Music Career & Biography
Akshai got his first keyboard at age 8, began training on the tabla at 11, and was experimenting with new sounds and making his own turntables and mixer at the age of 14. By the time he turned 16, Akshai was composing songs for his first album Soundscapes. When Sarin was 19, an animated video using his music was nominated for an award at the Flash Film Festival, Barcelona.
Sarin's notable early works include his collaboration titled "Anoni" with Israeli DJ Yahel and remix of "Suraj Hua Madham" which appears on Klub K3G, an album of remixes of music from the soundtrack of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham; the song also appears on the soundtrack of Karan Johar's 2005 film Kaal. His self-released tracks have also received airplay on BBC Radio 1's Alternative Asia and the BBC Asian Network.
In 2005, Akshai performed at Glastonbury Festival.
In 2006, Akshai provided the music for Hard Kaur's follow-up to her hit single "Ek Glassy, Do Glassy"—a song called "Sexy Boy". He has also worked with Kitchie Nadal and percussionist Bo Razon. That same year, Sarin coordinated the Shalom Peace Concert, which took place in New Delhi (with artists like Karsh Kale and MIDIval Punditz). Also in 2006, Sarin was one of the finalists in the India's Creative Future 2007 program conducted by the British Council and Indian Institute of Management Bangalore. The program had a total of 20 delegates.
In 2007, Sarin performed at the newly opened Ministry of Sound franchise in New Delhi with MC Shamik. He also sat on the planning committee for the Indian edition of that year's Indian Electronica Festival.
He is a part of the Asian Massive/Asian Underground; his track "Reborn" appears on the Indian Electronica Vol. 1 compilation, alongside DJ Spooky and Talvin Singh, Transglobal Underground, Jalebee Cartel, and others.
In 2008, Akshai co-wrote and produced "Walk on Water" with double platinum selling Filipino singer Kitchie Nadal. He also co-wrote and co-produced DJ Yahel's "Anoni". The duo also toured India previewing Akshai's upcoming album Connected.
In 2009, Sarin was nominated for the "Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year" award by Rolling Stone Magazine and The British Council. He also played at Singapore F1 Rocks, a music festival that hosted Beyoncé, The Black Eyed Peas, N.E.R.D, ZZ Top and No Doubt.
In 2010, returned to the Singapore Formula 1 to play with his band at Avalon at Large which hosted various celebrities like Richard Branson, Flo Rida and The Chemical Brothers.
In 2011, he performed at Exit Festival in Novi Sad, Serbia alongside a lineup that included Arcade Fire, Deadmau5, Magnetic Man, Jamiroquai, M.I.A. and Portishead
In 2012, Akshai was a panelist at the International Music Summit Ibiza, with Pete Tong and Tony McGuinness of Above & Beyond. He also is releasing his debut album "Connected" on Contrabass | Universal Music Group and Black Hole Recordings worldwide.
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