Nikhil Korula

Biography

Classically trained in voice from the age of 5, Nikhil Korula first lent his dulcet tones to sing with the likes of opera giants such as Placido Domingo, pop stars, Barry Manilow and the late Luther Vandross. As a boy soprano, Korula performed at Carnegie Hall by the age of 10 and also sang for one of Danny Elfman’s first film scores. In 1990, Nikhil Korula performed at the 32nd Annual Grammy® Awards with Mike and the Mechanics, sharing the stage on that fateful night with legends, Ray Charles, Miles Davis & Don Henley. However, after graduating from the USC Thornton School of Music with a Bachelor’s Degree in Operatic Vocal Performance, his creative talents drew him to the intense world of songwriting, jazz and improvisation which led to his playing many acoustic sets throughout Los Angeles. This experience, in turn, helped him to collaborate with some of the city’s finest jazz musicians to form the Nikhil Korula Band (NK Band).

Due to its ever-increasing fan following, this vibrant musical act has traveled all over the globe playing festivals such as BONNAROO (2008 & 2009), PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL (2011), THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL (2013-2019) & SUMMERFEST (2007-2019), gathering worldwide attention one fan at a time. Blending the sounds of calypso, rock, reggae, African and Latin grooves, this unique sextet infuses extraordinary musicianship with irresistible dance jams, a combination that has led the NIKHL KORULA BAND to open for such esteemed artists as Dave Matthews Band, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Ben Harper, Ray Lamontagne, Gavin Degraw, Gary Clark Jr, Thievery Corporation, Sublime with Rome, The Fray and countless others while also headlining venues like the House of Blues and performing at the Apollo Theater.

In 2013, Nikhil Korula had the pleasure of recording 5 new songs for a new EP called SOLO SESSIONS with musical heroes of his, Butch Taylor and Jeff Coffin, from the Dave Matthews Band. One of the songs from the EP, "Fade Away," charted, debuting at #106 and moving all the way to #10 on the Hot AC charts. Singer-songwriter, Nikhil Korula also wrote the opening track, "Start It Up," for Ziggy Marley's new self titled album which recently won the Grammy for BEST REGGAE ALBUM, giving Korula his first Grammy® certificate as a songwriter. In 2017, Korula and his band would open for Ziggy Marley at Summerfest 2017 and also perform at Arroyo Seco, a new music festival put on by the creators of Coachella at the Rose Bowl alongside Tom Petty, Mumford & Sons, Weezer and The Meters, to name a few. Korula and his eclectic band opened for Robert Randolph at Summerfest 2019 in front of thousands so look for the NK Band to make their return to Summerfest 2023 next summer. Currently, Nikhil Korula and his band just released their 8th album, REVOLUTIONS, on January 29, 2021 and recently opened for Rock ’N Roll Hall of Famers, ZZ Top, at Summerfest 2021 on September 11, 2021! With dedicated fans, exceptional live shows, and consistently strong songwriting, the Nikhil Korula Band continues to have a remarkable effect and amazing impact on audiences globally. Please visit www.nkband.com for more information!