The Musician as Bartender

“I haven’t grown up with songs by greats such as Rafi,unlike the rest of India. Hence,my approach allows people to see these classics in a new light. I just make them more dreamy,” says 42-year old McCleary,who moved to India three years ago and is now ready with his next album “Classic Bollywood,Shaken not Stirred” (Sony Music,Rs 395).

In this 10-track album,that releases later this month,McCleary gives a lounge feel to classic Bollywood songs by infusing these with expert electronical rhythms. Most of the songs are inspired by Geeta Dutt though there are also versions of Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi songs. “I was introduced to Geeta Dutt’s music by my Bengali girlfriend and I fell in love with the voice. I also learned about her relationship with alcohol,” says the musician.

He calls his style bartender mix,pointing out that he mixes music,not alcohol.

McCleary’s training in jazz and pop becomes evident as one listens to his works,a strange mix of staccato and flowy sounds,in Baabuji dheere chalna and Jaane kya tune kahi. “I have tried to give a very cocktail feel to the music,” he says.

Though he is a Kiwi,McCleary was born in Chennai and left the country when he was six.

He has worked with AR Rahman and Vishal Shekhar as well as created jingles. He has also collaborated with Lucky Ali in a forthcoming pop album titled “Raastaman”.

“He is my brother-in-law and we have worked together for a long time. I produced his first album ‘Sunoh’ in 1996. Our next album will come with a folksy acoustic feel to it,” he says,adding that he is now set for an India tour.