Karsh Kale Albums: Realize to Dust, Every Record

Karsh Kale is the tabla player, producer and composer who helped define the Asian Underground sound of the early 2000s, mixing tabla, Hindustani voices and electronic beats. Born in the UK and raised in the US, he later became a key name in Indian independent music and a regular collaborator of Indian bands and singers. This guide lists every Karsh Kale album on Apple Music India, from Realize (2001) to Dust (2026), with track counts and where to start. Film work is left out.

How we checked. All dates and track counts come from Apple Music India (iTunes catalogue, country IN), checked on 28 October 2026. We include albums and EPs credited to Karsh Kale as the main artist. Film and series soundtracks he worked on (such as Gully Boy and Made in Heaven), and albums led by other artists that feature him, are left out. Only released music is covered.

Quick answer: Karsh Kale albums on Apple Music India

• Realize – 13 tracks (31 July 2001, Six Degrees Records)
• Liberation – 10 tracks (3 June 2003, Six Degrees)
• Broken English – 12 tracks (21 March 2006, Six Degrees)
• Cinema – 13 tracks (26 April 2011, Mighty Junn Records)
• Up – 11 tracks (28 January 2016, Times Music)
• Touch : 1 – EP, 5 tracks (28 May 2021)
• Touch : 2 – EP, 5 tracks (16 July 2021)
• Dust – 11 tracks (6 May 2026, Six Degrees)

Also on Apple: the Distance remix single (10 July 2001), Redesign: Realize Remixed (30 July 2002, 12 tracks), Manifest Remixes (2007), Beautiful Remixes (4 September 2007), the Funkcronomic EP with Bill Laswell and Bernie Worrell (10 June 2016) and Lovers (Remixes) (22 October 2021).

The albums, in order

Realize (July 2001, 13 tracks). The debut, released on the New York label Six Degrees. It opens with "Empty Hands", then "Distance", the song that broke him, which also came out as a remix single with mixes by Banco De Gaia and Midival Punditz. Other tracks: "Tour Guide", "Anja", "Home", "Satellite", "One Step Beyond", "Saajana", "Conception", "Light up the Love", "Deepest Blue", "Fabric" and "Longing". Tabla breakbeats, drum and bass and Indian voices sit side by side. A year later came Redesign: Realize Remixed (12 tracks). Start with: "Distance".

Liberation (June 2003, 10 tracks). A bigger, more cinematic second album. The title track "Liberation" opens it, followed by "Instinct", "Analog Mood Swings", "Milan", "Break of Dawn", "Dirty Fellow", "Letting Go", "Gk²", "Cinematic Reprise" and "Epic". Start with: "Liberation".

Broken English (March 2006, 12 tracks). The most song-led of his early records, with more vocals and rock. "Manifest" opens the album, and "Beautiful" is one of its best-known tracks; both later got their own remix sets in 2007. The rest: "Dancing at Sunset", "New Born Star", "Free Fall", "Drive", "Innocence and Power", "Hole in the Sky", "Some Things Are O.K.", "Louder Than Bombs", "City Lights" and "Rise Up". Start with: "Beautiful".

Cinema (April 2011, 13 tracks). Released on his own Mighty Junn Records. "Island" opens it, followed by "Mallika Jam", the title track "Cinema", "Avalanche", "Turnpike", "Supernova", "Joy", "Absence", "Ma", "Phoenix Rising", "Man On Fire", "Peekaboo" and "Sunbeam". It is warmer and more song-based than the Six Degrees records. Start with: "Cinema".

Up (January 2016, 11 tracks). Made with Indian singers, released by Times Music. The title track "Up" came out first (Apple dates it 4 December 2015). Guests include Benny Dayal and Ankur Tewari on "Thin Line of Blue", Benny Dayal on "Shiva", Papon and Ranjit Arapurakal on "Snowflake", Ankita Joshi on "Butterfly Effect", Alam Khan on "Wake" and Monali Thakur on "Shyam". It is his most India-facing album. Start with: "Snowflake".

Touch : 1 and Touch : 2 (2021, 5 tracks each). Two short EPs. Touch : 1 (28 May 2021) has "Touch", "Refugee", "Lovers" with Malini Awasthi, "Fist of Fury" and "Sunset Sketch" with Ajay Prasanna. Touch : 2 (16 July 2021) has "Closer", "Sunset Park" with Warren Mendonsa, Bhrigu Sahni and Hashbass, "Hummingbird", "Scorpion Rising" and "Playa Deep". Start with: "Lovers".

Dust (May 2026, 11 tracks). His first full album in a decade, back on Six Degrees. "Night Turns", with John Shannon, Ankur Tewari, Ajay Prasanna and Benny Dayal, came out first (22 April 2026). The other ten are dated 6 May 2026, including "Stranger Than Darkness", "The Maze", the title track "Dust" with Purbayan Chatterjee, "Tabla Beat Scientist" with the Budapest Symphonic Orchestra, "Lift Me Up" and "Heroes" with Komorebi. Start with: "Tabla Beat Scientist".

Collaborations

Karsh Kale also appears on other artists' records, such as Indian Ocean's "Behney Do" on Tandanu (2014), Komorebi's "Disappear" (2019) and a 2026 live album with Peter Tegnér. See our Indian Ocean albums guide and Komorebi songs.

FAQ

How many albums has Karsh Kale released? Apple Music India lists six full albums under his name (Realize, Liberation, Broken English, Cinema, Up and Dust) plus the two Touch EPs and several remix sets.

What is Karsh Kale's newest album? Dust, released on 6 May 2026.

Which Karsh Kale album should I hear first? Realize (2001), for "Distance", or Broken English (2006) if you prefer songs with vocals.

Where to start

• First album: Realize, for "Distance".
• For songs and singers: Broken English, then Up.
• For his newest work: Dust.

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