All For One

They represent the best of two distinct cultures,yet they have amalgamated their music to make their individual sounds,one.

They represent the best of two distinct cultures,yet they have amalgamated their music to make their individual sounds,one. Pondicherry-based band Emergence fuses jazz and Carnatic classical in a blend that seeks to explore Indian philosophies and an Indian way of life.

The four members of the band come from diverse backgrounds vocalist and guitarist Krishna McKenzie came from his home in Britain,settled in South India and never looked back; bassist Mishko M’ba is one of the most respected bass players in the world,who has performed with the likes of Ray Charles and Barbara Hendrix; drummer Suresh Bascara,who is proficient with the tabla too,and learnt his music in South France; and Karthick Iyer,a respected violinist and Carnatic vocalist who has performed with AR Rahman.

We like to talk about an alternate lifestyle,away from the hustle-bustle of the city,through the medium of music. Our songs deal with living in harmony with nature, says McKenzie. Who we are is an outcome of what we are,and vice versa. Through are music,we deal with this issue. Born in Britain,McKenzie was very young when he visited India,and a short spell in the country and he knew this is where he wanted to live. I didn’t have an flash run through my head or have an epiphany. I just knew,had a gut feeling that this was the place where I wanted to spend the rest of my life, he says.

Despite being a motley group of musicians,the band has a lot of respect for one another. We all realise that for us to be a successful group of musicians,we all have to appreciate the talent and effort of one another, says McKenzie. We do not pose a challenge for one another,instead we use the band as an opportunity to learn from one another. Despite subscribing to different genres,we all try to arrive at the same place,and in the process,we absorb a lot from one another. For example,when I joined the band,just over a year ago,I was a hardcore Carnatic musician. Today,I am much more open to other genres of music.

Iyer,being the youngest member of the band,also says he has learnt a lot from M’ba. He is very famous in jazz circles across the world,yet he would never show it. A simple,down-to-earth-person with no airs,he has never given me a reason to feel the need to be in awe of him. That is till he plays. When he picks up his bass guitar,one can’t help but be in awe, he smiles.

(Emergence will perform today at High Spirits,Koregaon Park,7.30pm onwards)

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