 |
With a new five-piece band — Jonathan Ramgopal on keys, Willie Walters on bass, Amlanjyoti Singh on drums, Anindya Sundar Paul on vocals and backing vocals, and Bertie on vocals, guitar and blues harp — this is a new beginning. “There are some serious similarities between this show and the Blues In The Basement concert we had organised at the Xavier’s canteen way back in 1979. We had Dilip (the late Dilip Balakrishnan of the band High), Gyan (Gyan Singh, of Skinny Alley and Pink Noise), Bertie, Mel and Fuzz playing there,” says long-time friend Patrick Ghose, the organisational backbone of the band. The bedrock is rock and it is still characteristically sparse, but with Jonathan, Amlan and Anindya bringing in young blood, it veers into new-age territory. There’s a healthy leaning towards experimentation, too. This new sound will debut on November 18 at the GD Birla Sabhagar. t2 caught up with Bertie for a chat after an evening’s rehearsal at home…
It has been a year since you made a sudden comeback to the live scene. How has this band come about...
Bertie: I had been writing songs but had no intention of public performance till Suhrid, one of my former students, convinced me. The first catalyst to play live again was the reunion concert with Mel and Fuzz (at the Princeton Club in 2007). It came after almost 20 years — the last concert I played was at Vidya Mandir, the country music show. I remember it well because we took a long jam towards the end and that didn’t go down particularly well (laughs). After the so-called comeback came the collaboration with Pink Noise. I’ve been sitting on the idea of getting back into the concert hall scene. I knew my sound — I needed young musicians, because they think differently and bring in a positive energy. I needed people who think out of the box. So we have this happy mix of three young and three old people — including Cyrus (guitarist Cyrus Tata), who I hope will be joining us down the line.
How has the sound changed in a year with this band?
Bertie: The great thing is that once everything was down pat, musically, this band has contributed to building its own individual sound. Since Cyrus couldn’t come in for this show, much of the music is written around Jonathan’s keyboard and he has arranged a lot of the parts. Anindya’s voice matches mine; it acts like a wonderful screen and provides an added dimension to the music. Amlan, who is the youngest member in the band, is into heavier music, but he lays down grooves solidly. Often, he brings in his influences from the music he likes and that provides another dimension. Willie brings his own sound. Most importantly, he writes down parts for every song — and his notes act like a Bible for us all the time (laughs)! This is a sound that is re-energised — it is constantly evolving. It’s a great learning experience to witness how a band evolves as a great organism.
How would you describe your sound?
Bertie: At the core of it, it is rock music. But it’s rock music here and now. Our sound has to be 2008. Our roots are where we are. That’s why I gave such a long thought to which young musicians I wanted to play with. Another very important factor for this band is that each member is educated. Intelligence, sensitivity, awareness: you cannot deny these qualities in a musician. It is often overlooked, but education, in any form, is a necessary facet in a musician.
 |
| Picture by Sanjoy Chattopadhyaya |
Has there been a lot of new writing with this band?
Bertie: Not with the band, but I’ve written a lot of songs in the last one year. In fact, 70 per cent of the material which will be showcased at the November 18 concert has been written over the past year. Writing for me is like an out-of-body experience and it can happen any time; my hands involuntarily reach out for the guitar. There’s a restlessness which I’ve come to recognise. Ninety-nine per cent of the time, the words and the music flow together. I become an instrument. And then the mind takes over as a phrase shapes up.
What would you call this and what are the influences?
Bertie: I call it rock. As for influences, apart from my roots, those have been VH1, hip-hop, alternative music (smiles). Hip-hop is nothing new, it comes from talking blues. Alternative music has opened up a lot of possibilities and helped us open up. Even grunge; I had a lot to learn from that genre. I can safely say that I’ve finally outgrown Dylan (laughs).
A concert hall venue in the time for pub gigs. Why?
Bertie: Much of the music is located in the words, so the music has to be mixed right — which is why it’s a concert hall show. If the audience knows that you’re sweating blood, there will be silence. I will stand there naked and sweating, my heart and my bones. We will give our audience due respect, and by giving respect, I believe we will get respect back.
Is there a set structure for the show?
Bertie: Yes, it will be a two-part show. There will be a solo half of about 40 minutes, built around my acoustic guitar. This will be completely new material: even the band hasn’t heard those songs (laughs). The second half will be a full-on electric set of over an hour.
Calcutta has started making original music yet again. Are we on the right path?
Bertie: I believe everything happens in its own time; there’s a right time. It’s all in the stars (laughs), there’s really no other way I can explain this. There’s a lot of new music happening in our city. At this point, what we need is to also build an audience base, make it grow with us. If necessary, you need to educate that audience as well, make them aware of your music.
asking sir...
Did you always want to teach literature?
By default.
What are the best things and the worst things about being a teacher?
Oh, it’s all good. When students come back to tell you things like “you’ve changed my life” or “you’ve made me believe in myself”, all the bad things cancel out.
When did you get your first guitar?
In 1981. I had to make do with other people’s guitars before that.
What’s your middle name?
Dracula!
The favourite song you’ve written?
The one that’s written last is always the current favourite.
A poet, a professor and…. a chef — is that true?
Yes, I’m a genius!
Name three things you’re really bad at…
Talking, socialising and being nasty to people!
Who’s the “moonlight lady”?
(Grins mischievously). She never had a name…
Bob Dylan or Dylan Thomas?
Dylan Thomas.
In another life you’d like to be…
This one’s cool enough.
The best book you’ve read…
How Green Was My Valley.
When’s your birthday?
Sixth of Jan — Feast of Epiphany.
How many white shirts do you have?
A hell of a lot!
If you could be a character in fiction, you would be...
Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean).
First rock-star idol?
Dylan, I guess.
What’s your favourite word?
Panache.
Which question did you like the best?
The moonlight lady one.… (Laughs characteristically).
