ALAP – Weaving Legacy and Innovation into Soulful Sounds

Mayuresh Arte

6/7/20253 min read

In the vibrant city of Pune, where culture and tradition thrive, lives a musician whose art is both a reflection of his heritage and a bold step into the future. Meet Alap Shripad Solapurkar, known simply as ALAP, a music composer and lyricist whose journey through sound has been anything but ordinary.

Born into Music, Raised by Legacy

Alap's connection to music began long before he chose it as a career—it was his inheritance. Raised in a family of musical giants like Pt. Bandopant Solapurkar and Pt. Jagannathbua Pandharpurkar, music wasn't a pastime; it was a lifestyle. It wasn’t a conscious choice at first, but a responsibility — to carry forward the generational flame of music into a modern world.

While academics came easily to him and societal expectations pointed towards engineering or medicine, Alap chose a road less taken — Audio Engineering. This path allowed him to blend his ancestral roots with contemporary creativity, carving a unique identity in the world of sound.

A Blend of Classical Roots and Contemporary Flair

What sets Alap apart is his signature style — an intricate fusion of Western, Native, Folk, and Indian Classical music. This blending of genres creates a timeless soundscape where ancient ragas meet modern rhythms, and tradition dances with innovation.

Alap’s formal training was as rich and diverse as his music: learning from his grandfather Pt. Bandopant Solapurkar, his father Shripad Solapurkar, Harmonium maestro Pt. Pramod Marathe, and mastering notations under Ramakant Paranjape. His learning laid the foundation for an artist who respects the rules but isn’t afraid to rewrite them.

Telling Stories Through Sound

Whether it’s film music production, ad jingles, live shows, or musical endorsements, Alap's projects reflect his ability to translate stories into melodies. But among all his achievements, one project stands out: Retro Ragas (2015). His first full-length album was not just a professional debut, but a deeply personal endeavor — a collaboration with his father, saxophone maestro Shripad Solapurkar. It became a true meeting point of generations, where old melodies found new life.

“Retro Ragas was more than just music. It was a bridge between tradition and modernity, between my father and me, between the past and the future.”

Inspirations and Influences

For Alap, inspiration flows from his parents — Shripad and Meera Solapurkar — and the everyday immersion in a musical environment. Legends like Yanni, A.R. Rahman, Abhijeet Pohankar, and Louis Banks have also left an impression on his musical language, expanding his horizon and pushing him to explore new boundaries.

His creative process is methodical and imaginative: from tonal ideation to live-digital integration, and finally mixing and mastering — each track is crafted with precision and heart.

Defying Expectations and Staying True

Like many unconventional artists, Alap faced resistance. Choosing Audio Engineering over mainstream careers raised eyebrows. Carving a name in the competitive music industry came with its own set of hurdles — learning, unlearning, adapting. Yet, his unwavering belief in his path turned skepticism into respect.

“Resilience, adaptability, and staying rooted in my artistic truth helped me overcome every challenge.”

What’s Next?

Currently, Alap is working on a Romantic Marathi Music Album, staying true to his ethos of combining heartfelt storytelling with rich musicality. But his vision goes far beyond individual projects. His dream? To create a collaborative space where independent artists can experiment freely and to take Indian-rooted music to global stages.

A Message Through Melody

For Alap, music is not just sound — it’s a bridge between tradition and innovation, a way to make emotions heard beyond language. Every composition he crafts aims to evoke, inspire, and connect.

And for the next generation of artists, his advice is simple yet powerful:

“Stay authentic to your voice, be fearless in experimenting, and remember — consistency and passion will take you where shortcuts never can.”