The scatman speaketh

People say my music makes them smile.... and that there is a certain joie de vivre in my songs. I've also heard remarks that the Goan tou...

People say my music makes them smile8230;. and that there is a certain joie de vivre in my songs. I8217;ve also heard remarks that the Goan touch can be detected easily. By Goan, I think they also mean other influences like Latino music and rock n8217; roll. I was born in Portuguese Goa. That music is in my blood, as are other strains like rock n8217; roll, reggae. Of course, The Beatles were a great influence.

It8217;s been a long journey from the days of Pack that Smack and Mr. Minister, but I cannot really put my finger on what8217;s my style of music.

I guess somewhere within there is an activist in me that peeps out in many of my songs.

I sing on real-life experiences. Like O Meri Munni 8211; it8217;s actually a word of warning. I8217;m not a prude; I wasn8217;t born yesterday. So I cannot say I am shocked, but yes, today8217;s teenage generation is definitely bolder. And I8217;d like to caution folks to look where they8217;re going.

Some time ago, I was dining at a friend8217;s place, when a teenaged girl came up and kissed me on the mouth as goodbye. Such blatant action does make you think. And the song is about that. It8217;s like putting a match-box into a child8217;s hands. That child could start a fire, but not know how to handle or control it. Given today8217;s scenario, especially with AIDS, you have to be careful.

I fell in love with scatting the first time I heard it, and knew this would be integral to my music.Sitting backstage at a show in Paris, I heard this singer I learnt later that he was Al Jarreau break out into scatting, and I just sat listening 8211; open-mouthed! The show over, the artiste passed right by and smiled at me. But so stupefied was I that I could just gape, thus missing my chance to speak to him before his bodyguards whisked him away!

My experience with film music has often proved to be quite liberating8230;.

8230; even though I have freedom when I write and do my own music for albums. Because there is a certain sense of excitement when you write a song for a specific occasion outlined by the director. The parameters you work within are different, and not at all restrictive. At times like these, I can break away from myself. It8217;s interesting to do music for a varied range of situations. But film music is not my principal line of work.

Performing on stage is a trial by fire.

8230; giving the artiste the opportunity to improvise and react to the audience. That8217;s why I love to sing live; on the tape, it8217;s four minutes and no more. The Aid Bhopal show we had in Mumbai after the Bhopal gas tragedy is etched on my mind. I hadn8217;t had an album released nationally 8211; just two in Goa. I was known only in the Mumbai college circuit when I performed along with big names in the show. I can still feel the electricity and anxious anticipation, not knowing how the crowds would react. Those were also the days when we did not have the TV backing of today. But Doordarshan ran the show for four consecutive Sundays and played Graham Bell each time.

Over the years, I have seen the pop industry emerge.

In my early days, all of us were self-made, having no industry to back us. When I cut my first album, there was not even a recording company. But then as one thing clicks, everyone jumps onto that bandwagon. It happened in the pop music scenario too.

Story continues below this ad

But I would not really blame the artistes. It8217;s the record companies who have to show more discretion. Almost each of us may have a secret dream tucked away 8211; to sing and have our own albums. Like little children who want to grow up to be a Sachin Tendulkar or an astronaut. But NASA does not take in every such aspirant, nor does the cricket board. The music companies, too, must discern what8217;s talent and what8217;s not. Especially when voices do not sound right even in a studio, where you have the software to make even wrong notes fall into place.

However, there is some genuine talent. But often, they do not like to come out into the public, preferring to sing their song quietly.

Almost a decade ago, I had been convinced that Indian pop would find its own sound.

Today, I believe it has. There was a time when the only pop happening was cover versions. We had Indian Madonnas and Michael Jacksons. But today, the audience has matured 8211; it is not dumb to take just cover versions. We have our own songs now.