An intimate dance studio at The Doodle Room in Garcha was the location of an exciting collaboration of dance and music between Dance Bridges Festival and American singer-songwriter Kyle Scott on September 8.
In addition to their biennial festival, Dance Bridges organises various creative events across Calcutta but for Kyle, this was the first time he’s fused dance with his music. “I can’t dance!” he jokes, “So it’s funny to me that people are going to dance to my music!”
As Kyle introduced his first song Without, one could make out from his raw vocals to his stripped-down acoustic guitar that songwriting is a way of “processing emotions” for him. With the sounds of horns bouncing in through the windows from the streets below, one could get a feel of the fusing of Kyle’s folksy style and the fast-paced Calcuttan lifestyle.
As Kyle proceeded to the second half, Dance Bridges founder-director Vanessa Mirza invited everyone — dancer or not — to interpret the music in any movement or way they felt. Vanessa led by example, showing the group how it’s done until, one by one, more people got up to move. Vanessa laughed as she recounted Kyle’s initial doubts. “He was like, ‘Will people even want to dance (to my music)?’ You don’t need fast music to dance, it’s about the way you interact with music… there doesn’t have to be a direct interpretation, just an impulse or a spark that is the inspiration,” said Vanessa. And the evening’s success proved just that.
Tete-a-tete with Kyle Scott
When did you start writing and performing music? Has this been something you’ve only done in Calcutta?
I started singing in my early 20s, playing in small venues around the state of Indiana, where I’m from, but I’ve travelled back and forth, between the US and India for work on and off for about a decade. Since then, I’ve been plugging in to the music scene here in Calcutta. You kind of have to dig for it, but it’s here.
What influences your music — experiences or artistes?
Moving here has been a big piece of it and has introduced me to an entirely different culture, a beautiful culture. It’s sometimes overwhelming with the noise and the chaos of the city. I come from a farming community in Indiana, so it’s night and day as far as differences go! I love (singer-songwriter) Damien Rice and he’s been a big influence on my music. I like how his music kind of quiets and then takes off, then quiets down again. There’s a lot of emotion in the way that he composes.
So what does the future hold for you? More music?
I’m finishing my work here, with Sari Bari (a non-profit), and I’m heading back to the US at the end of the year but I’m recording a single soon. I’m usually kind of a loner when it comes to music but I’m branching out with a band. I’m hoping after what we’re doing in the studio, this will be a kind of springboard to continue doing music in the States. I also want to take an Indian harmonium home, it’s such a cool instrument!
Text: Yasmin Turner
Pictures: B. Halder
