On the fusion bandwagon.
INTRODUCTION: Fusion music is flavour of the season. The latest band to perform in Bangalore was Shoonya. Puja Goyal caught up with its members On the fusion bandwagon.
Source: Vijay Times, Life - Pg 3.
Copyright © 2006 Puja Goyal.
TURN YOUR radio on and you will find various instances of sounds that do not confine to their particular genre. Rock sounds a little Pop, Pop sounds a little RnB, and Hindi film music sounds like a rip off of some western tune or maybe a take off from some folk song combined with western beats and a crude desi voice (Aap ki Kashish). Even instruments like electric guitars are used to conceive sounds similar to that of a sitar; the western influences cannot be denied and traditional Indian music is definitely going through a change in perception.
It is true that pure traditional music and other genres are diminishing in there definition. So what is the fuss surrounding World Music or Fusion Music, representing a different sound and most importantly are the concepts of fusion music passÈ?
There are two parameters to this; one: when artists combine instruments from foreign backgrounds, and while keeping the original sound of the instrument intact; they manage to blend them to create their own sound. Two: when artists combine different instruments from foreign backgrounds, and make those instruments speak the language of their traditional instrument; to make those instruments speak their own traditional sound.
This has given rise to various new bands who find an outlet to creativity. Shoonya, which is the brainchild of V Ashok Kumar, is a band of artists expert in their own fields, but have come together to create their own sound. They performed at Alliance FranÁoise de Bangalore on the March 3rd and 4th to a discreet audience. "We are a part of World Music, Shoonya is not only about creating a new sound, but also combining different instruments from various cultures," says Prakash Sontakke, a member of Shoonya. The debut performance of Shoonya was well appreciated by the audience, and the star attraction was Ashok; whose hands moved like wind on the Djembe and Darbuka.
The World Music artists nowadays are more relaxed and concentrate on innovative live music. While there are celebrity collaborations and experienced artists who in their own right are world class; there seems to be something lacking in most rookie concerts. You have to be an expert at something, and another thing for lots of experts to get together and let their expertise take a back seat, so they can concentrate on a single sound of the band. Nikhil who attended the Shoonya concert says, "You know, they were all good, but sounds from other instruments drowned in front of the Hawaiian guitar; the guitar was too loud! I donít know if this is what they intended to do, but for me, Fusion or World Music would be when I can hear one sound and at the same time distinguish each instrument as playing their part in creating fusion music."
The newest trend in World Music in India, as far as marketing is concerned, is not recording an album. While most bands tend to think that they have made it only when an album is recorded by a well-known music company, World Music follows another concept. Michael who plays the Didgeridoo and mouth organ and is a member from Shoonya elaborates, "I don't know what the deal is about recording music? I mean, it's an old-fashioned concept. Abroad, the audience members prefer to record the live performances and take them home. This gets circulated amongst peers, and the public."
Bangalore is now seeing a new generation of fusion artists collaborating to balance tradition and western influences; this will ensure that World Music will always have its space within which it will continue to flourish.
Source: Vijay Times, Life - Pg 3.
Copyright © 2006 Puja Goyal.
TURN YOUR radio on and you will find various instances of sounds that do not confine to their particular genre. Rock sounds a little Pop, Pop sounds a little RnB, and Hindi film music sounds like a rip off of some western tune or maybe a take off from some folk song combined with western beats and a crude desi voice (Aap ki Kashish). Even instruments like electric guitars are used to conceive sounds similar to that of a sitar; the western influences cannot be denied and traditional Indian music is definitely going through a change in perception.
It is true that pure traditional music and other genres are diminishing in there definition. So what is the fuss surrounding World Music or Fusion Music, representing a different sound and most importantly are the concepts of fusion music passÈ?
There are two parameters to this; one: when artists combine instruments from foreign backgrounds, and while keeping the original sound of the instrument intact; they manage to blend them to create their own sound. Two: when artists combine different instruments from foreign backgrounds, and make those instruments speak the language of their traditional instrument; to make those instruments speak their own traditional sound.
This has given rise to various new bands who find an outlet to creativity. Shoonya, which is the brainchild of V Ashok Kumar, is a band of artists expert in their own fields, but have come together to create their own sound. They performed at Alliance FranÁoise de Bangalore on the March 3rd and 4th to a discreet audience. "We are a part of World Music, Shoonya is not only about creating a new sound, but also combining different instruments from various cultures," says Prakash Sontakke, a member of Shoonya. The debut performance of Shoonya was well appreciated by the audience, and the star attraction was Ashok; whose hands moved like wind on the Djembe and Darbuka.
The World Music artists nowadays are more relaxed and concentrate on innovative live music. While there are celebrity collaborations and experienced artists who in their own right are world class; there seems to be something lacking in most rookie concerts. You have to be an expert at something, and another thing for lots of experts to get together and let their expertise take a back seat, so they can concentrate on a single sound of the band. Nikhil who attended the Shoonya concert says, "You know, they were all good, but sounds from other instruments drowned in front of the Hawaiian guitar; the guitar was too loud! I donít know if this is what they intended to do, but for me, Fusion or World Music would be when I can hear one sound and at the same time distinguish each instrument as playing their part in creating fusion music."
The newest trend in World Music in India, as far as marketing is concerned, is not recording an album. While most bands tend to think that they have made it only when an album is recorded by a well-known music company, World Music follows another concept. Michael who plays the Didgeridoo and mouth organ and is a member from Shoonya elaborates, "I don't know what the deal is about recording music? I mean, it's an old-fashioned concept. Abroad, the audience members prefer to record the live performances and take them home. This gets circulated amongst peers, and the public."
Bangalore is now seeing a new generation of fusion artists collaborating to balance tradition and western influences; this will ensure that World Music will always have its space within which it will continue to flourish.
Comments