An Ode to Memories

“That inner change was much needed as there was (and still is) a deep desire to grow as a musician. I decided to call it quits three years ago and stopped playing regular gigs with cover bands,” he says. Although what followed immediately was the formation of Ruhaniyat,Junaid was also simultaneously playing with various other musicians in the country and garnering interesting experiences along the way. These experiences have now been put into words,in the form of a 10-track album,What Colour Is Your Raindrop,which released on August 17.

One can tell at first listen that the album reflects these various experiences and influences,musically. For instance,there’s the entirely instrumental The first year; Ekta golpo,a Bengali song featuring Satyaki Banerjee,Diptanshu Roy and Anusheh Anadil,which is folksy for the most part; Mockingbird,which features vocals by New Zealand-born,US-based musician Greg Johnson; and the acoustic Though I know,one of the gems of the album.

Consequently,it’s virtually impossible to slot the album into one genre,but Junaid isn’t concerned with that. “The album is an honest portrayal of all that has shaped me over these years,” he says. “I don’t think of genres when I compose music,but of things that affect me as an artiste,” he adds. That seems to make sense for a man who lists Ustad Ali Akbar Khan,The Beatles,all forms of blues music and Frédéric François Chopin

as his four primary musical influences.

The album is available through a number of online portals,including the iTunes store,OKListen!,Amazon,CD Baby and the Google music store — where it can be bought — or his own website,www.tajdarjunaid.com where it is up for free download. Junaid also plans to tour with the album and he will take it to festivals around the country over the next few months.