Talvin Singh, creator of the Asian Underground, talks to e+ about his music, his guru and his new projects.
Assimilating the best of diverse cultures comes naturally to Talvin Singh. Born in England, he pursued his passion for Indian classical music by studying the tabla in India. That was the beginning of this multi-talented artiste's musical odyssey, which has resulted in an electronica subgenre of music called Asian Underground.
A percussionist, DJ, artist and music composer, Talvin may experiment with music, but there has always been a method to the passion.
For Talvin, who has played with the likes of Madonna and Bjork, music is not bound by the shackles of culture or language. Although Indian classical music remains close to his heart, it does not keep him from creating his own genre. "I have listened to Indian music right from my early years. I also listened to pop and electronic music, but that is what kids usually do. Indian music, however, has remained close to my heart," says Talvin, who founded Anokha, a London nightclub where Asian DJs and bands play along with him.
And what about his style not going down well with the purists? "Our music has always changed. Fusion music is big today. It's got a more contemporary feel to it. They are all doing it now, aren't they? There is no such thing as purely classical music. Classical means a classic something that does not really change. Indian music has always evolved."
All Talvin has to say about the growing classical versus fusion debate is that music has to be natural or it is very difficult to be an artiste. "Indian music has a lot of Persian influence because of Amir Khusro. The sitar and the tabla also came from there. The tabla is only 250 years old. What is so classical about it? It is South Indian music that has remained the same."
Talvin's solo album OK, which he released in 1999, won him the Mercury Music Prize. The second one Ha did not create as many waves, but he is set to bounce back with the latest album Sweetbox which will be out in the next 3 months.
Talvin may play a fully amplified percussion set dubbed Tablatronics, and incorporate modern technology in his performances, but his roots run deep. His approach to music is straight. "To play an instrument, you need three things – notes, technique and riyaz (practice).
Only then can you be one with your instrument. Focus is very important, especially in today's world where everyone is celebrating diversity. It is easy to get distracted. Today's teaching style has to be very different because children lack focus. They lack patience," he says.
Citing his experience as a student, Talvin says, "My guru (Pandit Laxman Singh) is incredible. He gives you an energy that goes beyond learning music. Most of what I do now comes from my master, the rest I make. But my guru does not really teach technique. He lets you discover your own. It is only recently that I have discovered mine, and now I am in a position to teach."
Talvin admits that making and producing music has undergone a big transition. "I do not produce music in the same way as others. I use a lot of different equipment, such as digital cameras and digital recorders," he says. Talvin wants the experience of listening to music to be more cinematic. "I try to use more visuals," he says.
Talvin is now composing music for the television series Mahabharata produced by Bobby Bedi. "It's a great project which requires me to use some ancient instruments," he says.
There are some important influences in Talvin's life and one of them is tabla maestro Zakir Hussain. "Zakir is very special. He knows when you are feeling something. I respect him like my guru. He treats me like a friend," says Talvin.
Talvin feels that he has evolved with his music. He does not breakdance anymore, and he has overcome his aversion for corporate shows. "Once I was telling Niladri (Kumar), how could you play in front of people who are not really interested in your music? But now I have realised that I was wrong and it is really not that bad."
Talvin has all the confidence that the modern generation is influenced by his kind of music despite the records blitz. "With all those records in the 90s, all interest in Indian classical music could have been lost. But in America, a lot of young musicians learned classical music after listening to Ravi Shankar. When you are really passionate about something you want to share it with your friends and family. So you do everything to make them listen to it. It is very important. They like Talvin Singh's music and know he plays the tabla. So to make that kind of music they need to learn an Indian instrument. That is how tradition is preserved," he says.
