were doing a lot more repeat listening of
their favorite music. Now we live in an
internet era of 24 hr connectivity filled
with the need for instant gratification.
Even if the music is not going to be
timeless, its ok as long as its good now.
So, does that mean modern pop
music serves the intended purpose?
Yes. Modern Pop music is all about
what’s catchy and about new flavors
and sound and very important – about
the videos. It has to be a musical and
visual experience now. So today’s
Pop Artists have to focus on a lot
more than just singing or playing, to
get their music appeal to people. The
producer and the Engineers play a
huge role in the success of many of the
pop hits. With all the fancy production
tools available today, putting things
together to create a song now is
different from the traditional process.
But will it not make the very
nature of music being eternal
going off to the background?
There’s always Classic Rock or Jazz
or Flamenco or Carnatic music and all
that stuff which is still about a more
timeless esthetic. Even ‘80s pop has
come back thanks to Drama series
like ‘Stranger Things’so people will
find what they want, as everything
is out there today. So, the old stuff
is still there out in the open.
Does this mean the live
music era has been put to a
back step these days?
Live music is still thriving but today’s
Artists have to be innovative and mix
things up in live shows and make
it a real experience for their fans,
because it is getting more difficult
to bring audiences to live shows
with all the other options available
to them. Whatever kind of music
you play, it is your responsibility to
find and nurture your fan base and
actually make a personal connection
with them through your concerts.
What is the one most fetching
aspect of music which current day
artists are focusing these days?
Sound. Let’s take the example of three
of the biggest pop hits of recent times
– Shape of you, Despacito and Havana.
Besides the song, singing, lyrics and
what seems to be the ‘front face’, it’s
actually the specific sound in the
production that made each of these
songs what they are - that repetitive
marimba sound and figure in Shape of
You, the Spanish style acoustic guitar
intro and the blend of Latin American
instruments with modern beats in
Despacito and that tinge of traditional
Cuban music sound in ‘Havana’.
What are the other instruments you
like to play apart from Guitar?
Apart from guitar, I sing, play
Piano, Bass, Drums, Percussion.
What is your approach in
creating your original music?
My approach is very simple. I draw on
everything past and present that I have
listened, absorbed and internalized and
let that fall into my own signature in a
natural and organic way. I have heard
so much music in my life and they all
come together in some way and reflect
in my original songs and compositions.
I am always evolving as a composer.
A lot of electric guitarists use
multiple pedals or effects
processors in their shows.
What is your take on it?
I do the same too but I just don’t
go overboard on that. While I
experiment relentlessly with various
amp configurations, guitars, pedals
and sounds in the Studio, I try to
keep my live gear simple – for two
reasons – it makes me focus and get
the best out of a few sounds and the
other is that it is easier for me to
travel. People also identify me with
a specific style and sound. All I need
is a few perfectly dialed in sounds
that are used effectively for the show!
I tell many guitar plyers who come
to me for advice about gear - Your
sound is in You, not in the pedals!
Why do you think labeling music
with different names and genres
affects it the wrong way?
Labeling music into genres is what
record companies did to distinguish
some products from the other. While
it does make sense and we all call
our music something or the other,
ultimately it is not that important at
least for me. Many great Artists make
music that transcend these genres
anyway and cannot be labeled. Imagine
labeling Frank Zappa’s music!
Is that the reason why you can
effortlessly move in between
genres in your performances?
For me they all converge. When I play
a Hendrix song that somehow moves
into an Illayaraja song, it happens
spontaneously. I don’t have much filters
in my head and I am in the moment
and most of all, my audience welcomes
it. In that particular moment they
become one and the same at least for
that evening. I don’t see any point in
playing so many genres of music if
they don’t somehow converge into a
single identity – at least for me. My
fans enjoy the thrill ride just like I do.
Your solo shows feature you
as the only main artist in your
performances. Does it get
pressuring at any point of time?
I love playing Solo. I will say that again,
I love playing Solo. There is pressure
of course, pressure of being the only
one on stage in front a lot of adoring
fans but its cool. I find it extremely
motivating to see the fans coming for
my solo guitar performances. Think
about it- its just all guitar. Its terrifying
in a way but also fun. I draw energy
from the audience, from the place, the
ambience, feel and vibe of the venue
and that helps me keep a fluid program
of music. In one way, playing solo has
freed me from genre pressure and got
me closer to my fans. I take a ton of fan
requests in many of my solo shows and
put some crazy mash-ups together like
a Steely Dan song and a Dikshitar kriti
or a Queen song and an A.R. Rahman
song and we all have a good time.
When I play with a band its completely
different - I have to be more prepared
and have to give the band a much clear
idea of the music for that evening
and therefore I focus on giving a
different experience and that is equally
awesome. So, its like two completely
different type of shows – both fulfilling
experiences for me and my fans too.
You are one of those musicians
who is quite active in interacting
with fans in social media. How
does that keep you uplifted?
That’s what Social Media is all about,
right? Interaction. I am fortunate to
have a large following around the
world on my social media pages and I
try to make it meaningful and fun in
return for the love and time they give
me. I don’t use my pages as spaces
for just promoting my shows. I like to
give people a lot of fun content both
in my videos and otherwise. I have
developed a nice bond with my fans in
the virtual world and thanks to that,
they also show up in large numbers
in the real world at my shows! My
fans keep me on my toes, I guess!
The
Score Magazine
highonscore.com
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