concerned with bettering themselves and their art are always
appreciative of such feedback. On a personal level, I’ve found
that genuine, constructive feedback is hard to come by, and
therefore, is quite precious to me.
How much self-doubt, if any, goes into each composition?
Sahej: A lot. Our minds are funny creatures, they tend to
deviate from the task at hand and bring up the most difficult
questions and doubts at the worst time. But that’s part of
being an artist. At some point, you learn to watch yourself as
you work, and to know what to expect from your mind. When
it starts to happen, I’ll suddenly be overcome by crippling
self-doubt and questions that are quite irrelevant to the
music, at times. Though over the years, I’ve learned to treat
that process with compassion and not indulge myself/go
down that road. At the end of the day, I know that my practice
and dedication to an artistic discipline will not randomly
leave me one fine day, so the fears are largely unfounded.
Is there an event that you look forward to each year?
Sahej: Yes, I look forward to the start of “gig season” (Oct
onwards), because that’s when I get to take my new music
onto stages and play it out. I also love December, it’s become
a bit of a ritual for me to end my year in Goa with friends on
a secluded beach - in fact I just rented a villa in Goa and plan
to shift my studio there, I think it’ll have an interesting effect
on my music (my current location being Delhi). I also love
January for the peace and quiet after a hectic season, and the
summer for my travels.
Truthfully, is there anything else you would rather be doing? It
doesn't have to be a rational thing. Would you rather be a pirate,
an astronaut, maybe Iron Man?
Sahej: Haha that’s a good question - I’ve thought about it
many times, and to be fully honest, every time I ask the
question, I come back to the realisation that for all the
difficulties and challenges in being a full-time artist, it is the
only thing I really want to do. As long as that’s happening,
there are other things I intend to do (such as teaching music/
mentoring, opening a venue, helping artists with wellness,
etc), but making music comes first and foremost. Without
music and art in my life, I don’t feel like I’m fully alive.
Is there a musical milestone you have yet to reach?
Sahej: The whole point of being an artist for me is that it’s
a vehicle, a way to explore myself and life itself on deeper
and deeper levels. It’s a medium for a greater mission (the
“Inquiry”) - one of self-realisation, which is such a lofty goal
that it will, by definition, be a lifelong process that never fully
completes itself.
Talk about an idea that still astounds you. Something that still
makes you think that the universe is magical.
Sahej: That we, as humans, are born as a collection of
cells and microorganisms that somehow create our own,
individual consciousness. Neuroscientists are yet to discover
how exactly that happens - how a collection of muscles, bones,
nerves and cells come together to create this feeling of “me”
and “life”. It’s truly amazing if you think about it.
When you create a song, what emotion do you usually intend to
evoke in the listener?
Sahej: It depends on the song, to be honest. What’s always
true is that I have a state of mind that I’m trying to convey
in a song. It can be a mixture or layered combination of
emotions - for example, ‘Isoterra’ was about the feeling of
wonder and excitement when you discover a new, beautiful,
unexplored place (in the world or in your mind). With
‘Mayday’ it was the feeling of falling freely without a safety
net, and with ‘Qualia’ it was the feeling of love and the
longing that comes with it - not just romantic love, but all
kinds of love.
Does Sahej Bakshi ever get bored with music?
Sahej: I sometimes need to take a break from it, but no, I
never get bored with it. It’s an ocean that I’ll never be able to
fully explore, even if I had more than one lifetime.
Tell us about your morning ritual.
Sahej: Make my morning chai, say hello to and snuggle with
my cats Mowgli and Yogi, sit in the balcony and listen to the
birds and forest, and then step into my studio.
RAPID FIRE
Worst thing that has ever happened to you:
Losing touch with my inner self, temporary as it was. The closest you came to giving up:
The late-night, hard-partying lifestyle.
Someone (real or fictional) you would like to put in a music
video:
The Drone Hosts from Westworld Biggest risk you have taken:
Being genuine and unfiltered
Someone (real or fictional) you should like to shoot (with a
gun): What, haha I don't want to shoot anyone!
The one thing that pushes your buttons like nothing else:
A disrespectful attitude.
What you think the world really wants:
Instant gratification
Scariest part of everyday life:
Keeping the momentum going
The
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