Sidd Wakes Up

“I’m plugging that gap soon,” says the Mumbai-based musician in a mock-apologetic voice. The album is called “Sunny Side Up”,he adds,and it will release in September. There will be eight songs in the album,and Coutto is currently working on the videos of four of those songs. “The songs are titled Free,Escape and I need you,” he says . Free has been released online,and Coutto is also mapping out the route for an India tour to promote the album. The album has been produced by him and his friend and sound engineer,Hans Dalal.

“I am a songwriter first and for the past two years,I have been writing a lot,at least one song a day. Because of this creative burst,my guitar playing has improved,too. Two months ago,I decided to work on an album. I figured that since I can play the guitars and drums and can sing and write,it’s time I had an album,” says Coutto with a laugh.

Considered one of India’s best drummers,Coutto isn’t worried about the response to his album. He’s an industry veteran,he says,and has faced his share of bouquets and brickbats. “When Zero first happened,people hated us and then suddenly we became wow. Opinions change all the time and I treat them very lightly,” he explains.

Coutto is having a tough time marketing the album. He went about hiring a marketing person,only to fire him in very little time.“It’s so easy to put your music online now. The market is open for everyone and I do not consider myself part of the rat race. I am making art and I can’t quantify it,” he concludes.