Ashwin Srinivasan
ARTIST OF THE MONTH
When and how did you realise that you wanted to be a flautist?
I used to play Sitar quite proficiently between the ages 3 till
about I was 7years old. One day, my Father brought back a
toy flute from his pilgrimage to Sabarimala and taught me
what he, being a natural musician, understood of it. And
by the end of that day, I started playing tunes I knew at that
time and I remember being super excited about it. About less
than a year after that, I started training in Classical Bansuri
from my first Guru, Pandit Venkatesh Godkhindi Ji. Having
had a Classical background as I had learnt the Sitar from my
Mother, It was only an easy transition for me. It must have
been the year 1987-88 when I went to attend a Music festival
where Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Zakir Hussain and Pandit
Hariprasad Chaurasia were all performing on the same stage
in the same festival at Ravindra Bharati in Hyderabad. That
was the day when my ambition to be like them, took solid
shape and I was so fascinated by Hariji's performance that I
decided to be a Classical Bansuri artist for life.
Tell us about your early learnings and who did you learn from
My first Guru is my Mother Smt. Parvati Krishnamurthy,
from whom I learnt the Sitar and all the basics of Hindustani
Classical Music. Then my Father taught me the nuances
of expression and feel as he sang heartily, all his favourite
Pankaj Mullik and Saigal Saab's songs. I was initiated
into Classical Bansuri by Pt. Venkatesh Godkhindi and
then Raagdaari and Badhat from Pt. Pundalik Shenoy in
Bangalore. Another life changing concert I attended was
that of Padmabhushan Dr. Smt. N Rajam Ji's under whom I
learnt the finer nuances of Gayaki Ang, which I have strived
to achieve and have developed a unique technique on the
Bansuri for.
Name of the artists you have been largely inspired by and have
used their techniques in your music
Apart from my Gurus mentioned above, some of the most
influencial musicians, different aspects of whose music I
have applied in mine, are Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pt. Ravi
Shankar, Pt. Kumar Gandharva, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Ustad
Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, RD Burman and also some western
music greats such as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, John
Williams, Michael Jackson, Sting and Peter Gabriel.
What according to you makes your way of playing the
instruments unique/ special?
I truly believe that dexterity and
technique on any instrument
(including voice) should be tools
used to express oneself while
playing music. I always play or
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make music to express and emote. Technical brilliance on its
own doesn't hold value for me. Music without emotion and
expression would just be sound.
If you could collaborate with an artist to create something
magical or unique, who would it be and why?
I would love to make music with Herbie Hancock if I am
lucky. I think he could find my sensibilities, having been
inspired by his teachings and his music, very similar to his.
I can almost hear in my mind what we would land up playing
together if we do!
Upcoming projects
After releasing a Fusion Album (Ashwin and The Bombay
Project), an Alternative Album (Singles - The Album), a
Ghazal Album (Hazaar Khwaab) and a couple of Classical
Music Albums
(Roots Vol 1&2 and
Dhyaan), I am
currently working
on 'Rare Raagas
on the Bansuri'
which will
essentially be a
Classical Music
recording but
I will play
extremely
rare raagas
ever heard on
the Bansuri.
Hoping it will
come out
well.