The George Harrison estate announces HariSongs, home to the Harrison family archive of Indian Classical and World music 

The George Harrison estate is happy to announce HariSongs, a new label created in partnership with Craft Recordings to celebrate the Indian classical music George loved and believed would "help as a balance towards a peaceful daily life." HariSongs launches today with two reissues in honour of both Ravi Shankar's birthday (b. 7th April, 1920) and Ali Akbar Khan's birthday (b. 14th April, 1922) this month.

Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan's In Concert 1972, and Ravi Shankar's Chants of India, are now available for the first time via streaming outlets, as well as to download.

Watch the Chants of India trailer, featuring rare interview footage with Ravi and George here.

In 1966, through the grace of God, my life was blessed and enhanced from the sudden desire to investigate the classical music of India. Although intellectually, I could not comprehend it - the music, (which happened to be Ravi Shankar and the sitar) made more sense to me than anything I had heard in my life. When I read Ravi saying he felt he had only started, I was overwhelmed, humbled and encouraged to try and understand the music and the man much more. Miraculously I met Ravi Shankar and felt an even greater attraction to him, the music and later the tradition and self discipline of India, without which, my life would be empty and pointless. In 1966 I heard music which had been written by Ravi Shankar some years before (Nava Rasa Ranga). It was performed by Ravi, along with some other musicians, for All India Radio. Until then I had not heard Indian classical music in any form other than solos or duets, and the beauty has haunted me for the past eight years and still haunts me today. I hope this Music may help a little, to nurture the wealth of the West. God only knows.