It’s time to explore new things

Sundara Karma announced their split after being a band for over 12 years, writing that it is “time to explore new things”.

The Reading band announced the news on social media today (September 23), saying, in part: “This has been one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever had to make, but after years of sharing our music with you all, we’ve decided it’s time to close the most significant chapter of our lives so far.

“As we’ve grown, so have our hopes and dreams, and we’re ready to explore new things. It’s not goodbye to music—it’s just time for us to step away from making music as Sundara Karma.”

The band formed in 2011 while members Oscar Pollock, Ally Baty, Dom Cordell, and Haydn Evans attended school together. They spent their early years as a band releasing EPs and tracks such as ‘EP I’, ‘EP II’, ‘Indigo Puff’, and ‘A Young Understanding’.

In January 2017, Sundara Karma released their debut album, ‘Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect’, through Sony Music. The album reached number 24 on the UK Albums Chart and earned a Silver Certification from the British Phonographic Industry.

Over this period Sundara Karma became known for their catchy hooks, anthemic sound, and thought-provoking lyrics. Their 2019 album ‘Ulfilas’ Alphabet’, which was released by RCA, introduced their more experimental side and incorporated elements of synth-pop and art rock.

NME gave ‘Ulfilas’ Alphabet’ four stars in a review. It reads: “Eschewing the anthemic choruses of the band’s last album, ‘Ulfilas’ Alphabet’ takes the listener into semi-psychedelic territory, mixing spectral melodies with bruising guitar lines.

“Sundara Karma’s gigs will still be packed with fans and their trademark glitter-clad costumes, but this time they’ll be singing back whip-smart allusions to gothic literature. I mean, where’s the harm in that?”

In October 2023 , the band released ‘Better Luck Next Time’ through Is Right Records. It was the group’s first studio album in over four years.

Throughout the years the band have performed at major festivals like Reading & Leeds, Latitude, Isle of Wight, Community, and Glastonbury and has headlined numerous tours.

In 2020 NME caught up with frontman Oscar Pollock about the dark year which inspired the band’s track ‘Kill Me’, which came out with a music video directed by Hannah Diamond.They released EP ‘Kill Me’, featuring five tracks, including the title song, in October 2020.

Pollock discussed how he’s emerged from his troubled times more determined than ever, the shift in dynamics between working with small labels and a major label, the sadness of missing out of live music in COVID, and the band’s strengths. Read the interview here.