# Sundara Karma

Sundara Karma were an English rock band formed in 2011 in Reading, Berkshire. The band consisted of lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Oscar Pollock, lead guitarist Ally Baty, bassist Dom Cordell and drummer Haydn Evans. The band's name is derived from Sanskrit words, meaning "Beautiful Karma".

## History
### 2011–2016: Formation and early years

Sundara Karma was formed in 2011 when its members were teenagers attending secondary school. In 2013, after uploading an early demo to SoundCloud, the band was offered the opportunity to be the opening support act for several prominent artists. Over the next three years, the band embarked on extensive tours across the United Kingdom and Europe, while also releasing music that would later be included on their debut album, Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect.

### 2017–2018: Youth is Only Ever Fun In Retrospect

In January 2017, Sundara Karma released their debut album titled Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect via Sony Music and Chess Club. It peaked at number 24 on the UK Albums Chart and received Silver Certification from British Phonographic Industry. In May 2017, they announced an upgrade to their debut album via social media, adding the tracks "Explore", "Lakhey", and "Another Word For Beautiful" to the original track listing.

### 2019–2020: Ulfilas' Alphabet and Kill Me

On 1 March 2019, Sundara Karma released their second studio album, Ulfilas' Alphabet, under RCA Records. Ulfilas' Alphabet was produced by Stuart Price and Alex Robertshaw. The album peaked at number 28 on the UK Albums Chart. Ulfilas' Alphabet received positive reviews from The Guardian, NME, Dork , DIY and others.
In May 2020, the band shared three singles titled "Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday", "Invade Safe Space" and "Vision Sick" via SoundCloud. These were unreleased songs from the recording of their 2019 album Ulfilas’ Alphabet.
On 1 October 2020, Sundara Karma released their single "Kill Me" via Chess Club Records.
On 24 October 2020, they released their EP "Kill Me" consisting of 5 songs, including the song of the same name released at the start of the month.

### 2021–2024: Oblivion!, Better Luck Next Time, and disbandment

On 17 September 2021, nearly a year after their fourth EP, the band premiered the single "Godsend". In February 2022, it was followed by the release of the title track off their fifth EP, Oblivion!. The EP was released on 1 April 2022.
On 27 October 2023, the band released Better Luck Next Time, the group's first studio album in over four years. The album has been described as a "departure of sound compared to the electro-pop elements" present on Oblivion. The album received positive reviews from DIY and Dork. Better Luck Next Time peaked at number 13 on the UK Albums Chart, making it the band's first top 20 album in the UK.
On 23 September 2024, the band announced that they would "step away from making music as Sundara Karma", and the following day announced Live for the Last Time, a series of four farewell concerts. The band split following their final concert on 8 December 2024 at O2 Forum Kentish Town.

## Members

* Oscar Pollock – vocals, rhythm and acoustic guitar, piano, keyboard, synthesizer (2011–2024)
* Dom Cordell – bass, backing vocals (2011–2024)
* Ally Baty – guitar, keyboard, synthesizers, backing vocals (2011–2024)
* Haydn Evans – drums (2011–2024)

## Discography
### Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions and certifications :
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
| Title | Details | UK | Certifications |
| Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect | Released: 6 January 2017 Label: Sony Music/Chess Club Format: CD, digital download, vinyl | 24 | BPI: Silver |
| Ulfilas' Alphabet | Released: 1 March 2019 Label: RCA Format: CD, digital download, vinyl | 28 | |
| Better Luck Next Time | Released: 27 October 2023 Label: Is Right Records Format: CDr, digital download, vinyl, cassette | 13 | |

### EPs

List of EPs, with selected details :
| Title | Details |
| EP I | Released: 23 February 2015 Format: 10", digital download |
| EP II | Released: 27 November 2015 Format: 10", digital download |
| Loveblood | Released: 4 November 2016 Format: 7", digital download |
| Kill Me | Released: 24 November 2020 Format: 10", digital download |
| Oblivion! | Released: 1 April 2022 Format: Digital download |

### Singles

| Title | Year | Certifications | Album/EP |
| "Cold Heaven" | 2014 | | Non-album singles |
| "Indigo Puff" | 2014 | | Non-album singles |
| "Loveblood" | 2015 | | EP I |
| "Flame" | 2015 | BPI: Silver | Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect |
| "Vivienne" | 2015 | | EP II |
| "A Young Understanding" | 2016 | | Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect |
| "She Said" | 2016 | BPI: Silver | Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect |
| "Olympia" | 2016 | | Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect |
| "Happy Family" | 2016 | | Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect |
| "Explore" | 2017 | | Non-album single |
| "Illusions" | 2018 | | Ulfilas’ Alphabet |
| "One Last Night on This Earth" | 2018 | | Ulfilas’ Alphabet |
| "The Changeover" | 2018 | | Ulfilas’ Alphabet |
| "Higher States" | 2019 | | Ulfilas’ Alphabet |
| "Little Smart Houses" | 2019 | | Ulfilas’ Alphabet |
| "Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday" | 2020 | | Non-album singles |
| "Invade Safe Space" | 2020 | | Non-album singles |
| "Vision Sick" | 2020 | | Non-album singles |
| "Kill Me" | 2020 | | Kill Me |
| "Godsend" | 2021 | | Oblivion! |
| "Oblivion!" | 2022 | | Oblivion! |
| "All These Dreams" | 2022 | | Oblivion! |
| "Friends of Mine" | 2023 | | Better Luck Next Time |
| "Baby Blue" | 2023 | | Better Luck Next Time |
| "Wishing Well" | 2023 | | Better Luck Next Time |