Taboo Tunes

Before conducting the interview,we are advised that any questions around the apparent break-up of TBEP should be avoided,but it’s pertinent to ask Gomez about his tenure with the band and question him about the break. “I met will.i.am and apl.de.ap in 1992 when I was still in school. They’re my best friends and kept my music dream alive. In 2003,Fergie joined and it became bigger. We had a wonderful time but we also made a lot of sacrifices such as staying away from our families while touring,” he reminisces. With six Grammys to their credit,TBEP,formed in 1988,is one of the most popular hip hop acts of the last 15 years and has produced hits such as Where is the Love?,Don’t phunk with my heart,Let’s get started and Imma Be.

In 2011,its fans were in for a shock when TBEP announced an infinite “hiatus”. “Everyone is cool with each other and we are all doing our own thing. I can’t comment on the band’s status. Anyway,everyone made a solo career while being part of the band — Fergie and w ill.i.am — but people have never known me as a solo artiste and this is my chance,” says Gomez. With diverse influences such as Marvin Gay,Stevie Wonder,Prince and Diana Ross,he hopes to create a buzz with his first solo project. He lets out a little,saying,“My album will be an extension of TBEP.”

Excited about the two gigs in the city — the first one took place last night — he says,“I will be DJing and it will be an open format as I will play trance,R&B,hip hop and electronica. I will be playing tracks from my upcoming album too.”

Ask him about collaborations with Indian artistes and he says,“Frankly,I don’t know any Indian musicians and the only music from here that I have heard is a Punjabi remix of a Jay Z song. Hopefully,I will meet some this time and work on a collaboration in the future.” In India till Monday,Gomez’ voice exudes excitement as he mentions his plan to visit the Taj Mahal earlier in the day,before the big gig.