Indo-German Love Story in Music: Indian Classical Meets Global Pop

What happens when Indian classical dance meets Western percussion? In this episode of Beyond Borders, we sit down with Shivani Karmarkar Schürfeld (Kathak artist) and Tillmann Schürfeld (drummer & percussionist) to explore how love, culture, and music fuse across continents. From performing at the Beethoven Festival to blending taals with drumbeats, this Indo-German couple shares their journey of creating harmony between two worlds. We dive into the rise and fall of Indian classical music, the challenges of cross-cultural collaboration, and how personal struggles—including injury and pandemic hardships—shaped their art and relationship. 💡 Whether you’re a music lover, a dancer, or just curious about Indo-Western fusion, this conversation is a celebration of breaking boundaries. ⏱ Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 02:00 – How the Indo-German fusion began 05:00 – Western perceptions of India 06:00 – The story of the Beethoven Festival 08:30 – India: dos and don’ts 17:00 – Reciting taals together 18:50 – Injury and comeback 23:00 – The rise and fall of Indian classical music 26:00 – Indo-Western music fusion 27:00 – The perfect collab 30:00 – The wave of Indian classical music & dance 33:00 – Till as an “Almond German” & Shivi’s journey 35:00 – Their love story 39:00 – Covid, love, and music 41:00 – Fetishization of fair skin in India 43:00 – Social media’s effect on art & relationships 44:00 – Advice for budding relationships 49:00 – A question for the host 51:00 – Advice for going Beyond Borders Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and host. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or institution. #IndoGerman #MusicFusion #KathakDance #IndianClassicalMusic #FusionMusic #CrossCultural #WorldMusic #DrumsAndDance #BeyondBordersPodcast #LoveAndMusic #EastMeetsWest #IndoGermanLove #PercussionMusic #KathakFusion #CulturalFusion #IndoWesternMusic #GlobalMusic #DanceAndMusic #PodcastIndia #podcastgermany