In this KGNU interview, guitarist and sitarist Will Marsh speaks with Indra Raj about his upcoming performance with The Integration Ensemble at the Salina Schoolhouse in Boulder. Marsh discusses his musical journey—from classical guitar training in Michigan to immersing himself in Hindustani music at CalArts and in India—and how those diverse influences now blend into his original compositions. He describes The Integration Ensemble as a genre-crossing project that fuses Indian classical music with elements of blues, jazz, and global traditions. Marsh also shares the ensemble’s instrumentation, his connection to the Boulder music community, and his passion for combining structured traditions with improvisational freedom. (Interview: 6/24/25)
Indra Raj: You are listening to KGNU FM 88.5 Boulder, KGNU 1390 Denver. My name is Indra Raj, and I am joined by guitarist Will Marsh, leader of The Integration Ensemble, who will be performing at the Salina Schoolhouse in Boulder on June 28th.
The Integration Ensemble is a genre-defying group, described as Ravi Shankar jamming with the Buena Vista Social Club and drawing inspiration from Frank Zappa, Ali Akbar Khan, Maurice Ravel, John Coltrane, and more. Thank you so much for joining me today, Will.
Will Marsh: Thanks for having me.
Indra Raj: How did you arrive at making this music in your life? What’s your background with music, and how did you get to where you are now?
Will Marsh: That’s really what the project is all about. The name, “The Integration,” is like summing up my journey as a musician. I started on guitar as a teenager. No one in my family played an instrument, but I was really drawn to making sound and eventually started taking lessons.
I was very fortunate to study at the Interlochen Academy of the Arts, which is in northern Michigan, close to where I grew up. It’s an incredible arts academy. I got in during 10th grade and was immersed in classical guitar, composition, and jazz. That began my deep studies in music.
From there, I became curious about music from different parts of the world. My next journey brought me to CalArts, near Los Angeles, which is known for its world music program. I went there thinking I’d just study guitar and get exposed to more music—but when I encountered Hindustani raga music, it really hit me deep. Eventually, I sat with the sitar. It looked so foreign and strange, but when I sat with it, it felt right. That became my next musical obsession.
Here I am, almost 20 years later, putting all of that together as an artist and sharing what I feel is unique to my journey. So, that’s a quick summary.
Indra Raj: Sitar players from India spend their entire days learning the instrument—they have these long apprenticeships. When you say you got obsessed with it, did you spend that many hours a day just sitting with it and getting used to it?
Will Marsh: Totally. I practiced for like eight hours a day. There was a small room that our guru, Ashish, taught from. Sometimes I’d fall asleep in there and wake up the next morning and just continue practicing. That’s the blessing of going to music school. That’s what we did.
We practiced, we sat with our teachers, and that definitely happened. Those are very fond memories. I continue that when I go to India every year. It’s my time to fully be in that space with no distractions, just playing for eight hours a day, AC on, in my little room.
Indra Raj: What was the transition like between playing classical guitar and sitar? They’re both stringed instruments, but very different. Were certain things easier because you were a classical guitarist? And what things were more difficult?
Will Marsh: I think the biggest connection is that I was into classical music, and both traditions require a lot of focus and practice. So, I already had that kind of drive and experience. I put that into sitar, and that’s really what it takes—you’ve got to love practicing and being with the instrument, which I do.
The sitting position is hard. That’s the hardest part. You need to sit on the ground with your left foot underneath to rest the instrument on. I’d ask my teacher what to do, and they started playing when they were three—so they didn’t really have constructive advice for how to get that ability. Just physically sitting on the ground with the instrument was the hardest thing.
A good yoga practice and regular exercise helped. I increased the duration every time. That was the main hurdle. Otherwise, it’s music. Having both instruments be stringed is helpful, but the plucking on sitar is quite different from guitar. Still, the sitting was honestly the hardest thing.
Indra Raj: I guess you could have stayed in an Indian classical tradition and just gone with that. But obviously, you’ve taken your music a step further, bringing in other elements from all over the world. What led you there?
Will Marsh: There was a period when sitar was the focus of my artistic practice and deep obsession. I’m grateful for that time—it gave me a strong foundation in the tradition. Starting around 2017 or 2018, I continued to do a lot of purely Hindustani classical music and teaching, which is still a big part of what I do.
But something felt missing. Where was the connection to the part of me that loved playing blues, grew up on Zeppelin and Hendrix? It felt like separate worlds—two different rooms. I wanted to see these things interact.
As an artist, it feels most liberating when you’re saying what only you can say. Hindustani music is a daunting and deep art form, and I love it for that. But it also pushed me to ask: What does Will Marsh have to say that only I can say?
That became exciting. It started as curiosity, and then things started happening on my instruments. I’d be playing guitar but thinking in raga, structuring raga phrases on classical guitar. I’d think, “Oh, I hear tabla with this…”
Indra Raj: But you also hear another lead instrument, too—what if that was cello? And it just started this whole project that became The Integration. Classical training can be very restrictive in terms of creativity because all the music is written out. Of course, you’re interpreting it in your own way, but there are a lot of rules. Indian classical music also has a lot of rules, but there’s an improvisational aspect. Then there’s a step beyond—where you bring in other thoughts and ideas and create your own music entirely.
Will Marsh: Totally. I still meet with my guru online every week. I still practice sitar every day. I have over 20 students and teach classical music. It’s still a rich part of my artistry and lineage.
But it wouldn’t feel right to leave out that unique voice I have. I feel inspired to have both of these things going—it’s that diversity and richness that’s fueling this next chapter.
When I do an Integration show, I include about a 20-minute set of purely Hindustani music. There’s always a tabla player with me. It’s a cool part of the evening. The audience hears other arrangements with Indian elements, then they get a taste of the pure tradition. I love offering that. On stage, I feel like I’m sharing more of myself with this format.
Indra Raj: Tell us more about The Integration Ensemble—particularly this performance on June 28th. What’s the makeup of the ensemble? What can people expect?
Will Marsh: The instrumentation includes sitar and guitar, percussion (tabla, frame drum, cajón), upright bass—which I’m really excited about—and tenor sax. This is my first time performing with this exact arrangement.
We’ll have a variety of pieces featuring the whole ensemble, duets (like sitar with frame drum), and, as I mentioned, a traditional sitar-tabla set.
The arrangements are similar to Indian music—composed sections with chord changes and melodies, but also space for each artist to improvise. I love bringing this music to life with different people. I have a version of the ensemble on the West Coast and am building other versions as I tour. It’s inspiring to see the excitement of the musicians I work with.
Indra Raj: You’re based in the Bay Area, but I also read that you have a special connection to Boulder. Can you tell us a bit about that?
Will Marsh: Back when I was deeply immersed in sitar, I connected with an amazing sitar player and teacher in Colorado named Rohan Bhargava. He’s one of my gurus. My first guru’s primary instrument is the sarod—Ashish Khan, who comes from the lineage of Ali Akbar Khan—so I was missing some of the specific sitar nuances.
A friend from CalArts who was from Boulder told me about Rohan. I called him when I was 18, and he was very welcoming. Through him, I started coming to Colorado. I’d drive from LA to Michigan multiple times a year, and would stop in Boulder to stay and study.
Over time, I built a community and great friendships here. I come back every year—it’s a very special place for me.
Indra Raj: We’re going to hear a piece of your music called The Weekly Blues. Can you tell us about it?
Will Marsh: This is one of my favorites. It features the full ensemble and is based on an Indian raga called Raga Jog, which is very bluesy.
I used electric guitar and tabla, and it’s set in a seven-beat cycle—that’s where the name comes from: seven days a week, The Weekly Blues. I felt like I captured the part of me that loves blues guitar—Zeppelin, Hendrix—and combined it with Indian elements.
It’s a really fun, high-energy tune that I love performing. I’m also really happy with the studio recording.
Indra Raj: Okay, let’s hear The Weekly Blues. We’re excited to have you here for this performance. What else is on the horizon for you as a musician and with The Integration Ensemble? I believe this is part of a tour?
Will Marsh: Yes! I’m really excited to share more. I’ve got shows coming up in Michigan—my home state—which I’ve never brought this group to before. I’m looking at more festivals and performances and writing new compositions for this ensemble.
It’s still a fairly new project, and every time we play, I hear more potential. I love upright bass, tenor sax, and the different percussion. I’m already writing new pieces and hope to get them recorded and added to the repertoire.
Next year will be a big one—more touring and festivals. I’m also heading back to India, as I do every year, for that deep immersion in sitar that I love so much.
Indra Raj: How can people stay in touch with you and what you’re up to?
Will Marsh: The best way is through my website: www.willmarshmusic.com. You can join my newsletter there to get updates on concerts, tours, recordings, and releases. I’m also on social media, but the newsletter is the best way to get all the key info.
Indra Raj: Great. Will Marsh, thank you for joining me here on KGNU today.
Will Marsh: Thank you, Indra. It’s been awesome.
