Rupam islam

My icons...

Satyajit Ray in film music, Kurt Cobain as songwriter and The Beatles for their sheer variety. I don’t know anybody other than Ray who has used the background score more effectively to bring scenes to life. Kurt Cobain worked for a short span of time but he showed his genius with his precision in songwriting.

The Beatles

I first came to know of them...

I had no idea about The Beatles till I watched the film Across the Universe and heard the new arrangements of their songs. That is when I started studying about them and now, as a learned Beatles fan, I can only say they are like an ocean of musical ideas and concepts.... I have been listening to Satyajit Ray from childhood and I was very fond of Hirak Rajar Deshe. In fact, I got my first lesson in arranging listening to this movie soundtrack and understanding how lyrics can be so true to the times.... I got into Kurt Cobain when I watched him for the first time on MTV. I liked his style and musicality — so true to his emotions!

Satyajit Ray, Kurt Cobain and me...

If I divide my life into three phases, I would say Ray has inspired my childhood. It is because of him that I understand the true fusion of western and eastern elements in music that results in a universal language. My 20s and 30s were inspired by Kurt Cobain and Nirvana. During my adolescence and early youth, I went through pain and disillusionment. I lost my mother, suffered broken relationships and Kurt Cobain’s music really helped me overcome that state of mind. And now that I’ve gained stability and want to explore music to gain knowledge, The Beatles shows me the variety I can work on.

Anindya chatterjee

My icon...

John Lennon. I have always idolised him. It’s been my dream to reach his level of songwriting. His songs were as much an adventure through life as the life he led. My personal favourites are Hey Jude and Give Me Something.

I first came to know of him...

It was when I heard Come Together at a friend’s place when I was in Class IX. Not that I started loving his music immediately... it gradually grew on me as I heard him more and realised the hypnotic power of his songs. It also made me a Beatles maniac.... I would also listen to a lot of Jim Reeves, Pat Boone, John Denver. I liked their tonal quality but from Lennon, I learnt how you can break up a song and have multiple approaches to writing and creating a song... that a song need not be bound by a certain grammar.

John Lennon, The Beatles and me...

While I idolise Lennon, I also envy him. He wrote songs during the swinging Sixties, which was a time of extreme optimism. Pop songs had a different meaning then. I wish I had lived in the era that is reflected in his songs.... I have a five-volume anthology on The Beatles that is rarely available. Even now, whenever I travel abroad, I make it a point to collect memorabilia on John Lennon and The Beatles. I regret not having visited The Beatles museum in Liverpool yet, but on my next trip I definitely will.

ANUPAM ROY

My icon...

Pink Floyd, because of their songwriting skills, exceptional arrangement and live shows. To me, they are the pioneers of complete music. From their early days when (Syd) Barrett wrote most of their stuff... how a band’s sound changes with age and contribution from other members.... They are the best, with thought-provoking songs and evergreen sound. Their music will never grow old. A keyboardist can look up to them for (Richard) Wright, a guitarist can worship them because of (David) Gilmour, a songwriter can follow in the footsteps of (Roger) Waters — brilliance everywhere! Commercially successful as well as critically acclaimed, what more can you ask for?!

Pink Floyd

I first came to know of them...

In 2001 at Jadavpur University, a senior introduced me to Pink Floyd. The first album I listened to was The Wall, although I didn’t like it much, except for the song Nobody Home. Then I tried Dark Side of the Moon and fell in love instantly! Us and Them, Brain Damage just got things rolling for me. I started buying their cassettes, gifting them to my friends on their birthdays and before gifting I would unwrap, listen to the record and then wrap it up again and give it! The first cassette I bought was Pulse and I still remember having to recharge the batteries on my Walkman twice a day!

Pink Floyd and me...

I have been writing songs for a long time but became very conscious about my writing style after I heard Pink Floyd. It made me realise how immature and weak my writing was, both lyrically and musically. Trying to pick up their songs, I learnt a lot about chord progressions. For example, from The Gunner’s Dream (The Final Cut) I became aware of the G+ chord. I started following each of their members, their solo projects. My first email ID at the age of 20 was with their name and I still use it. Also, my ID on Facebook, Twitter and blog, I’m just stuck with aroyfloyd!

nondon bagchi

I could name some 468 names in this regard. If I stick to the conventional way of looking at World Music Day, then I would say, my legends are all those who brought in Bebop Jazz, those who found rock music in the ’60s. In terms of names, it includes Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Rabindranath Tagore (I am not mentioning Hindusthani classical artistes here, as then the list would be endless). I have either played them or deeply enjoyed their music. These are the people who have shaped music across the world.

Them and me...

l these musicians inspired the kind of music that had never happened before them, they are all path-breaking musicians.

soumitra ray

My icons...

The Beatles as a band and Paul Simon for his excellent songwriting. The Beatles were self-composing musicians who came up the hard way, grew into a banyan tree and lasted forever.... In Paul Simon’s writings, I found a certain lucidity and innocence that was so full of life. Both of them are unparalleled.

(Right) Paul Simon of Simon & Garfunkel

I first came to know of them...

I came to know of both Paul Simon and The Beatles through my uncle Mukul Sharma, who introduced me to western music. It was sometime in the early ’70s and I was just about 10. I couldn’t follow the words but there was something in the music that got me hooked and I’m still on it. He used to gift me cassettes and I used to listen to them on a tape-recorder.

Paul simon, The Beatles and me...

When I’m alone and have time, I like to sit back with Paul Simon’s Graceland record. It reminds me of the time spent with friends on a park bench. And if I ever see Nondon (Bagchi), my hero drummer, playing live, I make sure that I go and shout out a request from the sidewings for One After 909, the Beatles song that I first heard him play when he was a part of High. Personally, I would like to believe Bhoomi are the Beatles of Calcutta, Chandrabindoo The Rolling Stones and Kabir Suman Calcutta’s Dylan.

jayashree singh

My icon...

Michael Jackson. All because of his incredibly blazing talent as a singer, dancer, producer, performer… he just had it all, an amazing complete package! He was the one who made it possible for black pop music to cross over.

I first came to know of him...

The first time I heard him was in the early ’70s as a part of the Jackson 5. He was the lead singer then and definitely stuck out. There was that incredible energy and sensibility. He evolved and matured and later became this incredible solo artist. His music is without limitations.

MJ and me...

His music has just not dated. It is as fresh and contemporary as when I had first heard it. Even today when we do songs like Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground), the people who are sitting about just get to their feet to dance!

arunima banerjee

My icons...

Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson and also Jimi Hendrix…. Jackson simply for the fact that he has reinvented himself so many times. With Eric Clapton, he’s been around forever. He is a blues musician and so am I. I have been listening to him since I was 16, and I wasn’t even a part of a band then.... With Hendrix, there is just no one who can surpass him. He has totally reinvented guitar play, even though his music is quite difficult for many to handle.

I first came to know of them...

I first heard Jackson when I was 13... my brother used to play Beat It non-stop. Today, even my kids sing it! I remember when he died, I cried. Like, oh my god, how can this be happening? It’s such a shame the way he went. Beat a song like Thriller today.

Jackson, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and me...

Jackson and Clapton have songs for almost every mood. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek and the Dominos... this album, not many know of it as being by Eric Clapton when he had this band called Derek.… The album songs are amazing, almost a life-changer! My younger son Nikhil was almost born on June 21. He is like my ‘almost World Music Day baby’. On June 20, he turned five years.

neel adhikari

My icon...

The band Radiohead deserves to go down as legend. Not only in terms of creativity, but also the fact that they were clearly not commercial at all. It was my cousin Miti (Adhikari) who introduced me to the band.... Jeff Buckley is another individual who is worth a mention. He produced just one album before dying at the age of 27. It is the way with brilliant musicians. Even though he was an American, one can say that he kind of shaped modern British music.... On a personal level, Miti is a legend for me. Being a sound engineer and a great guitarist, he has a sound knowledge of music.... He affected and changed my taste in music to a huge extent, introducing me to this whole new line.

Radiohead

I first came to know of them...

Everyone came to know about Radiohead with their debut single Creep (1992). At that point, however, I wasn’t much interested. It didn’t get to me in that way. It was Miti again who made me realise Radiohead’s work, given that they are also Miti’s favourite band.

Radiohead and me...

With Radiohead, it is basically the tripping. Many find it disturbing, but for me it is quite liberating. They taught me how to relate colours to music. Now when I listen to music, I just close my eyes and I can see colours all around, some of them even glow bright in tandem with the music.

ash king

My icon...

My father Shankar Ganguly. He took different styles of Indian music all around the world. He was an assistant to Salil Chowdhury and Anil Biswas but also worked with musical greats in Gujarat where his artistry still exists. As an artiste he lives inside me and I’m proud to have been a part of his amazing journey while he was alive.... I didn’t really see my dad as a legend until I grew up and realised more about music and what it takes to dedicate myself to something which isn’t material and has no end. I entered music in India with the film Delhi-6 (Dil gira dafatan), and it showed me that what I was doing was a pin drop in my father’s career.

My father and me...

I have been corrected countless times by my father, and also been given an ear for good music and a voice which he cultivated throughout my upbringing with his advice. I still listen to my dad’s voice when I need inspiration, as he was a rare singer that sang with a unique voice and style and real feelings. He has given me a home in music that I can be proud of and walk with pride.

Text: Mohua Das and Sreyoshi Dey.
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