Master Indian music before experimenting

For any musician who aspires to be like them, the competition comes not from fellow musicians or even from Louis and Sivamani, rather from Bollywood explains world-renowned musicians, jazz artist Louis Banks and ace percussionist Sivamani. The duo were in town for the opening of Yamaha Music Square in Sector 37, Chandigarh (October 7, 2009) with the scions of Indian contemporary and fusion music took turns to talk about the grand Grammy nomination and define their art form.

While, Louis Banks started playing a piano and Sivamani took his position at the drums, guess what they both had in mind -- an honest confession to make, "It’s unfortunate that while the world rejoices our music, we in India continue to plug into only Bollywood.” Louis has the reason, "Because, Bollywood music is easy to understand. You don’t have to be attentive to appreciate it as it conditions you. On the other hand, our music requires some hard work from the audience as well to comprehend it.” Sivamani though was not so despondent, "Indians are opening up to new genres of music. They are looking out for more options."

“Except the time when it was displaced by disco, jazz has been around for years, and now, it’s making a comeback,” informed Banks, who is now experimenting with the music along with his son. “The focus is integrating Indian with western music,” Banks pointed out informing that he is coming out with a six-album release soon.  After giving award-winning music to TV serials, ad campaigns, films etc, Banks is now shifting full-time to live concerts. “The fun lies in playing live,” he smiled.  Thirty years down the ‘music’ line, and Damba Bahadur Budhapriti aka Louiz Banks has come a long way, from being a class teacher and jazz player in Kolkata to landing in Mumbai with Rs 300, tuning to guru RD Burman, and making it big.

“Those were tough times, but good times too. We played for love, for passion of music. Today, there are a number of instruments and opportunities like reality shows, but one thing everyone should remember - if you are in it for money, then forget music,” added Banks, who, by the way, also does impressionistic paintings! "The impact of Indian classical music is everlasting, you just can’t get over it. Whatever music we invent, it descends to the Indian music," asserted Louis before Sivamani chipped in, "One needs to master Indian music before experimenting and diversifying it." Of course, they took formal training, but their interest in music made all the difference, "I took my first lessons in music at the funerals, when I played soft music on different instruments," shared Sivamani.

Gradually various milestones were achieved. "The major one came 25 years back, forming a band together, Shanti, and giving first international performance in Russia." Helping in their cause of making universal music, they believe, are easily available quality instruments and reality shows. Louis explained the rest, "When we began to learn music, instruments had to be imported, unlike the present scenario. The musicians are being discovered by reality shows, who otherwise wouldn’t have got an opportunity." For Banks, there is immense talent in India. “And the recent exposure has suddenly made the West sit up and take notice of Indian music,” said Banks adding it’s never too late to learn music provided you have the passion and aptitude. But he added, it’s always better to start early!

Just like Sivamani, who started playing music as a child at funerals. And now, when it comes to musical beats, no one drums it better than Sivamani. From kanjira, damru, Indian conch, ghungroo to an odd suitcase, plastic water bottle, the man has created music out of it all. And when he’s not playing he’s practising on pillows! “Those were my first lessons in music,” said the percussionist par excellence who has been playing with Banks and their band, Asia Electrik for 25 years now! Looking forward to his world tour, Jai H, with AR Rahman, and two new albums Mahaleela and Anand, Sivamani said music for him is rhythm. “It’s peace, it’s the best diversion to depression... rhythm is like a banyan tree, it’s one, just like sound, it’s everywhere,” he hailed its therapeutic powers.

They're asked why is their music ‘western’ only. There's a simple answer to it. "Because we come from western background," said Sivamani, who had his first brush with percussion while returning home from school in Chennai as the instrument would be played at funerals. However, there music's not devoid of the influence of Indian classical. It constantly makes way into their music in sound, in ragas. "I wondered which western counterpart would fit in with ragas and discovered it was jazz as that offers so much freedom. Jazz can be improvised upon and so can be classical," said Banks.