Baiju

After a few dramatic entries and exits, Baiju Dharmajan (ex-guitarist of Motherjane and Wrenz United) is quietly finding his balance in the music industry; he continues to be a musician albeit in a slightly different avatar. Tracy deSouza catches up with his musical meanderings.

Good Evening!  So, how have you been and what’s been keeping you busy?

I’m doing quite well; actually I’ve been working on a great deal of new music these days. Right now, I’m doing some production work with a psychedelic rock band called Kaav. I’m also working on recording sessions for a few films. But currently, I’d like to focus my energies on my own solo project.

How’s the solo project coming along?

Very well; it is my first carnatic rock album. Apart from playing guitar, I will also produce the album myself. At present the album is untitled, I’m still wondering what to call it.  I have only completed two songs.

How would you describe your solo sound?

Right now, the genre and the particular sound of my new material is hard to describe as it is very nascent, sometimes it’s rarely more than a feeling. In my opinion creating music is just a matter of exposing yourself, so labeling it into a specific genre like ‘carnatic’ and ‘jazz’ is unwise; these labels fail to capture the essence of the music. I try to expose myself as much as possible, and I cannot do this if I am contained by a rigid label.

So what helps you reveal yourself? Where do you find inspiration?

I’m not very sure, but all I can say is that I work really hard at the tasks that are at hand; I’ve been putting my 100% into everything I do. And as for inspiration, I take my inspiration straight from life.

Do you have a practice schedule?

Actually, I don’t have one; I don’t have a rigorous practice schedule for myself. I don’t practice; I’m not one of those people who can sit down and practice for 8 or 10 hours straight. Instead I just pick up my guitar and play whenever I have the urge to. I think that this makes my playing and my style fresh and honest.

Have you been collaborating with other artists recently?

Yes. I’ve been working with Sanjeev Thomas, the lead guitarist for A. R. Rehman. Thomas and I have been working on a project called ‘Kashmir’, which is to be released very soon.  A project with John Antony, the lead guitarist of ‘Karnatriix’ may also start soon. The talks are going on and now both of us just need to find enough time from our schedules.  And then a project with carnatic violinist Harikumar, a disciple of L. Subramaniam may start soon. He has this band called ‘Blue Fire’ and I am really looking forward to working with this experimental fusion group.

In your opinion, how does the solo experience compare with making music as part of a band?

I find that working on my own gives me the freedom and flexibility that I need in order to be creative. Working solo has helped me broaden my horizons; now there is more scope for future collaborations. At the moment, I would rather focus on new collaborations than band performance.

And now, the question I’ve been dying to ask: Why did you leave Motherjane?

With Motherjane, it’s a very personal, deep-seated issue. I could show you some documents to prove my point but unfortunately, they are very controversial and therefore, highly confidential.  I think that I should stick to the ‘No Comments’ statement.

And what about Wrenz United? Why did you leave them?

The collaboration with Wrenz was only for the band’s debut EP. I was very much free to move ahead once it came out. Well, I also had the choice to stay if I wanted to but then I thought it was better to be musically engaged in the way I am doing now. There is so much of freedom and I am enjoying it.

Baiju

Do you miss painting your face?

*Laughing* No, not really.

But do you miss performing that genre of live music?

No, not at all. I’ve been quite busy with my own work; I’m enjoying my life.

So what are the things that make you happy these days?

Music, of course!  I spend a great deal of time listening to new music and working with other musicians.

Is there a chance you’d work with any of your old band-mates again?

I highly doubt it; we’re not on very good terms.

Ok. So give me an idea of your work scenario these days.

I’m a full time musician by profession; there’s a lot of different work that I do for different people. I do some session work for upcoming films and then I record albums, too. When I have the time I work on my solo project or give some time to my collaborative productions.

What is your opinion of the work for musicians in the film industry?

I have been doing a lot of sessions work for films; I’m currently working on the soundtrack of a movie called China Town. Working in a sessions studio and producing film scores is actually quite interesting. It’s a nice place to work, for a musician.

How does your work now and your work last year compare?

See, playing in a studio is very different from playing on-stage; the energy levels, the environment and the level of involvement required are very different, so one should not try and compare. But I can say that while I really love the energetic thrill of being on stage, the happiness that comes from creating something lasts longer.

What do you look forward to most in 2011?

Perhaps my solo album will be out by December 2011 and I am also highly eager about the music of ‘Kashmir’. We can both look forward to that!