Amar Kulkarni - (Sangban + Didge + Afterparty Entertainment)

The second person I'd like to introduce you to is the only one in the band who gives Zakir Hussain's curly hair a run for his money.... Mr. Amar Kulkarni.

Amar is a multitalented yet understated musician who is working on his very own Ajala Dhwani Project apart from a whole bunch of interesting musical collaborations. He has a sense of humour that can keep a room full of gigged-out musicians in splits on a terrace till the wee hours of the morning and has a heart of gold.

I'm pleased to have him as a part of Taal Inc. Here's what he had to say... (Mother swear, I haven't bribed him or anything!! ;))

MY JOURNEY WITH TAAL INC.

"On a windy September evening in 2008, I took a conscious and a very deeply thought decision. The 5 years preceding this were the most difficult 5 years of my life. A life away from the something I associate myself most with; Music.

... And that September evening I took that decision to reclaim my life. To reclaim most of what I had lost. A series of events followed; my work being the foremost of the list and in March of 2009 I landed in Pune. "Welcome back" I said to myself.
I lived for a couple of years in Pune, before I had moved to Bangalore, so I was happy to be back. I loved Pune and still do.

So, I got back to Pune and the first thing i really got down to sorting out, was my music scene. I really wanted to get back to playing music, forming a band and playing live so I started hanging out at most of the local venues around Pune.

Around the same time then, I happened to read a newspaper box mentioning something about a "drum circle" by a certain Varun Venkit, then-drummer of Agnee. With a lot of excitement, I called him up and enquired about how to get to the drum circle! That was how I got introduced to Varun and a TAAL INC drum circle.

I then regularly attended Taal Inc drum circles wherever they were held and I really had a great deal of fun. I often waited after the drum circles to learn a thing or two from Varun, and sometimes just random talks connecting us better.

On many occasions I'd meet him up at an Agnee concert, where I also got introduced to Janak the gentle giant! :)

In 2010, when Varun was heading to Singapore for the Mamady Keita workshop, he happened to ping me and tell me "a lot of exciting things are gonna happen when I'm back, stay tuned" So I did.

A few weeks later, Varun called me over to his place and I was introduced to this other sweet chap whom I had seen at many drum circles before. Dhir Mody, though I'm so used to referring to him as "Dhir Baba, aka Groove Baba".

I met Agneya the same day. Agneya, as always, was in a rush to get out and go attend some exam.

So yeah, then I met them and I happened to play the djembe for a few minutes before going on the "Sangban-kenkeni" combo and I was instantly hooked to whatever we were playing.

I hadn’t really heard a lot of West African folk music at that point of time, and all this was very exciting because it had this undertone of great energy. I had a short talk with Varun and he explained patiently every aspect of Taal Inc. he had in his mind.

There was no way I could say no.

I wasn't just being given an opportunity to play with some really bright musicians and wonderful people, but I was also being given another push to reclaiming my life. To make music, to play live, to play on stage with an energetic bunch of highly skilled musicians!
And thus, on the first day of practice, I met the mad bunch at one time! And that marked the beginning of this grand journey with TAAL INC.

There's so much to say about each one of us all, Varun, the learning and the positive vibes, Janak, his persuasiveness and clarity and Solonie with all her love, affection and most importantly the intense grit that she has drummed with! I have to mention Zezu, vishay cut, all the madness we share almost all the time, Bipin and his focus during our practice sessions (not), Yamini, the brat amongst all of us... but a real sweet soul. Wendy and Pragnya, whom we miss so much.... and all the amazing artists we've collaborated with...

Dhir and Agneya, Gandhaar and Shreyas, my close buddies, the young fellas, but they're each ‘baap’ in their own ways; each one of them possessing immense talent and have all taught me so much and continue to do so. Most importantly, I’d like to make special mention of Aditi, who I always assumed as an integral part of TAAL INC, because without her support I would've never done even half the things I do... :-)

I could and I probably will write my little blog about each of these guys... but today, I just want to write about TAAL INC.

TAAL INC, as a band, as a bunch of friends, as an organisation, as a company, as a family... whichever way I look at it, has been a very important milestone in my life...

I really must take this opportunity to thank Varun and everyone at TAAL INC. for being the people they are; for being true friends and a great bunch of people to play and learn with....  Aditi and I both wish we all continue getting better and do many more crazy gigs and drop energy bombs on everyone! May we all continue spreading the good vibes!

Having been asked to write about my journey with TAAL INC, I can only say, the journey has just begun.

Someday soon, there will be lots to read and write about...
.... until then... 1....2.... let’s all play!!!!!!

Amar Kulkarni

Taal Inc. brings people together! :)

(I'll leave you with "Right to Education" a beautiful song composed by Amar Kulkarni, sung by our songbird Yamini Lavanian [who you'll read about next],  Aditi Bandekar and Anvay Patwardhan. The song was written to support the cause and the work done by Hope for the Children Foundation,India. Written {with help from Savita Tai on the Marathi lines} Show your love :))

Come. Drum. Be One.

Taal Inc.

Website
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Linkedin
Blogger

Gandhaar Amin

I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce to each and every one of you to the members of family Taal Inc. To make this a first person narrative, I've asked each member write/shoot/record a little something that encompasses their journey with us.

To start off we have the humble tower of talent, Mr. Gandhaar Amin. Here's what he had to Say...

MY JOURNEY WITH TAAL INC

Till about three years back, I was an ‘Indian Classical Flautist’, and the only music that I played was in the practice room in my house, sitting alone or at the most with my dad. I did not have any idea of the huge world outside the boundaries of Indian Classical music. Then, three years back, this guy came and sat next to me in the college canteen, and said that he was a guitar player. At that time, as far as I was concerned, a guitar player or a drummer was someone who got high and played substandard music in front an equally high audience. For some reason, I said yes to him when he asked me if I would come ‘jam’ with him. I told him I knew how to play the flute, I also knew how to practise, but I had no idea how to ‘jam’!

Anyway, so that is how I got introduced to the world outside of Indian Classical music. Soon, I started getting introduced to a lot of musicians and different kinds of music. That is when I heard of a band called Smokestack, which was supposed to have an amazing drummer. By then, the image of a guitarist or a drummer in my mind had changed quite a bit. So, I decided to go to a Smokestack concert, mainly to check this drummer out. I ended up having a nice time, and the drummer was actually out of this world. So I decided to have a chat with him after the concert, and he seemed extremely humble and warm for a musician who was pretty well known in the local circuit at least! That is when I asked him what his name was.

That was how I got introduced to Varun Venkit. For a year or two after that, Varun was this amazing musician who was much senior to me. I went for a few more concerts of his with various bands, and that was around the time that I started genuinely admiring him as a musician. Then, about a year back, I got a call from another local musician, with whom I had gotten acquainted at some concert. He had made some music, and wanted to collaborate with a few other musicians to add some flavour to his songs. When I found out that one of those musicians was Varun Venkit, it took me less than a second to say yes. That is when Varun and I officially got to know each other. That was also when I got to know what Taal Inc. really was. After doing a few shows together in this band, Varun asked me if I wanted to be a part of Taal Inc. He made it very clear that this would be a one off thing where he would gauge if I and the flute fit into the whole thing.

So a few days later, I ended up going to Varun’s place for a rehearsal with the Taal Inc. rhythm ensemble. And I would not be exaggerating at all when I say that I have never been received into any group with so much of warmth! I was immediately made to feel at home. I went for a few more rehearsals at Varun’s place and at One Life Club. This concert took place at a popular venue in Pune, followed by a party at Varun’s place. That night, when I was lying in my bed, I knew that I had found the road that I would be following in life. I was completely overwhelmed by the energy that the group had as a whole. I was overwhelmed with how these 8-10 people came together and showed me what being a musician and life in general was all about. And I was overwhelmed by this man called Varun Venkit. That is when I made a decision that I will learn as much as I can from him, in any way possible.

Then came NH7, which is an annual music festival held in Pune. The Taal Inc. rhythm ensemble was to perform there, and I was told that I would be playing with them again. Naturally, I didn't have to think about whether to say yes or no. When we were preparing for this concert, I ended up making some friends that I instantly knew would be with me for the rest of my life. The friendship with Agneya and Dhir was natural, more so because of them being of roughly the same age as me, and two of the coolest guys that I've ever met. Amar was the most genuine and warm person, and him being the only ‘non-drummer’ in the group got me closer to him. Anybody who meets Abhijit once cannot help but become good friends with him. And I had played with him a few times before. It is utterly impossible to not fall in love with Solonie, and I fell for her too! And then there was Varun, who I realised wasn't just an out of this world musician, but also an amazing person. I realised that I had a lot more to learn from him than what I had thought before.

After NH7, I became an integral part of Taal Inc. (or so I would like to believe!) and Taal Inc. became a big part of my life. I had found an amazing band to play with, great people to learn from, and some of the best friends that I've ever had. I also ended up forming separate bands with Amar, Dhir and Agneya. Having spent quite some time with Varun by then, I soon fell in love with drumming and rhythm in general. I started playing some drums during rehearsals, and soon, I was a proper student of Varun’s. Before I knew it, I had done a show where I played only a drum, and didn't even touch the flute! This love of drumming further got me interested in drum circle facilitation. And Varun, as always, was more than willing to train some of us as drum circle facilitators.

So, it has been a magical journey so far, and I hope it goes on forever. I've still got a lot to learn from Varun and Taal Inc. Having the feeling that you’re following the right path and then walking along that path with such amazing companions is the best thing that can happen to a musician. So all I can hope for is to learn as much as I can from Taal Inc. and hope to give back to it in whatever way I can!

The Taal Inc. Rhythm Ensemble - Gandhaar Amin (first from left)

Gandhaar Amin.

Come. Drum. Be One.

Taal Inc.

Website
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Linkedin
Blogger