playing drone

Grandmother's tanpura hummed through our modest apartment, its ancient drone grounding my fingers as they found familiar ragas on my veena. My Tamil heritage wrapped around each note like silk thread, passed down through generations of women in our family. That evening, I livestreamed my practice to our small online community. Strangers became friends, tipping modest amounts to support my musical journey. Some called it senseless, others praised the fusion of tradition and modern connection. My grandmother watched, smiling. In that moment, our lineage wasn't confined to our walls anymore. Through screens and shared passion, we'd built something beautiful together.