He has been voted the best Indian guitarist and a
force to reckon with on the contemporary rock scene. To his fans, he is the
ultimate ‘God of small strings’. But Baiju Dharmajan is unfazed by all the
praise and awards being heaped upon him. “Music is like a journey for me that
should be played for the sheer love of it. Whatever happens along the way, good
or bad, awards and money, I do not dwell on it. It does not define my
perception of it,” is his humble purpose.
Staying connected to life which he confesses is
his biggest inspiration, Baiju’s creative space at his ‘jam room’ near his home
at Edavanakad (Vypin islands near Kochi) is both a physical and philosophical
space to nurture his ‘musical’ dreams. What makes him a cut above the rest is
his ability to be different while connecting the melodies. “If you want to be a
success, you have to create your own distinctive and unique sound,” avers Baiju
who, despite his accolades, believes that he is yet to find his distinctive
sound. “After all, music is about experimenting and I am continually doing so,”
he says, refusing to categorise his music. “Western and Indian music have some
matching notes. The way you execute it makes a difference,” says this
guitarist, composer, producer and director, who is widely recognised for
seamlessly blending overtones of carnatic music with rock.
Growing up with music in a house where just about
everybody played an instrument or sang, Baiju’s early years were moulded by
these influences, particularly by his father who played the Hawaiian guitar and
grandfather who was a carnatic musician. “I learnt the carnatic violin at the
age of 12 or 13. But I was so enamoured with the sound of the guitar that I
slowly switched to it. I began with the Spanish guitar and was greatly
encouraged by my father,” he reveals. Deeply influenced by Indian film music
and composers of the calibre of Illayaraja and guitarists like Jimi Hendrix ,
Jimmy Page and Mattias Ekhlund, his distinctive brand of music today is an
amalgamation of all these influences.
A two-time Jack Daniels awardee (for best
guitarist), Baiju was lead guitarist for the famed rock band Motherjane for 13
years, before he left to strike out on his own in 2010. “We released two
albums, ‘Insane Biography’ (2003) and Maktub (2008). Actually I was very
fortunate to have played with a great band of musicians who were like brothers
to me and it was a great experience travelling and playing around the country,”
elucidates Baiju, whose composition ‘Broken’ from ‘Maktub’ changed his musical
direction from conventional rock/metal style to one with carnatic overtones.
Changing tracks since he parted ways with Motherjane, he formed his own band,
‘The Baiju Dharmajan Syndicate’, and collaborated with several bands and
musicians as well. Releasing his debut solo album ‘The Crossover’ (2012), he
also released Indian rock versions of patriotic songs. For now his books are
full with three projects – one a composition for his own band in English,
another for Shweta Subram in Canada in Hindi and another for a Dutch vocalist.
Preparing for his first public performance in
Goa, despite the fact that he has performed at several private shows in a state
he loves like his own home, Baiju is elated to be playing for a Goan audience
who loves music and understands every genre of it. “It will just be fun playing
and connecting with the people, one more time,” he enthuses.
As he continues with his own brand of music,
Baiju remains faithful to the purpose of music to express a feeling. “Sometimes
you do not need a thousand notes to express a feeling. Just one note will do.”
(The
VIth edition of Rock in Goa concert featuring Baiju Dharmajan in the main act
is organised by Rockbugs Goa with Herald Publications as its media partner. The
event will be held at Quinta de Valadares, Verna on March 28, 2015 at 4pm, with
Baiju’s performance at 9pm)
