The Twin Players

Pardon the cliche but when it comes to communicating,it’s their music that speaks volumes. At 14,twin brothers Eashan and Eash Goyal run their fingers effortlessly up and down the piano keys and guitar strings. If Eashan can leave the audience spellbound with his rendition of Mozart,then Eash can stun you with a Steve Vai-esque performance. Together,they are musical prodigies and are now in the news for setting the national record of being the youngest twin brothers to perform western classical music. Eashan has also set the national record of being the youngest rock guitarist of India,as acknowledged by the Indian Book of Records. It’s an enviable feat,but the brothers still have their feet firmly on the ground. The accolades don’t change the fact that they have to get up early and practise for two hours at least in their custom-made respective studios,listen to western classical music,make notes,and learn from teachers in Delhi and Chandigarh. Making sure they follow the timetable are their parents,Meeta and PCS officer TK Goyal,especially Meeta whose love for western music is reflected in the boys.

“We play individually and gave our first public performance at the age of seven on the Cliff Richards song,Dancing Shoes,” says Eashan. He comes across as the calmer,more patient of the two,while Eash releases all that pent-up teenage energy and angst in those amplified guitar riffs and twangs. There is no Indian music influence — Bollywood or independent. For them,the inspiration flows from Broadway musicals,from French and German composers,and their timeless classical compositions,from JS Bach to Beethoven,WA Mozart,Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.

“They have been into music since Class I,” says the proud mother,who pulled them out of sports in Class V,and made music their life. Although they want to be engineers,they assure that music will be an integral part of their lives. “Music education acts as a catalyst in academics and personality development,” say the identical twins.

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The twins have given several live performances in New Delhi,including the Teen Murti Auditorium,ML Bhartia Auditorium and Alliance Francaise. They’ve even passed their Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music Exam in their respective choice of instruments,and are the youngest twins from the country to have been duly certified as western classical music performers by this organisation. Quiz them on why the piano and guitar,and Eashan smiles,“I find the piano easy,simpler to play.” Guitar,on the other hand,brings out Eash’s inner voice and eases his soul.

When they are not practising,it’s the usual boy toys — guns,robots,laptops and gadgets — that amuse them. In the meanwhile,the Goyal household fills with melodious music — baroque,classic and nostalgic.