People Tree

Talvin Singh, the UK-based musician whose underground music has taken London by storm, is in town to promote his new album -- OK -- which is...

Talvin Singh, the UK-based musician whose underground music has taken London by storm, is in town to promote his new album 8212; OK 8212; which is due for release, any day now.

Talvin may have been brought up on the East end of London, but this 27-year-old knows more about classical music than most people born and bred in amchi Mumbai. Why? At the age of 16, Talvin packed his bags, quit school and came to India to learn the tabla. Following a love for classical music. quot;You know, there is so much bureaucracy in classical music. The old masters say the youth are not interested in it but the truth is that they are kept away,quot; says the spiky-haired musician.

But what Talvin does today is not strictly classical 8212; his tablas are electronic, quot;tablatronics,quot; he calls them. But the music he makes is far from fusion. If you want to say that about him, say it behind his back or prepare to have your head snapped off. quot;I refuse to be pegged. I make Talvin Singh music,quot; says he bombastically.

But that isthe way he is, and the answer is typical of the musician who lives in his own world 8212; and wants everyone to revolve around it. A self-obsession he makes apparent with his in-your-face attitude. He even walks in an hour late to let you know that Talvin moves only to his own clock, his own rhythm. A beat that he refuses to have disturbed by anyone 8212; not even his recording company, Polygram. He fills the room with his over-confidence and stifles the air with pompous statements like, quot;This is the beginning of a new music movement that is going to be big in India.quot; And what may this new music movement be? The sound that comes from the Talvin label of course 8212; Sounds Of The Asian Underground.

Talvin8217;s music may have been appreciated by David Bowie, or inspired Bjork to work with him, but Talvin still feels the need to show-off. Mention the recent Channel V awards where he gave the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award to Sting, the only recollection he has of meeting the legendary music man is thatJagjit Singh praised Talvin8217;s performance at the award8217;s function. Music has a universal language 8212; and it is to Talvin8217;s credit that the tracks in his album know no boundaries. In OK, there are strong influences of the West, India and Japan 8212; blended to harmonious perfection. But does Talvin have to stand on rooftops and proclaim he is better than the rest? Perhaps, he hasn8217;t heard that melody has a way of being heard, even at low decibels.