Band it together with a zing
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Band members of Joshilay reveal that success has given them creative leeway.
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The acid test is if my five-year-old daughter likes it.Julius
JOLLY GOOD Jolly and Julius of the Joshilay band.
Jolly and Julius are fun with intelligence. Julius is music composer and sound designer and Jolly is the singer of the band Joshilay.
Pairing up in 1997, primarily to perform live on stage, they have since released their own albums. "Munniya re Munniya" and "Chhad Ke Na Ja" of their first album proved to be very popular. At present they are awaiting the release of their album Punjabis on the Floor. The promotional video track "Kulli wich yaar labh lai" is already on air.
They classify the eight songs on their forthcoming album as "new age contemporary with folk refrains". They have appropriated a very old folk song and have sung the part of the female singer themselves. While some songs are adaptations from Sufiana kalams, they have composed the rest. Julius says they have introduced "trip-hop bhangara" in this album. They have added the "chaukadi" dhol rhythm to the hip-hop lilt. The album promises to entertain with dance, nostalgic and lounge-type numbers.
The `Jingle' meet
Julius initially formed a rock band in the early 1990s, "which was not happening". Jolly had just completed his MBA and was in search of something concrete yet creative. The duo met at the recording of a jingle. And realised that they had found what they were looking for. Their first performance was in Lucknow in 1997. The sound technicians arrived a day late, the show had to be postponed and the next show in Allahabad had to be cancelled. They tell the tale with the humour of veterans.
They candidly reveal that their first goal was to make the profession lucrative. Jolly explains, "Once we were financially secure, we knew we could come up with something original."
Says Jolly, "Most of the things we do by instinct." Adds Julius, "Our music is a hit and trial thing." What are their influences? "Alcohol," is the reply, followed by raucous laughter. Julius elaborates, "Jazz, rock, fusion, dance, western classical, Indian classical, Indian Punjabi experimental artistes." They assert that they have dared to experiment and have ventured to think differently. Julius recently composed the background score for "Kabul Express". He says that scoring according to the storyline is "tricky but very interesting". Jolly adds, "The trick is when not to score." Julius readily agrees, "Yes, one should let silence be the music."
With a few music videos under their belt, they believe that the making of a video is very exciting. There is an authenticity of emotion, they feel, as one is emoting to one's own song. They also like videos to reach their listeners and fans.
What are they working on right now?
They are involved in the music direction of "Galli Galli Simson", India's version of "Sesame Street". They both agree that making songs for children is challenging. Julius says, "The acid test is if my five-year-old daughter likes it." He explains, "It's tricky to find a fine balance between making sure they like it and not treating them like kids." They are also involved in the album work of singers like Shibani Kashyap and scoring for jingles.
With work aplenty they are enjoying working on their own terms, they assert.
NANDINI NAIR
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