The Score Magazine - Archive July 2016 issue! | Page 41

AMOGH RAO
RAKESH CHAURASIA AND FRIENDS
Although we've heard Rakesh Chaurasia's music
resound through the classical music scene, RAF featured
a vibrantly new and modern perspective on an age
old, divine sound. We asked the master flutist what his
thoughts were regarding this concept, and here's what
he had to say. From the genesis to her current musical stand, this child
prodigy gave us a deep insight into her life and sound.
Here's what Mohini had to say.
What brought this band together? What brought you into the music scene?
I’m a regular classical concert player, and when we played corporate
shows people would ask us what instrument I played. And it was
surprising how Indians don’t know what a flute is or looks like. People
have a perception of classical music being lengthy or complicated,
and so we wanted to make music that would reach them easily. All of
our music is fusion and so it’s based in classical ragas, but can still
reach the youth easily. My father is a bass player and he’s played in over 300 albums. Every
time he practiced, he would put headphones on my ears and I could
keep the right tempo while he played. I was 3 years old back then. So
he decided to start giving me lessons and I used to go to shows and
studios with him and he’d introduce me to musicians and let me play
a few parts in his songs. That’s how people got to know me. He and
RanjitBarot were very close and they used to play together with Hari
Haran and my dad used to always talk about me to him and talk about
my progress, and Ranjit would be very happy. He asked him to bring
me to his studio and he got him a CD of me playing. So I went to his
studio and played, and he played on his lap and we jammed a little
bit to this 5/8 tune, and he was blown away. From then on I started
going and playing in his studio and he would show me stuff, tell me
how to approach music based on the genres and the understanding.
Then I played on his album called Bada Boom, and played at different
venues and with different people from the industry. Then I started
improving my technicalities, and now im 20 years old, working
professionally.
What was the one key advice that stuck with you through
your learning process?
I am very fortunate to have a guru at home, PanditRakeshChaurasia,
and he told me that right practice and correct practice is more
important than the quantity of time spent playing. You should be
focused on what you’re doing.
Are there any challenges you face while merging classical
and contemporary music?
My instrument is completely acoustic. So sometimes I really need to
physically put in a lot of effort into playing while being accompanied
by drums and keyboard, which are loud as it is. Playing with
electronic instruments is definitely challenging.
Do you have any advice for aspiring classical musicians?
Today it’s much easier to find someone to teach you classical
music. In fact, you could just Google it. It’s important to attend a
lot of concerts, cause that way you get to know and like someone’s
playing and musicality and learn from the same. And it’s not about
learning an instrument; it’s about learning music. All you have to be
is dedicated, and once you learn classical and your foundations are
strong, you can handle any kind of music.
MOHINI DEY
Best advice you were given?
Be yourself. Don’t fake your personality, cause your nature and
personality is gonna come out through your playing. So just work on
being a better person every day and be yourself.
Do you have any upcoming music that we could look forward
to?
I’m recently worked on Steve Vai’s album, playing a ballad. I’m going
to be touring with GergoBorlai. I also have my own album coming
out, and A. R. Rahman’s stuff is always going on. So yeah, a lot to
look forward to.
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