About Upstairs: Who We Are and What We Do

Upstairs is a Delhi based initiative focused on Indian classical music. We host small-format, ticketed concerts and Immersives designed to create an intimate and a deep listening experience. The initiative was originally launched in 2018 (we were called Evening Raag back then!) with the goal of building a paying audience for classical music while ensuring fair compensation and autonomy for artists.

In 2025, we relaunched as Upstairs, with renewed focus and ambition. In less than a year, we hosted 26 concerts, trained organizers across India to start their own baithaks, and created a movement that's now being replicated by brands and individuals alike. We're not just a concert series; we're building the infrastructure for classical music to become normal, accessible, and valued.

Our audience primarily consists of young, urban professionals between the ages of 25–45 who discover us through Instagram. Many are first-time listeners of classical music, not insiders or experts. It's not uncommon for attendees to bring parents or children, or for children to book tickets on behalf of older relatives. We are as invested in building a community of thoughtful, curious listeners as we are in curating incredible performances. We guide first-time audiences toward deeper listening, encourage shared conversations over dinner, and foster a culture where people stay till the end, bound by genuine connection.

We have kept the scope of our curation intentionally narrow. We focus on early to mid-career musicians who are actively pursuing Indian classical music. Each event is curated personally, with an emphasis on selecting artists who are skilled, risk-taking, and aligned with our ethos of honest expression. All artists are paid fairly for their work, with no expectation of "devotional" performances or free labor, which is unfortunately still common in many parts of the classical arts ecosystem.

In the past, we have had the pleasure and privilege of hosting promising young artists like Arnav Buwa and Srijanee Banerjee in the same cosy environment as established names like Ronkini Gupta and Soumik Datta. Our artists are discovered through personal networks, social media, and word-of-mouth. We prioritise relationships and reputation over scale, ensuring every performer we host shares our commitment to artistic integrity, creative risk-taking, and audience respect.

Baithaks are our core offering. Typically held twice a month in our living room in Delhi, these are done acoustic or at least as close to acoustic as possible. Audiences sit on the floor in close proximity to the artists. This setting removes barriers between artist and audience, encouraging attentiveness and emotional presence. To help newcomers engage more deeply, we include a short commentary at the beginning to explain complex aspects in a relatable and non-intimidating way.

Our baithaks are designed to flow freely without fixed durations, often continuing for 2+ hours depending on the artist's energy and audience engagement. This flexibility is a deliberate choice, made possible by the home setting and anchored by the shared dinner afterwards.

Seats are capped at 50 attendees to maintain intimacy. To ensure that the room is open to responsive, attentive listeners only; we open our tickets for just one day per concert. Those who come, have chosen to be there in that exact moment weeks in advance. There are no walk-ins, no last minute plans. Active intention is rewarded with a deep, listening experience.

Immersives are our newer format: two-day weekend gatherings that create space for deeper engagement with classical music for the curious listener. Through workshops, lectures, listening sessions, movies - we hope to create a variety of points of entry into the classical music world. These happen outside our living room, in different venues across the city and beyond, allowing us to host larger groups (up to 150 people) and a dedicated team of volunteers who enjoy free, unrestricted access to all the events.

Building the movement: The Greenroom

The Greenroom is our knowledge arm. We run workshops teaching other organizers how to start and sustain their own baithaks. The model works because it doesn't require massive capital or fancy venues. It requires taste, effort, and belief. We've proven that.

We've trained 20+ organizers across India. Many of them are now running successful baithaks. Artists are touring circuits instead of waiting for festivals. "Baithak" entered the mainstream vocabulary. Major brands and individuals have adopted the living room format as the new way to experience Indian culture. This is what we set out to do—not be the only player, but prove the model works so completely that others can replicate it.

We measure success by what people feel and say. When first-time listeners leave saying, "I didn't know I could enjoy this," or when artists leave saying, "I didn't think I'd take this many risks," we know we're on the right track. But the real success is when people leave wanting to host their own baithaks. When classical music becomes normal in their lives. When kids grow up with it as part of their world. That's the cultural shift we're building.

Why We're Called Upstairs

It all started in our top-floor apartment. We were on the third floor of an old DDA building with no lift access, and we didn’t want anyone to discover that at the last second. So we just called our project “Upstairs”. In our minds, it was the most ordinary, extraordinary thing. “Oh, we’re just going Upstairs to Tejas and Sukanya’s house for an evening!”

We’re now on the ground floor. The “project” is now a “start up”. The feelings however, remain the same.