Striking the right chord

Sonali Cable was an interesting and challenging project. I was asked to compose a Ganpati song, that is not really a zone I’m very familiar with, but in the end I enjoyed trying out new musical styles. It reminded me of the time I was composing the background scores for Shanghai as even then I used a lot of street drums and rhythms to replicate the environ on the Mumbai streets during festivals.
For Bombay Velvet, I am still in the process of finishing two tracks. The main soundtrack, sung by Amit Trivedi, is completely in my zone. The combination of Bollywood, jazz and vintage music is exactly what I’ve been doing with The Bartender albums of mine.

Ganpati songs are really popular in Hindi movies, how is Gannu rocks different?

Gannu rocks is a mixture of traditional sounds and edgy electro-rock elements. I recorded the female prayer (sung by Anmol Malik) on an iPhone as it gave it an unique touch that was different from the rest of the music. I tried to keep the two elements of peaceful prayer and high-voltage energy within the same track.

What kind of instruments were used to compose the song?

For Gannu rocks, I have used street drums (dhols), rock drums and electric guitars.

What kind of music are you composing for Bombay Velvet?

Bombay Velvet consists of jazz music with a few Indian elements that has a vintage feel. One track is fun and lively, while the other is more like a sexy cabaret.

Is it difficult to survive in the music industry? How has your journey so far been?

I haven’t found it difficult, though there are ups and downs, if you keep working, good things happen gradually. Universally, people have been warm and accepting of me as a foreigner working within the Indian film and music industry. I am very grateful for the variety of work I’ve been able to do in India. A cliched saying, but for me, variety really is the spice of life.

Is there a pressure on you to come up with something new every time?

Yes, there is always a pressure to compose something new but that is important. There’s time crunch as well, but it works in my favour. I’ve learned to create music in India more by instinct than thinking too much.

What kind of music do you personally like?

No particular genre, I like a bit of everything. I have my favourites within each style. My playlists are very eclectic.

Where do you derive inspiration from when you aren’t able to figure out something or if you are looking for something new?

From a logical point of view, music is about layers and combinations — notes, chords, lyrics rhythms and sounds. There are pretty much unlimited combinations. If you keep trying different combinations out then inspiration will find you.

Is there any advice you would like to give to the youngsters of today who aspire to be composers?

My advice is to make as much music as possible because it takes time to develop your skills. You never know what composition will be popular so just give your best to every piece.

What are your future projects?

I just released my TV Dinners album which consists of extended songs that I composed for major television advertisements. For this album, I directed five music videos and I’ve become really interested in direction. In fact, I’m writing and planning to direct a Bollywood feature film. It will be a musical in the traditional, old school form.

karan.shah@expressindia.com