We have to start with the obvious question . After 50 years , who is Shakti today ? What has changed ? Who have you become through 50 years of experience , exposure , and tribulations ?
John McLaughlin : Shakti is much , much more than the music group as you well know . Our group Shakti is not only alive and well , but constantly renewing itself musically . Now while there are only two members of the original group , Zakir Hussain and myself , the current members are all marvelous musicians and great human beings . In addition , they grew up listening to Shakti music !
Our multitudinous experiences over the last 50 years have served not only to develop musically but intellectually and even spiritually . And while you may not be able to identify these aspects in the Shakti of today compared to the Shakti of the past , they are there , and are behind the evolution of the group Shakti .
Selvaganesh Vinayakram : I ’ ve grown up listening to Shakti , it started in the 70 ’ s - the decade when I was born . It ’ s still the same for me , the same family I grew up with .
Shakti is Shakti - It ’ s the first Indian Classical and Western Classical fusion band and will be remembered very fondly by me . It ’ s almost like growing up with a sibling , even after 50 years he ’ d still be your brother and nothing changes . Shakti transported me to a new dimension where I became open to listening to and experiencing new music .
Shankar Mahadevan : Well , after 50 years of Shakti , I can just say I am a better student today that from when I had purchased their cassettes and studied their music as a school-going child . It was almost like studying a course from a university . After 15-20 years , I got the chance to listen to them and learn from them in person . They are all gurus and supremely talented musicians . I really feel that in this lifetime , one of the greatest blessings I have received is to meet , travel , interact and perform with these people .
Would you give us some insight into your new album ? What story does it tell ?
John McLaughlin : What story can any musician tell with their instrument ? This is the great question all musicians should at some point in their lives ask themselves .
First of all , a studio album , which is what this album is , irrespective of where the recording studios were located , has a closer relationship to the visual arts compared to a live recording . This is reflected in the fact that new compositions can be developed further , and the performances of the musicians can be repeated , something which cannot be done in a ‘ live ’ recording .
Now as to what stories are told : there are several stories told simultaneously by musicians when they play . First of all , the individual joy and exuberance of playing or singing music . Secondly , the quite intimate complicity enjoyed by all musicians when they perform with other musicians they love and admire . Thirdly , musicians recount in music the stories of their life with their loves , tragedies and the knowledge that being a musician is one of the greatest privileges of life , which brings about the most profound sense of gratitude to life itself .
Selvaganesh Vinayakram : The story of the new album would be that of Shakti ’ s transformation to a new genre of music in the last 50 years . It will cater to all generations that have followed Shakti ’ s music and future listeners as well . All age groups will thoroughly enjoy this album .
Shankar Mahadevan : We always had this feeling that Shakti did not have a studio recording . The idea came during the pandemic . We had so many pieces that we used to play live in various concerts as well as pieces we have composed .
There may be some videos of live concerts but never a studio recording of Shakti . During the pandemic , each of us were in our own country and we decided that there has to be a celebration of 50 years and we have to start recording in different parts of the world . There was no better way to celebrate 50 years of Shakti ’ s existence !
Given that each member is scattered across the world , immersed in their own musical pursuits , how do you find the time to converse , collaborate , and create new music ?
John McLaughlin : This is easy today with the technology available to most people .
Selvaganesh Vinayakram : In this new age of technology and accessibility , it is easier for us to jam together wherever we are . We
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