Niladri Kumar at Jazzkaar: A Clockwork Music (or not)
Your concert was scheduled at 3pm. Apparently it's not a common time for a music concert.
No, it is not. 3pm is time for a siesta! But it has been very nice to play at 3 o'clock for the simple reason that in Indian music we sometimes create melodies for this time of the day. So, one of the patterns we've played is a melody to be played between 3pm and 5pm. I got the chance to play that so the schedule was perfect!
So your music might be adjusted to a specific timetable?
Yes. Actually, you have to make it fit because you never know at what time you will have to play in the next event. And you can't play the same at 3 o'clock in the afternoon than at 9 o'clock in the evening.
During the concert both of you, Talvin and Niladri, were sweating a lot. Is it the proof you've been working out?
First of all, it's the proof that we felt hot [laughs]. But if I change the question, I think you really need to sweat up to fully enjoy what you practice.
How much do Niladri Kumar and Talvin Singh trust each other? During your show, you were continuously looking at each other.
Our music is most of the time improvised. But it's improvised within a form. Talvin Singh comes from the tradition of the Indian music, I come from the traditional of the Indian music so we work together as a pump. And what's happening on the stage is undoubtedly part of the pump. So, sometimes we are excited, sometimes we are skeptical, sometimes we appreciate and, indeed, we just express that. All the moods flow there! It's like having a normal conversation but without words.
How much important is sitar [a classical stringed Indian music instrument] for whole Indian music and, particularly, for Talvin Singh and Niladri Kumar's music?
According to most people, sitar is probably one of the most valuated Indian music instruments. Actually, a very good contribution to Indian music has been to popularize sitar. Sitar has a long history and it's very important that our generation know the sitar and try to keep the tradition. That's why sitar is important: for its own function, for the music and for the history.
As you said, your music is about improvisation. But how much background is behind your improvised music?
The background is very important because it's what gives you the tradition to work as a pump. And then, as a pump, you are allowed to find the assessments... It's like you need to do the rules if you want to make them.
No, it is not. 3pm is time for a siesta! But it has been very nice to play at 3 o'clock for the simple reason that in Indian music we sometimes create melodies for this time of the day. So, one of the patterns we've played is a melody to be played between 3pm and 5pm. I got the chance to play that so the schedule was perfect!
So your music might be adjusted to a specific timetable?
Yes. Actually, you have to make it fit because you never know at what time you will have to play in the next event. And you can't play the same at 3 o'clock in the afternoon than at 9 o'clock in the evening.
During the concert both of you, Talvin and Niladri, were sweating a lot. Is it the proof you've been working out?
First of all, it's the proof that we felt hot [laughs]. But if I change the question, I think you really need to sweat up to fully enjoy what you practice.
How much do Niladri Kumar and Talvin Singh trust each other? During your show, you were continuously looking at each other.
Our music is most of the time improvised. But it's improvised within a form. Talvin Singh comes from the tradition of the Indian music, I come from the traditional of the Indian music so we work together as a pump. And what's happening on the stage is undoubtedly part of the pump. So, sometimes we are excited, sometimes we are skeptical, sometimes we appreciate and, indeed, we just express that. All the moods flow there! It's like having a normal conversation but without words.
How much important is sitar [a classical stringed Indian music instrument] for whole Indian music and, particularly, for Talvin Singh and Niladri Kumar's music?
According to most people, sitar is probably one of the most valuated Indian music instruments. Actually, a very good contribution to Indian music has been to popularize sitar. Sitar has a long history and it's very important that our generation know the sitar and try to keep the tradition. That's why sitar is important: for its own function, for the music and for the history.
As you said, your music is about improvisation. But how much background is behind your improvised music?
The background is very important because it's what gives you the tradition to work as a pump. And then, as a pump, you are allowed to find the assessments... It's like you need to do the rules if you want to make them.
