Learn about the nitty-gritties of what goes into the making of a tune
Turn up for a gig anywhere in the city, and you are greeted with the same fervour in the air every time. Yet, all of it seems different — like an elaborate affair set into motion the moment you set foot in the venue. While India is popular for mostly Bollywood music, it is the independent music scene of the country that breathes life into its otherwise mundane beats.
Think of the indie scene in India, and you can’t not think of Indian Ocean. Since the early 1990s, the band has written music that redefines contemporary Indian folk, by blending western influences with Indian music.
If you attempt to encapsulate the evolution of the indie scene in one sentence, perhaps Susmit Sen, former guitarist of the fusion rock band puts it best, “Things have changed — a lot.” Over the past two decades, with the Internet proving to be a boon, independent artists have had a number of opportunities to put themselves out there. “Earlier, not too many opportunities came by; it was really difficult to find an audience. One had to play for a long time before they could finally get themselves a venue. Today, even if the band is three months old, they won’t find it difficult to book a venue. Also, accessibility of music has also changed. In the ’90s, one would find great pride in owning a CD of a band they like. However, today, you have all this on your phone, iPod — all the gadgets.”
Even if the Internet has played a major role in helping independent artists find an audience, it has played an even bigger role in allowing the audience to find an independent voice. There is a certain level of belonging that comes with an independent song — one that is almost eerily missing from a mainstream composition. And while critics are omnipresent, and sometimes extremely brutal, Susmit thinks it is important to not lose your inner voice amidst the critique. “There is good and bad criticism — both of which will help your cause, but it is up to you to decide what will. One should approach their art with a certain conviction that will ensure you a push in the right direction; one that will bring originality with it. And sometimes, the audience takes time to catch up with your art.”
The artists’ struggle is a discussion that everyone readily wants to jump onto. However, when you ask the artist himself, he says he’s simply driven by passion. “On the outside — to you — I might be struggling for my art. But, my passion is what pushes me ahead and hustle,” Susmit adds.
Susmit will be taking a two-day workshop on composing music for amateur and professional musicians, where he will be breaking down the nuances of what goes into creating compositions, reworking some of his own music and talk about how one can change tones of a song by adding different instruments. “There are several moods hidden in a composition and creating these come from within. During the workshop, I will be getting into the technicalities of producing compositions and reworking music, but the moods and undertones need come from the player,” Susmit explains.
The calculated care of a tone, the heartbeat of a rhythm and the originality of your struggle — Susmit Sen will be taking about this and a lot more at The Cuckoo Club. “The originality is crucial — stick to your beliefs; don’t let someone else dictate your music. Create your own,” he heartily concludes.
Susmit’s will be conducting his workshop on September 17, from 12 pm onwards At The Cuckoo Club by The Hive, 5AA Pali Hill, Next to Candies, Bandra (W) Tickets: Rs 3,000
