entry with lights , colours that embodies the music is the main motivation behind it . I also made a solid body electric sitar that has technical sounds but I again confined to acoustic version of sitar alone . The organic sound is what I kept intact throughout the album , so that the traditional flavour is deeply rooted . I ’ d like to bring my original sound when it comes to sitar .
Out of all the world genres , what was the toughest genre for you to blend in ? And how did you overcome it ? Jazz is toughest for sure because of its intellectual possibilities and scope of improvisation . If you observe syncopated or chromatic jazz , one has to use all the 12 chromatic notes at the best possible manner . There is so much of intelligence involved in the songwriting , and after working with masters in the genre – it is amazing
to see how Ustad Zakir Hussain blends with these jazz legends . The unlikely combination of Indian classical and progressive rock is something we did in our album Unbounded ( Abaad ).
Being awarded as the best instrumentalist of the country at a young age of 15 , how did you build on it ? What do awards mean to you ? For five days after getting the award , you are thrilled for sure and for a few it can last longer as well . The lesser the time of the thrill , the better it is to move on from it and start all over again . It is always a new day
and one needs to do music all over again and awards may not matter then . You need to continuously touch people ’ s hearts by reinventing yourself with music and understanding about it . However , life may change after getting recognised by an honorary award but the reinvention continues !
Can you please tell us more about the gear you use in your recordings , and with home studio performances ?
I am totally an Apple guy and most of my gadgets are from the Apple ecosystem . I use an Apple computer , and I have an Apple G Sound card that is fantastic . I also have a Sapphire Pro Focus Riot Soundcard but I recently discovered a mic called AppleG USB mic called Hype G which has punchy compression of sound . It is easy to plug in and I could do recordings for TV with it !
Along with the sound setup , I also use a ring light and have a dual light arrangement for a better video quality for my performance . I am a bit of a geek and I have a
thing for playing around with these tech stuff .
PURBAYAN CHATTERJEE - WHITE - IMAGE - AMARBIR SINGH
Rapid Fire
3 main aspects a budding sitar player must keep in mind ?
I might sound cliché , but it is practice , practice and practice !
A dream venue to perform It is totally crazy but , it is Colosseum in Rome ! An artist collaboration of your dream Jacob Collier
Another instrument you can play apart from the Sitar
I play the harmonium ( while accompanying my wife for her ghazal renditions ) and a bit of tabla as well .
The Score Magazine
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