‘I don't believe that thing called fusion’

The new generation starts making faces whenever they hear of a Hindustani classical concert. Is this where our nation is going? And if that is the case, it can surely be stated that there is no appreciation for our own culture, tradition and above all our own art forms.  No. It’s not always true. And the crowd in a recently held event in Delhi just proved it.  

His music can be narrowed down to Folk, Indie, Pop, and Progressive Folk. He writes mostly in Urdu, occasionally mixing Hindi, English and Punjabi. He drives his influences from Nirvana, Pearl Jam, also Janis Joplin, Laura Marling, Radiohead, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Eddie Vedder, Damien Rice, British Indie Acts. He has played all around the country covering venues like The Humming Tree, Hard Rock Cafes, Piano Man Jazz Club and many more.

The performer has also played in festivals like Ragasthan, North East Festival, Metropolis, Horn OK Please, Radio City Freedom Awards, Homebound. He aims at representing his culture and heritage all across the nation and beyond what can be possible through his song-writing. He is known for his voice as well as live performances. And as it is quite evident he is a stage hunk. But the first time’s experience is something that is always worth mentioning. Sharing it the classical singer chirps, “I have been performing for as long as I can remember. Since I have a background in Sikh ragas and Gurbani kirtan, it is evident for Sikh children (and as was for me) to play at Gurudwaras and religious festivals very early on. But the first time I performed with a band, it was at a college fest in Chandigarh. I was very nervous and I could've passed out with anxiety but as soon as I got up on stage, something clicked in me and I changed into this entirely different character. I enjoyed that performance so much. It was such a great experience.”

But, with age comes maturity and the understanding to get completely lost in music. Many say it is applicable in every case. Be it life, performing art, or any other matter, one will trust the wisdom of the experienced more than an amateur. When asked if the same happens with Saby, he says, “I think as I am growing older I am starting to understand my art better. I write the same songs but how I feel them and the connection that I have with them is only getting deeper. Yes, I have seen a change in the way I write but it is very subtle and I think I am more comfortable performing my new songs than the old ones.

Saby Singh is a trained musician in Hindustani classical music. He started writing music at the age of 15 and derives his influences from Alt-Rock, Indie-Pop-Rock, Folk and Neo-Blues. So who could better than him to speak about whether fusion gives a flare to the traditional song forms or does it somehow dilutes the gravity. He opines, “I don't believe in a thing such as fusion. Of course, for commercial and marketing, the industry has put a tag to sell it better. At the end of the day it is just music and if it sounds good, then who cares. I am not trying to do anything new or consciously putting in efforts to create something that is fresh or out of the box.” “I am just doing what I feel like doing. I write songs without any convention or given structure, and I could least care about genres”, he adds.

Born in Kashmir, the singer was trained from the tender age of six. But discovering The Beatles at 15 has changed the course of things for him.

Coming across so many renowned musicians such as PARVAAZ, The Local Train, Prateek Kuhad, Ankur Tewari, Clinton Cerejo, Papon among others, it has inspired him to seek further.  

However, his inspiration and favourite singer is someone close to his heart – his mother.

He recalls, “For me, it would be my mother. Her vocals give me the chills. Although she is neither trained, nor practices, there is something about the way she sings. It is so beautiful. I listen to her very closely and a lot of subtleties that I try to put in my vocals are actually inspired by her.”