Miti Adhikari, a BBC sound engineer who spent over three decades working on sessions at Maida Vale Studios, has died at the age of 69.
Known to radio teams, bands and producers alike for his calm presence and audio expertise, Miti worked across hundreds of BBC sessions, including landmark recordings by Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, and the Arctic Monkeys.
He joined the BBC in the late 1970s as an assistant studio manager and became a key figure behind the desk at Maida Vale, contributing to John Peel sessions and BBC Radio 1’s live music output until his retirement in 2012.
He was also part of the BBC engineering team at festivals including Glastonbury and Live 8.
In a tribute following his departure from the BBC, artists including Dave Grohl, Alex Turner, Kasabian and Bloc Party recorded messages thanking him for his work and influence.
Following his retirement, Miti returned to India, working from Blooperhouse Studios in Kolkata and later settling in Goa. He continued to produce and engineer, this time helping shape the Indian indie and alternative music scene, working with acts such as the Supersonics, the Ska Vengers, Run It’s The Kid and Hanita Bhambri.
He also collaborated on studio albums with artists like Susmit Sen and Ananda Sen and was involved in film sound projects with directors including Qaushiq Mukherjee.
Miti’s quiet style and musical intuition were often noted by those who worked with him. In one tribute, drummer Abhinandan Mukherjee of Gingerfeet recalled: “I still remember being a bundle of nerves during my drum take. He quietly pulled me out for a walk, smiled, and said, ‘Even Taylor fumbles sometimes. Just breathe… and smash it.’”
In a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone India, Miti described his production role as one that extended beyond the technical: “You need to give it a sense of direction to help bands feel that they’ve nailed something if it’s honest.”
He died following complications after major surgery.
Miti Adhikari is remembered in both the UK and India not only for his technical ability but for helping artists feel heard in every sense of the word.
Source: Rolling Stone