Charts. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  30. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  31. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  32. ^ "I went to my favourite band's last ever gig and it was bizarrely hopeful". Metro. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  33. ^ Stickler, Jon (7 July 2023). "Sundara Karma Announce Third Album 'Better Luck Next Time' For October". Stereoboard.com. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  34. ^ "EP I by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  35. ^ "EP II by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  36. ^ "Sundara Karma - "Loveblood" EP". Therevue.ca. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  37. ^ "Listen: Sundara Karma – 'Cold Heaven'". The Line of Best Fit. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  38. ^ "Indigo Puff - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  39. ^ "Track Premiere – Listen To Sundara Karma's Euphoric And Driving New Single 'Loveblood'". NME. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  40. ^ "Sundara Karma release fired-up new track 'Flame'". The Line of Best Fit. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  41. ^ "Vivienna – Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  42. ^ "A Young Understanding - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  43. ^ "She Said - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  44. ^ "Sundara Karma scale 'Olympia' with their new track". Dork. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  45. ^ "Happy Family - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  46. ^ "Explore - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  47. ^ "Illusions - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  48. ^ "Sundara Karma announce new album 'Ulfilas' Alphabet', share 'One Last Night on This Earth'". DIY. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  49. ^ "Sundara Karma unveil new video for 'The Changeover'". DIY. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  50. ^ "Sundara Karma share video for 'Higher States'". DIY. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  51. ^ "Sundara Karma share 'Little Smart Houses'". DIY. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  52. ^ "SUNDARA KARMA RELEASE 'ALL THESE DREAMS'". DIY. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  53. ^ "Friends of Mine - Single by Sundara Karma". Apple Music. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  54. ^ "Sundara Karma Release New Single Baby Blue". Stereoboard.com. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
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