Ahead of their performance in Bengaluru, Indian Ocean, talk about the synergy in their collaboration with Nature inFocus.
Published Jul 29, 2023 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 29, 2023 | 8:00 AM
Indian Ocean's music transcends borders and their timeless tunes have become anthems of unity and hope. (Supplied)
At the epicentre of India’s musical realm, the majestic band Indian Ocean reigns supreme, casting an ethereal presence that captures hearts collectively. They conjure mystical melodies that make the soul dance.
Loved by fans across the subcontinent, Indian Ocean’s music transcends borders and resonates deeply with the soul of every listener. Their timeless tunes have become anthems of unity and hope.
Classics like Bandeh, Kandisa, and Ma Rewa have moved millions, while newer gems like Tandanu continue to captivate hearts, thus, reaffirming their enduring connection with the nation’s collective spirit.
By blending the power of visuals and magic of soul-stirring music and conscious lyrics, the aim of this concert in collaboration with Nature inFocus is to inspire a deeper connection with the natural world.
This is the heartening appeal of the band that comprises Rahul Ram (bass guitar and vocals), Amit Kilam (drums, gubGubi and other percussion, recorder and vocals), Nikhil Rao (lead guitarist and vocals), Himanshu Joshi (lead vocalist) and Tuheen Chakravorty (tabla player and percussionist).
Ahead of their concert on 29 July at Jayamahal Palace grounds, the band speaks to South First about keeping environment at the centre of their lyrics, the popularity of their recent album, and their association with Nature inFocus.
Excerpts from the conversation:
The aim of this concert, in collaboration with Nature inFocus, is to inspire a deeper connection with the natural world. (Supplied)
Q. You have been into environmentalism through music since the 1990s. Why is nature, as a theme, important today?
A. Rahul Ram: Nature has, of course, been a theme because it has always been something that provides inspiration and peace. We have attacked nature so much, it is time for us to rethink our relationship with it completely.
We must realise that we cannot subdue and conquer nature the way it was supposed to be in the 18th and 19th century which has led us to where we are.
Global climate change and its consequences occupy my mind a lot. Not, just nowadays, it has been so, for the last couple of decades.
Our style is to make people aware of the issues and then learn more about them. We try to find what can be done to prevent nature from striking back and becoming one with her instead of trying to conquer nature.
Q. How has the audience changed?
A. Nikhil Rao: We just keep doing what we are happy doing. Indian Ocean has always had the ethos that we will not change ourselves to achieve a bigger scale or reach more people.
We never have had any marketing kind of meetings, demographic analysis, who is listening to us and someone who’s paying attention to what to do.
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We just authentically be ourselves as much as possible. The band is lucky and blessed to have a small but passionate audience. They care about what we do and what we say.
They are our evangelists because they go out there and spread the word.
Q. Do you tweak anything to draw in the Gen-Z sensibilities?
A. Nikhil Rao: Gen Z and the younger audiences are more than welcome. We invite them respectfully to come and check us out and see us live. Listen to our music on streaming platforms. I do hope this happens.
We are just ourselves and we have a small, limited audience of every age group. It is common for us because we are a band that has been around for 35 years, right? So, some of our older fans are even 70 and 80 years of age and it is common in a single family to have multiple generations of people who love Indian Ocean.
They love various aspects of the Indian Ocean. So, there’s a lot of diversity within even the small batch of Indian Ocean fans that we have. The good word gets passed down through generations and to friends and families and support networks.
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Having said that, we are also aware of so many tools available online, to be in touch and build a nice engaging audience on platforms like Instagram or Facebook, and so forth.
We actually hired some talented young people to work with us for our social media management. They learn to represent us on these new emerging platforms.
So, we are absolutely not opposed to any of that which is outreach. But when it comes to making the music we all want to make, I don’t think that is based on age or stage of life.
We talk about the things we have always wanted to talk about. Even if they were unpopular or uncool. It doesn’t matter. We were always ourselves and we will continue to be.
Q. Tell us more about your GubGubi ka Jaadu. Any other unique instruments or techniques used in the new album Tu Hai?
A. Amit Kilam: Gubgubi is one of my favourite instruments and I learnt it myself. I was inspired by the bauls of Bengal and one such travelling gentleman had gifted it to me once early on.
Indian Ocean has typically tried to experiment with sound a lot throughout its career. But in Tu Hai, we decided not to experiment too much with it.
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However, we were lucky and fortunate that we had two beautiful musicians collaborate with us on two songs.
George Brooks played the saxophone on a track called Jungle. Then, there is the amazing Pandit Vikku Vinayakramji who has played the ghatam on the Kabir song Is Than Dhan.
Q. What message do you want the audience to take from your music?
A. Himanshu Joshi: When we complete a song there are various interpretations. Each song has a different meaning for different people.
Yes, we do have specific ways of composing our music and we are attached to the environment and concerns related to it, especially Rahul.
The rest of us do what we can from our end, but Rahul is enthusiastic when it comes to the environment.
Q. What is the synergy between your band and Nature inFocus?
A. Nikhil Rao: Nature inFocus celebrates the absolute best of environmental photography and filmmaking in Asia. The Indian Ocean band has always had an ethos as a music group and as a collective of people, that it is environment first and people, culture and society later.
Whenever human societies go out of whack and out of sync with the environment, we need a gentle, friendly reminder.
We are what we are because of the environment. We are happy that we are working with them.
Q. Tell us about the success of your new album, Tu Hai.
A. Nikhil Rao: Our album, Tu Hai, talks about some of the environmental issues and it has been a resounding success. Rolling Stone magazine has mentioned it as a top Indie album. I am grateful for the people who are responsible for getting us to that particular point.
When: 29 July 2023 (Saturday)
Where: Jayamahal Palace, Bengaluru
Timing: 8 pm -10 pm
