Forensic Musicologist

If you believe your (or your client's) intellectual property rights are being infringed upon, or otherwise violated, you may need an expert opinion or a forensic musicologist's report to assess the extent of the infringement and take legal action. You may also commission such a report if you feel you might be in danger of infringing another artist's copyright. All work is provided with utmost assurance of confidentiality.

• Preliminary music law assessments

• Brief Expert opinion / Music report

• Detailed Expert opinion / Music report

• Counter-opinion / Opinion Assessment

• Comparative analysis of recordings in case of dispute (with transcriptions)

• Suggestions for preventative modifications 

I have over a decade of experience in the music industry in various roles - forensic musicologist, ethnomusicologist, performer, composer, producer, mixing engineer, session artist, educator, historical researcher, marketing manager, and more. This gives me the advantage of multiple perspectives, enabling me to give deeper insights and higher quality analysis and inputs to my clients.

Relevant Professional Experience
Empanelled forensic musicologist with a major label (2023-present) I provide systematic and thorough Forensic Musicologist Reports (FMR) to the label to assess exposure or risk of copyright infringement. I also vet other musicologist's opinions, and provide supporting evidence, and conduct commissioned historical research.

Instructor - Beatfactory Academy (2013-14) I designed the music theory curriculum at Beatfactory New Delhi (one of the leading music production academies) in 2013-14 and served as a course instructor for Digital Audio Workstation (Logic Pro) and Harmony Theory. I am acquainted with sampling, music production techniques, composition and arrangement.

Guitar teacher - Various (2000-present). As a guitar player for the last 25 years, I teach guitar to select students on one-on-one basis. The classes are tailored to their interests and goals, and cover all aspects of technique, theory and musicality. I previously taught guitar at music schools in India and I have lectured on guitar techniques at a university in Taiwan.

Relevant Educational Qualifications
PhD Candidate (Musicology) - Wits University, Johannesburg (2022-present)

Master of Music (Ethnomusicology) (Distinction) - University of Cape Town (2021). Studied and transcribed archival recordings from 1930s, and combined them with primary and secondary research to reveal historical and sociological details around the Jews and Mappila (Muslims) in Kerala.

Diploma in Music Performance - Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music (2011). Studied music theory, composition and performance in the genres of pop, jazz, Latin, and Indian music with industry veterans (including Grammy and Oscar winners) from USA, India, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Greece, and Canada.

Prarambhik (Sarod) - Pracheen Kala Kendra (2014). Studied privately with Pt. Mukesh Sharma, famed sarodist, disciple of Amjad Ali Khan.