Amlanjyoti Singh

Drums & percussion

Playing since: Class VI. It has always been the drums. Wilfred Perreira was my teacher, taught me from Class IV to VI.

Main influences: My idol is Bertie. As far as the drums go, there are many guys — there’s Chris Adler from Lamb of God and Iron Maiden.

Favourite Bertie track: Rolling Thunder, Brand New Day, She Was in The Moonlight.

Willie walters

Bass

Playing since: 1979. My first break in the professional circuit was with the resident band at Grand Hotel, led by Anthony Fernandez. We were there for about nine years. After a short Delhi stint, I came back and joined Pop Secret with Gyan Singh (of Skinny Alley and Pink Noise) and also played with (jazz vocalist) Pam Craine at the Grand. I also did a two-year stint with Shiva and Sonia Sehgal. At the moment, Three On a Swing with Monojit Dutta (drums and percussion) and Pradyumna Singh Manot (keys) and the pop band Crest are my other commitments, along with Bertie’s band.

Main influences: John Patitucci and Jaco Pastorius.

Favourite Bertie track: That would be Tinpan Alley. There’s a lot of scope in that song for the bass player. I’m not a slap player, but I’ve taken up a challenge to suit my playing for this sound. I’m having fun with it. I also like Tina Marie and Anybody There.

Bertie’s music to you: As far as the genre goes, this is rock with a country edge. For me, this is a first. I’ve never played this sort of music. I am more interested in the mood, and there are a lot of moods in his music, which comes from a songwriter’s space. It is nostalgic in a sense because it comes from way back, but at the same time, it looks forward to the future.

JONATHAN RAMGOPAL

Keyboards & backing vocals

Playing since: 1997-98 and my main instrument has been the piano. I grew up on a healthy diet of gospel and pop music — starting off with stuff like the Backstreet Boys. I got involved with the piano in Class IX, learning from Axel Rodericks and Sam Engineer. College was more disciplined; it was also the first time I worked with Bertie, directing a choir.

Main influences: My biggest influence is Dream Theater. Of late, Jacques Louissier has been another big influence.

Favourite Bertie track: Tina Marie and the trilogy at the end, comprising Flicker, Husha Husha and Shuffle.

Bertie’s music to you: It’s something I’d both be a part of and be a fan of at the same time. I don’t usually sing, but in case of his music, I end up singing all the songs!

Aanindya Paul

Backing vocals

Singing since: I was four years old. I learned everything from Rabindrasangeet to deshatwobodhak. My training in Indian classical music began when I was in Class III and lasted till my first year in St Xavier’s College, under Shanta Kaur. My exposure to Western music came in college, through Christmas carols and later the college choir, which was conducted by Professor Da Silva.

Main influences: I have listened indiscriminately across genres. Thus, my influences are many, right from K.L. Saigal to Kishore Kumar to Kailash Kher in recent years. I love almost every black voice coming out of America and I love Freddie Mercury’s singing.

Favourite Bertie track: I love Mean Machine and La Dolce Vita.

Bertie’s music to you: At times I feel he was born in the wrong country, but then I think I’m lucky because we get to play this music with him. We usually use the word “synthesiser” to replace the instrument “keyboard”. Bertie’s music is the right vehicle for the term “synthesiser”, because it carries a certain unique synthesis. It retains the core structure, while constantly evolving, keeping a lookout at the changes in the world around it.

Bertie and the band will debut at the GD Birla Sabhagar on Tuesday, November 18, in a concert presented by Vodafone and Fiama Di Wills, in association with t2. The band would like to thank MusicWorld, Patton, Ambuja Realty, Peerless and Red FM for their support. Tickets for the show, priced Rs 200, are available at MusicWorld, (Park Street) and the Vodafone stores at Park Street, Ideal Plaza (Minto Park), Salt Lake EC Block (opposite City Centre), South City and 22 Camac Street.

Pictures by Amit Datta