Karnataka

Formed in Swansea, Wales, in 1997 around bassist and composer Ian Jones, Karnataka plays symphonic-leaning progressive rock, blending melodic guitars, expansive keyboards, flexible rhythms and vocals often led by female voices at various times. Originally conceived as a studio project, Karnataka soon became a full band and released Karnataka in 1998, then The Storm in 2000 and Delicate Flame of Desire in 2003, albums that positioned its songwriting between British progressive rock, folk inflections and extended song forms. After an initial split in 2004, Karnataka reformed in the mid-2000s with a renewed lineup, Ian Jones remaining the only constant member, and returned with The Gathering Light in 2010 and Secrets of Angels in 2015. Several musicians who passed through Karnataka later joined other acts on the British prog scene, notably Panic Room, while the band continued to tour the UK and Europe. Since 2018 Karnataka has operated with a new lineup centered on Ian Jones, singer Sertari and guitarist Luke Machin; the album Requiem for a Dream, released in 2023, continues this trajectory with a sound still rooted in symphonic progressive rock.