Playing virtuoso acoustic finger-style music, US-based guitarist and composer, Bhrigu Sahni, is known for incredible musical versatility. Recently in India to perform some of his own compositions, he tells us about his musical explorations and how he has kept the faith.
With a mission to reinvent the playing of the guitar, 32-year-old guitarist Bhrigu Sahni has tried out alternate tunings and Flamenco techniques (finger tapping on a tapping plate to support the rhythms). His compositions not only create ethereal soundscapes, but also have captivated audiences worldwide for more than five years.
“There is a lot of music being written and composed on standard tunings, so I wanted to find something new, a different sound that wasn’t heard before. At least to me,” laughs Bhrigu, as he plays a few tunes for us from his famous album What is Now. The musician started off as a guitar player, and later realised his calling for writing his own music. But just like any other musician, he too was apprehensive at the start. “I frequently found myself doubting my abilities, but then I would feel like my music is streaming through me. I kept the faith in my music, and that kept me going to transition from a guitarist to a singer and song writer too,” the musician reveals.
Inspired by the American guitarist and music composer Michael Hedges, Bhrigu uses the acoustic guitar to play virtuoso acoustic finger-style music that changes the sound of the instrument and makes it an exceptional musical treat for the audience. And that is what has earned him enough popularity to perform with the likes of internationally acclaimed artistes like Angelique Kidjo, Timothy Lefebvre, Meshell Ndgeocello, and Karsh Kale at different venues in New York.
“Michael’s usage of the acoustic guitar introduced me to the world of altered tunings. I realised that good music defies genre. When you have something new, it creates its own genre. With my way of playing, I believe I will definitely garner a more inclusive listener base,” believes the guitarist, who graduated from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA. Recalling his student days, which he claims has helped him become the kind of musician that he is now, Bhrigu reveals that studying there was incredibly illuminating. “I was exposed to so many different styles of music at a truly world-class level! It was an eye-opening experience and I realised where to set the expectations,” he shares.
According to Bhrigu, it was his stay in the US that helped him gravitate towards different styles of music —from Jazz, to Blues, Flamenco, Reggae, and even Brazilian Percussion.
The musician feels that over the years, the journey has helped him hone a deeper sense and understanding of music in its cultural context. “I understood how different cultures and their unique journeys affected the way their music is created and heard, and that’s what pushes me to create something new with everyday compositions,” muses the artiste.
And even as he describes his discoveries with western composers and musicians, Bhrigu admits that his roots are set in Indian classical music.
As an example, he shares with us the music of veteran Pakistani vocalist Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and sitarist Pandit Nikhil Banerjee that he has on his phone. “I am inspired by their raw passion in singing and playing. I can listen to them repetitively,” the musician concludes.
Here’s hoping Bengaluru will have Bhrigu’s music on loop soon as well.
