The Score Magazine June 2019 | Page 42

In conversation with Darshan Doshi, India’s popular Drummer & Composer Picture credit: Zubin Soni What inspired you to pick up drums and what inspires you to continue down this journey today? The drumming journey started when I was two years old. My father is a drummer and percussionist and runs an academy in Juhu, Mumbai for the last 35 years. There is nothing except drums for me. I just feel that I should keep getting better and there is a lot to learn. It takes years of practice as it’s not an easy instrument. Your speciality in the music industry revolves around a lot of Bollywood and film music. Could you tell us the difference between composing parts of a film soundtrack versus writing music with your band? When I record drums or compose for a Bollywood film, it is very situational based that is given by the Director. Even if I play drums for a movie, some story is given and that is different from when I compose for my band. I have complete freedom and can decide what instruments or vocalist I want to include. Both are different and I enjoy doing both. It is great to have a balance between doing film work and independent music. 40 The Score Magazine highonscore.com You’ve involved a lot of digital and electronic set up in your performances. You think musicians have become overly dependent on technology? I feel, as a musician, we should always move ahead with technology and it should be a part of your set up. I have always used technology in my set up like electronic pads and stuff like that to make it more like a hybrid set up than having just electronic. I mix it well by having my acoustic kit as the main one and mixing it with some hybrid mics etc. It’s just the balance that we as musicians need to understand. Electronic sound cannot be compared to acoustic sound! If you merge it well, the output will be great. We’ve seen a lot styles of fusion evolving in India over the past few years. How do you approach the synergy between western music concepts and music that sticks to Indian roots? For me fusion music started way back in early 60s and 70s when Pt. Ravi Shankar, Zakir Hussain, John McLaughlin started performing fusion music. They are my idols. I follow Zakir Hussain sir a lot when it comes to this. I’m trying to do the same with my band where I have a Sitarist and a Guitarist creating fusion music. I do understand the Indian part of the music as well and it’s important to have a good part of both worlds.