How did you guys form a musical duo ? Where did you first meet and hit it off ?
Sachin : Everything happens for a reason you know . And we realise this in hindsight when we reflect on the past . We would actually meet more often than not to share our workloads while straddling theatre with television . Jigar then one day asked me to join the very reputed Rajesh Roshanji and his camp to taste mainstream waters and the next thing we knew was arranging music for the Roshans professionally and the thought organically hit home that we are on the same page as a congenial combination .
Jigar : I think Sachin covered the part as to how we met and synergised to become musical partners . But let me add another interesting dope here that suggests , we bonded more over food than music . At least that ’ s what I feel at heart ( chuckles !). The other matching point is that hailing from similar backgrounds has really helped us forming this pair and we both wanted to toil hard over producing some amazing music .
Sachin , you hail from a suburban Mumbai , dominated by Gujarati community and your voice has been a rage for years during Navaratri celebration and garba dance . Can you recall those days and the musical impact that this association has left upon you ?
Sachin : Yes , I feel great when I look back and think about those funfilled , joyous times . When I was a kid , people used to be amused by the fact that I did a lot of shows and even cut regional albums . You see , we always learn things quickly in our younger days and I picked up music the most as a child . I took to singing , keyboards , playing with a band and also imbibed the idea of how to address a large crowd on stage . Later , I used all that experience I could gather at a tender age in executing Sachin-Jigar shows on a professional platform .
Fact is , when you face an enormous audience , you get to tap its pulse and understand what is mass-friendly and popular and why is it so . When you are in the thick of business , trying to create infectious music , this experience really helps . It feels on a high as an artiste to just go all out there and express yourself open-heartedly in your mother tongue or any other language that you are comfortable in with no undue pressure whatsoever .
Many people don ’ t bother to remember the long stretch of struggle that goes behind climbing up the ladder of success . How do you react now when you two look back after reaching a secure pinnacle in the industry ?
Jigar : Honestly , we are not staring backwards but ahead and preferably mapping the miles to go on from here . For the lack of time , we hardly can afford to dwell on our past and contemplate much . But yes , every time we find love and fame , it ’ s a ritual that we sit back and ponder over those bygone years . We love new challenges and take each assignment like the zeal of an excited fresher . We are hell-bent on taking this brand forward with all our might and enthusiasm .
Sachin : My take on this is that struggle toughens you like a hard solid rock and success can get slippery . So it is highly important to remember your hardships like a true conscientious reminder and keep yourself grounded , though I personally fathom , struggle never ends with one ’ s attained establishment and material status as it ’ s all about sustaining your brand and carrying it forward .
You used to assist established composers namely , Pritam , A . R . Rahman , Anu Malik , Nadeem-Shravan , Sandesh Shandilya , Vishal-Shekhar before charting out your own musical course independently . How was the experience like and how does music arrangement help an aspirant sharpen his skills ?
Jigar : Our stint as arrangers will stay with us all our lives . To be able to assist these reputed tunesmiths at the peak of their careers and have a backseat view of what is happening around as well as witnessing how they go about their business is absolutely wonderful . It ’ s amazing how these gentlemen depict the same typical Bollywood situations in their own sweet ways . Every scorer approaches the song process differently . If one goes for the melody first , another goes for production , etc . I wanted to become Kumar Sanu while I was training to sing , until Roja ( composed by Oscarwinner A . R . Rahman ) happened and took me by storm . Somebody like Rahman sir , who has become an inspiration to an entire generation , is the simplest human being alive . In a particular song , he might want to play only four chords because he wants to drive home a message and doesn ’ t want to clog his listening . He has immense clarity and has given us a lot of perspective about how simple can be complicated and vice-versa .
Sachin : Each has its own unique style you see . If Rajubhai ( eminent composer Rajesh Roshan ) taught us how to differentiate between a normal tune and one that fits the character to the tee , then Pritamda showed us how to be ahead of the times . He treats us like his kids . There is a father figure inside him . He is our go to man . We always resort to him when we get stuck somewhere . He is our guiding light , you know . So , all in all , it ’ s been a very enriching experience till now .
Did you guys undergo any formal training ? Do you think it ’ s necessary for every beginner , who wants to make it big in the musical field ?
Sachin : Formal schooling is very important for every musician at any given level in my view . I was trained in classical vocals for 10 years and have also learnt the ropes of two-three types of the piano .
Jigar : I have taken tuitions on beating the tabla first followed with the reed instrument , piano . In today ’ s world , not only certified coaching is required but knowing both the desi classical as well as the western styles are highly imperative . People are born with natural vocal chords . But only a few good know how to exercise them as an ear-soothing artform and sing with a proper mix of right tunes , tone , rhythm , beat and straight from the heart too ( smiles )! This super quality makes one stand out of the rest and enables him / her to emerge comfortable in terms of knowing what to do perfectly . You must tick off all the right boxes before taking a serious plunge , don ’ t you ?
These days , mashups have become quite a trend . Do you think it ’ s only a good publicity tool for producers or a great opportunity for songmakers and singers to experiment with different flavours , structures and improvisations ?
Jigar : Trends will always be there but nothing can replace a composer ’ s original body of works . It ’ s a fact that only when the music directors churn out a version melody , will someone
The Score Magazine highonscore . com
13