The Score Magazine - Archive June 2015 issue! | Page 21

MEERA C G
How has the year been for you?
Great! It has been an exciting year and we have done many things
for the first time. We composed for a Bollywood film, Aisa Yeh
Jahaan last year and it is set for release now. Doing a complete
score and getting other singers to record for you is very different.
It makes you think from a different perspective. Then I acted in the
film after 13 years.
We did two songs for Fox where we recorded Khaike Paan Banaras
wala and Pinjare wali Muniyawali our way. I could have never
imagined doing a Kishore Kumar song,
which was one of the songs I performed
on as a kid.
On a lighter no te, we had vadapav at the
base of Mount Titlis in Switzerland. To
our surprise, there was a dhaba which
gave us vadapav and Indian masala chai.
We played a huge show in Dubai, Red
Bull Sound Clash where Euphoria
was competing with Strings. It is one
of the biggest shows I have done. We
rehearsed each other’s songs as a band
and performed to a live audience. In
the finale, we walked from our stage to
their stage and did the last performance
together. I had made a special flag, which
was the Indian and the Pakistani flag
stitched together, that was waved in the
end. The experience was fulfilling.
IIT lifted the ban imposed on us after our
performance in Mumbai two years back
and we played in two IITs this year. And
then, now I am the brand ambassador
for the Indian audio company Circle Pro
Audio.
What does Euphoria have on
calendar in the near future?
Apart from the film, there is a US Tour we
are looking forward to this year. Euphoria
will be releasing a new album, coming
out in October- November. Also, there is
a music reality show that I am going to do
soon; I cannot reveal more details now.
Tell us one reason to buy Circle
Pro Audio.
Because I am endorsing it and Palash Sen
uses it!
What are your thoughts on having
an Indian brand compete with
foreign audio manufacturers?
It is brave attempt by Circle Pro Audio.
They have their heart in the right place and
are brave enough to take the international
leaders head-on. It means they are extremely
sure of their abilities and they have been
able to develop something they know is
good. Also, what they are doing is they are
bringing technology closer to people who
might not be able to afford an international
brand. A wireless microphone at Rs. 19,000
on par with international brands is unheard of. And this is just the
beginning, in years to come Circle Pro Audio might be the brand
that foreigners will look upon as a replacement for international
brands. We come to know about the big brands only because their
country supported them, similarly the world will come to know
about Circle Pro Audio only if we support them.
Being a doctor and member of one of the most
celebrated bands in India, how do you find balance
in both?
I don’t do anything else - I give my entire time to my band and not
so much to Medicine, as it is not possible. But one day I know I am
just going to be just a doctor. We all know showbiz finishes after
a time, entertainment has a shelf life. The older you get, the more
respected you get as a doctor. So, when I get wise and grey, I would
be a full time doctor!
Your movie Aisa Yeh Jahaan has been spurring
discussions…
The movie will leave a very lasting impression as it talks about
people like us. People, who have come to a bigger city to earn
money, all of us have humble roots from a smaller place, like I come
from Benaras. We come to concrete jungles like Mumbai or Delhi
but our heart desires those smaller things only. Happiness cannot
be bought by money. Life is about being one with nature, when God
created earth he wanted everybody to co-exist. The film talks about
the same message. There is too much of bias in our country - sexist,
communal, economic biases and we have addressed that. It is a very
sensitive film. I don't know if it will be a commercial success but it
is already winning awards in the international film circuit.
Even when I do my music, I don't think of how much money I will
make, but people should respect the music.
How was your experience working on the movie?
When we are usually making songs for our band, there is no
situation. But in the film we had a script. There are lots of things
we have done for the first time like there is Assamese folk song in
the film, for which we understood the Assamese instruments, got
that in the song and are happy with the result. We have roped in
singers for the tracks, which Euphoria has never done before. So, it
has been a new experience for the band.
What changes do you see in the music industry now
from the time Euphoria first formed?
There is very strong film industry which makes music only to
promote film and not for music. Also, now music has become
more visual than it ever was. People are just dancing to music or
watching music they are not listening to it - so lyrics have become
unimportant, the music is beat-based. But at the same time, there
are lots of independent musicians who have come in. If somebody
walks in and starts putting in money in the music industry, things
will change for good.
Your message to young musicians?
The scene has opened up and there is space for all kinds of music
and this is the best time for them to experiment. But, I think the
scene will only progress the day musicians can make a living by
doing only music without doing any day jobs.
Everybody in the band doesn't do anything but Euphoria that is
because we have built a brand that people are willing to pay for. So,
the emerging bands should put their foot down and demand money
for their performances and set a united front.
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