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“Find what you love and let it kill you.”
- Charles Bukowski
The journey for most artistes is nothing if not fraught with relentless self-discovery, continuous moments of existential doubt, and often, an epiphany or two. It’s in these moments, when the clouds part and the fog lifts, that they’re able to reconcile with the reasons why they’ve chosen the creative life, however different they might seem.
We first paid ode to these epiphanies of sorts when we asked contemporary Indian photographers to share one image that impacted them deeply through their lives, and found ourselves intrigued to connect the dots between their influences and the body of work they had created over the course of their own career.
So we thought we’d pass the baton on to young, Indian musicians as well and see how they responded to the task at hand. Maybe get a new playlist in the bargain. As such, here are 12 local musicians sharing one album with us that has impacted them deeply and shaped their own journey of self-growth and self-discovery, and in turn, their career. The result? Some truly beautiful confessions as to why certain artists and albums resonate with them so deeply.
We’ve already completed one volume featuring 15 Indian musicians’ choices. Now scroll down to experience the selections of volume II.
[Note to readers--this compilation has been compiled alphabetically, and in no particular order of preference.]
I. Adil Kurwa | Black Radio by Robert Glasper
“I first heard Robert Glasper’s “Black Radio” as a recommendation from the first Dean I had while studying at the True School of Music. He was always trying to expose us to new music and this album came to me at the perfect time. Being a self-taught musician, I was only able to appreciate a narrow selection of music that was under the ‘Rock’ category, but this was a gateway into jazz, neo-soul, R&B, and hip-hop.
The album is an amalgamation of all those styles and the songs are so beautifully written with a minimal yet extremely intelligent use of groove and harmony. The album also features some amazing singers like Erykah Badu, Me’shell Ndegeocello, Bilal, Stokely and Musiq Soulchild who all blew my mind.
After this, I found myself listening to a lot more soul and R&B records. I also began to slowly discover traditional as well as modern jazz through Glasper’s solo jazz albums. Black Radio also really opened up my playing. It helped me break through the many creative blocks I had around the time I heard it. Glasper did release a follow up album called Black Radio 2 which is also written with the same context as the first album, but with many different collaborations.”
Adil Kurwa is a Mumbai-based bass player. He’s been a part of the independent scene since 2008. His diverse music taste is the main reason why he is a part of many different acts with a variety of styles. He’s currently playing and writing music with four bands starting with the pop-rock band The Colour Compound, indie alternative band The Koniac Net, alternative/space rock band Last Remaining Light, and has, most recently joined forces with singer/songwriter Tejas Menon.
II. Aditya Ashok (Ox7gen) | When It Falls by Zero 7
“When It Falls by Zero 7 is an album that has not only been the soundtrack to a very important part of my life, but has also subconsciously influenced my sound selection. I first fell in love with the electric piano when I heard it on this album in 2010 and that sound is now a very essential part of a lot of my music. When It Falls is my comfort food.”
Hailing from the shores of Bombay, OX7GEN is drummer Aditya Ashok’s alter ego. Ashok’s love for Drum & Bass is no secret, but he brings a myriad of influences to OX7GEN’s sound. Being a producer-DJ and a live drummer adds layers of versatility, levelling to a one of a kind dance floor experience. Ashok has managed to make his presence felt by earning slots at nearly every major festival in the subcontinent.
Right from the beaches of Goa’s Sunburn & Supersonic festival to the hills of north India’s Escape Festival as well as closing the Bacardi NH7 Weekender’s Electronic stage for three years in a row, BASS Camp festival and many more. During this journey, he’s ended up supporting some of the biggest names in the international electronic music scene, including London Elektricity, Netsky, KOAN Sound, Alix Perez, Concord Dawn, Dub Phizix & Nymfo to name a few.
Listen to When It Falls by Zero 7 here.
Follow Aditya/ Ox7gen on Soundcloud.
III. Ankur Tewari | Disco Deewaane by Nazia and Zoheb Hassan
“This album influenced me a lot as a teenager. In my head, it broke all rules. Here were these two kids from Pakistan who were singing disco in Urdu for an album produced by an Indian. The rebel in me identified with every atom of the album. Recently, quite randomly, I found the original LP of Disco Deewaane at a flea market. Holding the LP in my hand made me time travel straight back to my childhood. Disco Deewaane Aha!”
When he is not busy screenwriting for Bollywood, Ankur is jamming with his dysfunctional yet joined-at-the-hip band The Ghalat Family. He writes lyric-based music with simple melodies and moonlights as a singer/ songwriter and storyteller. Ankur has opened for world-renowned artists like Raul Midon, Fink and Norah Jones.
Listen to Disco Deewaane by Nazia and Zoheb Hassan.
IV. Jatin Puri (Pippin) | Demon Days by Gorillaz
“I had been a fan of Gorillaz since I first heard Clint Eastwood on their debut album in 2001 while I was still in school. When they released Demon Days and the ‘Feel Good Inc’ music video in 2005, I completely fell in love with them. I loved the vibe and weirdness of the album.
The sounds and the use of orchestral instruments, compounded with the fact that there were so many collaborators in one album, made it amazing. Danger Mouse who produced this album is a bloody genius.
The whole genre-bending/blending thing that they did really stuck with me too. Demon Days is an album that I regularly listen to and always seem to find inspiration from. That album was my soundtrack for the year and will continue to be, for years to come.
Damon Albarn’s vocal and lyrical style is a big influence for my music and lyrics. I still follow him and his music very closely (maybe even a bit stalker-ish) and am so looking forward to the new Gorillaz album this year.”
Pippin is the pseudonym that Jatin Puri assumes for his act as an electronic music producer. His genre-bending sound unfitted to just one box, is a unique blend of two-step, dubstep, trip-hop and indie tunes. On stage, Pippin blends his self produced electronica tunes, incorporating a couple of controllers and live percussions with his soulful live vocals.
After releasing his debut EP ‘1010’ early 2014 , Pippin has since released various singles and remixes. Before his foray into the world of electronic music, Jatin was a well-established live performer who quickly gained a country-wide reputation for his original and innovative take on varied forms of electronica and hip-hop. He was also a drummer in a metal band for four years.
Listen to Demon Days by Gorillaz here.
V. Kavya Trehan | The Lateness Of The Hour by Alex Clare
“It’s tough to pick one album, considering that 80 percent of my day is spent searching and listening to music from all over the world. But, I have to admit, there is this one artist called Alex Clare and his album The Lateness Of The Hour that means a lot to me.
I heard it when I was driving mildly fast to make it in time for my first class and I came across, ‘Up All Night’ randomly on Soundcloud. Not only did I make it to my class a minute before, but I also finished listening to the entire album that very day. I remember that there wasn’t a single song that I didn’t like. Every song demanded my attention, and I to date, go back to the album and listen to it.
To be honest, I always listen to a song that I like way too many times and then I leave it, completely saturated. But with my songwriting, and similar interests in drum ‘n bass music, I still feel like there is so much for me to learn from his compositions. I’m a sucker for beats, harmonies, bass, odd instrumental sections, and a hook that stays, and I suppose I find them all in this album. I really like how moody his music can be. His ‘Relax My Beloved’ always gets me singing and allows me to make new versions of the very same song.”
22-year-old Kavya Trehan is the founder of the band Mosko. When she is not creating music, she spends her time in the theatre. She acted in the movie Kaash that has premiered in Tokyo, Mumbai, New York and continues to travel the international circuit. This year, her sister and she started directing and composing music for television commercials, with their first release being the extremely popular TrulyMadly ‘Unsingle’ jingle.
Listen to Lateness of the hour by Alex Clare here.
Follow Kavya on YouTube.
VI. Naved Shaikh (Naezy) | Good Kid, M.A.A.D City by Kendrick Lamar
“I grew up listening to ghazals, qawwalis and Bollywood music in an orthodox Muslim family. I was introduced to hip-hop at a gully function where they played foreign genres and it was Sean Paul’s ‘Temperature’ that made me go to the cyber cafe to get its lyrics printed so that I could memorise it. Later, I started digging through the old-school hip-hop music and realised that the genre is so much more than club bangers, objectification of women and auto tunes. There are various hip-hop artists who influenced me in different ways over the years and I could always relate to their stories about life and situations. Right now, Kdot a.k.a. Kendrick Lamar is the most played artist on my playlist.”
“I cannot stop listening to Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. This album has helped me get into my zone and bring out what’s inside in a unique, self-expressive way. I was hooked from the first time I heard it. The way he paints the picture with hooks, his flow switches and his vocal tones and textures, I could literally feel his internal struggles as a good kid in a mad city. I listen to ‘Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe’ way too often because there’s always one or two vibe killers around me.
I get hyped when I listen to the tracks ‘m.A.A.d City’ and ‘Backseat Freestyle’ — it lifts me up. In ‘Swimming Pools’ he talks to his subconscious self and speaks about passionate love in ‘Poetic Justice’ which inspires me to experiment and increase the creative strength on my tracks. ‘The Recipe’, which also has Dr.Dre and tells you about the women, weed and weather of California, motivates me to work hard and visit the place one day. ‘Money Trees’ is another deep track in which the last verse by his friend Jay Rock makes me want to learn it. This album is not a usual hip-hop album.”
Naved Shaikh who is popularly known as Naezy is a desi rapper and songwriter from Mumbai. The first music video he released was shot and recorded by himself using an iPad. Over the past two years, it has gained 3 lakh hits on YouTube. Ever since, he has performed some verses for Bollywood apart from the track that he made in collaboration with Divine known as ‘Mere Gully Mein’. He also constructed the title track for AIB’s TV show. He is now working on his debut solo album.
VII. Sahej Bakshi (Dualist Inquiry) | Decksanddrumsandrockandroll by The Propellerheads
“There are many albums that have been game changers for me, but one that stands out is Decksanddrumsandrockandroll by The Propellerheads. This album was my very first foray into electronic music and it served as the perfect bridge between my rock and electronic worlds.
I didn’t realise that it was ‘electronic music’ until I was already in love with the album, and that was one of the first times I found myself wanting to put down my guitar and give production a shot. The fact that it was released in 1998 is amazing, and shows how ahead of their time they were.”
“A strange thing about this artist is that they never followed this album with anything. It was quite a success, with the song ‘Take California’ being used in the first ever iPod commercial, and the song ‘Spybreak’ used in the famous lobby scene in The Matrix, but no follow-up.”
Since 2010, Sahej has grown to be considered one of the leading producers and live performers of electronic music in India, releasing original music and touring extensively under the name of Dualist Inquiry. His sound is broadly categorised as a fresh mix of live electronica and guitar-based rock, and has been steadily winning audiences across the country. His debut release, Dualism EP (2011), and series of bootleg remixes that followed, received widespread critical acclaim and cemented his sound as one that is instantly recognisable and uniquely his.
Listen to Decksanddrumsandrockandroll by The Propellerheads here.
Follow Sahej Bakshi/ Dualist Inquiry on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
VIII. Shantanu Pandit | Me Oh My Mirror by Current Joys
“The first time I heard the album was about six or seven months ago. When I listened to it the first time, it broke me. The feeling you get when you listen to his music is so characteristic. The way he expresses himself and what he is feeling in this album is lucid, even almost incapacitating. Me Oh My Mirror is just such a beautiful work of art. I have not been able to write the same way ever since.”
Shantanu Pandit is a singer songwriter based out of Delhi. He describes his music as ‘quiet, organic folk music’. His focus primarily leaning towards songwriting, he explains, “It was only natural for me to find myself making folk music, since the only thing really working for me are the words that I write, and the way they sound when they’re sung.” Having spent the last three years writing songs and finding his sound, he released his debut EP on 18th June 2014, a collection of five love songs titled Skunk in the Cellar.
Listen to Me Oh My Mirror by Current Joys here.
Follow Shantanu Pandit on his Facebook.
IX. Sanaya Ardeshir (Sandunes) | Crooks and Lovers by Mount Kimbie
“It is a really difficult question, but if I had to choose the most impactful album over the course of my career , I’d have to say it’s been Crooks and Lovers by Mount Kimbie.
Mostly because it roped me into it’s undeniable vortex and played a distinctly influencing role in my choice of not only sound palette, but also in my approach as a producer. As a beginner, I kept reading about how these guys were using unconventional sound like pens against stuff, or clicking their tongues as instruments, and I remember finding that super fascinating at the time.
I would listen to them on repeat while walking dogs on dreary London mornings. I remember distinctly hearing the album for the first time through my friend and guitarist at the time, Faiz (also the creator of my moniker), and going: “Okay, how the hell did they make that?!”
It felt like each musical idea within each song was given just enough time in the sun — never overused or repeated for repetition’s sake- yet so very milked by the end of the section. It quickly became my go-to for a reset when I was listening to listen, or even when I was listening to de-code/find inspiration, (or blatantly trying to copy some ideas as practice).
I think I mostly liked the fact that so many ideas within this album seem really bold, but at the same time felt really vulnerable, such as in ‘Field’ when the two-minute intro leads into a pocket of a musical idea that has the hookiest feel, but the whole song doesn’t really last longer than three minutes.
My favourites have to be ‘Mayor’ and ‘Ode to Bear’. I particularly love all the synth sounds, and the innovation with which Mount Kimbie’s grooves come together. Also, the lack of clutter and the casual low-fi-ness of it...an aesthetic that really speaks to my soul.”
Mumbai native Sandunes/Sanaya Ardeshir is known for her diverse blend of electronica which combines eclectic sensibilities with progressive electronic elements. Her upbringing as a pianist and keyboard player allows her to create emotive beds of sound and her music can be described as a fusion of globally-inspired ingredients.
Listen to Crooks and Lovers by Mount Kimbie, here.
You can follow her on Soundcloud
X. Sofia Ashraf | Matangi by M.I.A
“You know how Maggi tastes different in Shimla? Well music can affect you differently based on your journey too. I first heard M.I.A.’s Bird Flu in the anime Vexille and loved the track.
Over the years, I heard a few of her tracks, but always in a context of something else (Slumdog Millionaire anyone?) and never in isolation. Then came Matangi. This album crept into my life one song at a time.
There was a point in my life when I was between jobs, dappling in a bit of music, when Marti Bharat from Sapta played me the whole album. BAM! It changed my entire perspective. This album was everything I wanted my songs to be— lyrically, musically and culturally. It opened up a world of potential. It was a confusing combination of awe and inspiration to do the same. Her music is so badass and anarchist and grimy.
I was always a little restrained when it came to my music, dipping a toe into each song and testing the waters because I do not exactly have any formal training in music. However, here was a woman, making such raw and almost childlike sounds—and I loved it.”
“This album also came to me at a time when I was rediscovering my roots. M.I.A. is unabashedly ‘local’ in the way she slathers on Tamil beats and melodies into her songs. I was suddenly aware that there were stories only I could tell and sounds only I could make through my music. This sense of entitlement has been a major influence on my writing process. This idea of ownership is what I was lacking in order to create my own musical identity.”
Sofia Ashraf is a rapper. You may recognise her from the video ‘Kodaikanal Won’t’, her claim to internet fame. She has been labelled many things over the years—activist, feminist, Islamist, narcissist—but, the only title she’s willing to prefix to her art is ‘struggling’. Apart from her songs with A.R. Rahman and a few Kollywood numbers, she is more of a copy-left artist who has collaborated with bands like Sapta and performs mainly at protest rock shows or seminars. Her rap is angry and raw. She is also currently exploring a genre she calls Singable Tamil Pop with her band Mallipoo & The Alwas
Listen to Matangi by M.I.A here
Follow Sophia Ashraf on Facebook
XI. Soulmate | Back On Top by Van Morrison
“Van Morrison has always been our favourite. His voice and vocal delivery as well as his songwriting has been very inspiring. His music is ‘simple’ and that connects with us because our music is quite simple and to the point, too.
This particular album, Back On Top, is what we’d always listen to in the car when on our drives to the countryside. Melancholic songs and melodies—that’s what inspires us. Van comes from the blues too and having said that, you will understand why we picked Back On Top.
Inspired by the roots and groove sounds of the blues, blues-rock, soul, rock ‘n’ roll, funk and R&B, Soulmate was formed in Shillong, in October 2002. Rudy Wallang and Tipriti Kharbangar decided to form the band dedicated to playing the blues so that they could spread awareness about this important genre of music. Since then, they have played numerous gigs all over India and abroad. They have recorded three albums thus far: Shillong, Moving On, and Ten Stories Up.
Listen to Back on Top by Van Morrison here.
XII. Vishnu (SOULSPACE) | Selected Ambient Works 85-92 by Aphex Twin
Singling out a favourite from the plethora of music I have listened to over the years is a daunting prospect. But if I do a quick recall, Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient Works 85-92 is a compilation of nostalgia-laden jams that have both captivated and inspired me.
Soundtracked by this album, the last few days have been highly introspective and musically immersive for me. Though he was preceded by the likes of Autechre, Richard D. James is an electronic music pioneer in his own right. This body of work is decades ahead of its time, and exemplifies what is today known as ‘intelligent dance music’.
There’s a minimal, stripped back feeling to the tracks—they mostly rely on a persistent synth melody that is mutated and looped throughout the progression of the song even as new elements float over on top. It evokes a dreamy atmosphere that makes me feel detached from everything. It’s like free falling through outer space watching the entire world shrink down into a minuscule speck. When I’m lost in the music, what’s around me becomes inconsequential...just particles drifting through space.
From New Delhi, Vishnu distances himself with more exploratory tempos and an experimental beat-maker approach, of which cities like Los Angeles or London are particularly well known for. Yet, the electronica producer behind Soulspace is worlds apart. Capable of shifting an aural ambience from downtempo summertime grooves to more club-friendly music in the blink of an eye, he produces tracks with melodic, soulful and straight up dance floor sensibilities. Recently, launching himself with a stunning debut self-titled LP, he’s already earned support from artists such as Laurent Garnier (F Communications), Nick Warren (Hope Recordings), Kollektiv Turmstrasse (Connaisseur recordings), Komon (Aus music), Denney (Hot creations), Mark Farina (Om records), Miss Nine, Robert Owens (Off recordings), Hollis P Monroe (Noir/Defective) and Pablo Bolivar. He has also recently signed on to German record label Traum Schallplatten for multiple releases slotted through the year.
Listen to Selected Ambient Works 85-92 by Aphex Twin, here
Follow SOULPACE on Facebook and Soundcloud
