Lil Idli is the Washington, DC–based experimental pop duo of vocalist Ranjani Prabhakar and producer/percussionist Deepak Gopinath, creating music that blends radiant vocals with layered, textural soundscapes. Drawing from Indian classical and Western classical traditions, Prabhakar’s expressive voice intersects with Gopinath’s percussion, composition, and electronic artistry to explore themes of inheritance, human connection, and ecological responsibility.

Their debut album Mitochondria and singles like Allergic, Mycelium, and Fractals reflect a commitment to storytelling through music and visuals, asking how we honor the past and what we leave for the future. The duo has received press accolades including Rolling Stone India’s praise for “spirited metaphors of celebration and self-reflection” and won the Award of Excellence at the Nature Without Borders Film Festival. They have performed internationally and opened for John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson at Farm Aid, using their music as a platform for ecological justice.

Through their work, Lil Idli combines experimental pop, soul, and funk with a clear social and environmental conscience, inviting listeners to reflect on their relationships with each other, with culture, and with the natural world. Their art is both intimate and urgent, asking us to examine the legacies we inherit—and the ones we choose to leave behind.

Beyond performance, Lil Idli co-founded Mycelium Rootworks, a production and arts incubator where they lead educational workshops connecting artistic expression to climate and ecological movement building. 

Watch their PBS special on WNET/All Arts “Climate Artists” Program here.