Being representational of Asian Underground experimental music is not exactly
a breeze. The only thing that keeps Karsh Kale going (actually, thriving) is
his irrevocable love for music. Having studied music in NYU and venturing
into professional musicianship in New York City, he realised his path was one
of fierce uniqueness. Consequently, he chose to become a musical polyglot,
sprinting from tab to turntable on a regular basis.
Steeped in a childhood and adolescence marked by exposure to great music
(Led Zep, Yes, The Beatles), Kale knew early on that music was going to be a
mainstay in his existence. He is known for prodigious output; on any given year
he is ricocheting through solo pieces, collaborating with iconic artists and/or
sculpting soundtracks for challenging narratives in film and TV.
He speaks about music as an instrument for introspection, which really is the
eventual intention of all good art. Kale’s music is layered with surreptitious
message, reflecting a quick but profound psyche that likes to plumb the depths
of human sentiment. His work is an extensive experience in self-exploration,
with some earworm-worthy beats to boot.
With Score, he got down to brass tacks, talking about how his existential
understanding of music, both in his life and in the machinations of the world.
Ranging from his influences to the perspective with which he appreciates the
arc of his life and career, Karsh Kale essentially speaks of all things that make
his work distinctive and till date, utterly irreplaceable.
What kind of music did you grow up with?
I grew up on a healthy dose of pop and rock music. My
father introduced me to the Beatles as well as lots of
classical music, film music and folk music from India.
As a kid interested in drums I gravitated to artists like
Rush, Yes and Led Zeppelin but also loved pop and later
Hip Hop music. I was also very much into listening to film
soundtracks and background scores. As I got older I began
exploring more jazz, fusion and electronic music.
According to you, what makes a piece of music worth listening to?
There are so many reasons we listen to music. Certain
styles of music are designed to evoke a particular effect or
emotion out of the listener. While seeking out music I tend
to gravitate towards music that is disarming. The kind
of music that makes me stop what I’m doing and has the
power to change how I feel. When I create music I like to
bring styles together that are otherwise a bit disparate and
combine the emotional qualities to create a new landscape.
In the end music should stir the soul and move the mind
and body in whatever direction the listener is compelled
to go.
What is the one thing that you will never compromise with when it
comes to composition?
As composers we are storytellers. I always try and keep
the essence of the story I am trying to tell or the landscape
I am trying to paint while creating a piece of music. I don't
compromise substance for style. Often times producers are
stuck in a genre and can't push too far in any direction. I
never let the form or the style of music compromise the
emotional content of the story. If that means compromising
the form then I’ll do that. For me creating music is also a
way for me to travel to new dimensions in my own psyche.
I want people’s journey with my music to be one that goes
inward. That, to me, is the most important element of the
music I make.
What do you consider your greatest responsibility to the world?
Music has the power to heal, to move people and to change
people. In a world so incredibly divided by political and
religious views, nationalism and a general regression back
to a time when we feared what is different about another
culture, I want to blur those lines through music. I want to
make people feel like they are part of a larger world, that
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