Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
Rooted notes
|
Rajeev looks at his debut solo album as one that will connect with the masses
|
Sing along Rajeev says Fallen is all about getting rid of his demons
At a private gig recently in the south-eastern side of Bangalore, Rajeev, a city-based musician released his debut solo album, “Fallen”. The project kicked off with a song called “Wish” and after a lot of musical and lyrical
alterations reached a rustic form that transcends various genres of music. “Fallen”, the album is an ode to love and depression, with each song written out of personal experiences and inspiration. The album which tries to capitalise on a range of emotions is very close to the heart of its master. “This record is all about getting rid of my demons. Turning my experiences into words and putting the words into music,” admits Rajeev, who is not only a singer but also a multi-instrumentalist.
In a milieu where anything that’s not vernacular doesn’t find much success, Rajeev looks at “Fallen” as a record that the masses can connect with. “Fallen has been crafted in such a way that each song will register in your ears. I hope that the melodic statement and the depth of each song will help it find its way into the hearts of people,” says the singer. Rajeev who played the first listen to his album by assembling musicians from popular city-based bands kicked off the night with the song “Angel”, a track about an individual who has slipped into his own depths and is looking for a guardian to pull him out. The words of this song engages itself with the psychedelic solo that fades in half-way through. This number was followed by the electric acoustic blend of “Fallen”, a love song with a chorus that is definitive.
But the highlight of the night most certainly was the track Wayfarer’s lyric, a song that opens with pounding drum beats and tells us about a voyager who has no ties with the world, a drifter who has abandoned everything in life. Wayfarer’s lyric which captures the very essence of the album was sequenced before a flood of covers that followed. Rajeev on vocals, his producer Chris Avinash on lead with Prakash of “Karma Six” on bass and Yasmin of “Myndsnare” on drums belted out George Michael’s “Faith” and later on glam rockers Def Leppard’s “Pour some sugar on me”. The set which lasted for more than two hours saw some outstanding renditions of hit U2 singles.
Rajeev, who is ready to push this album till anything cracks is as driven as the people who inspired him to become a musician. Right from the likes of Led Zeppelin to Cat Stevens his influences range up to the industrial rock band “Nine Inch Nails”, which he considers to be his biggest influence.
“There is nobody like Trent Reznor, the frontman of NIN. Industrial rock gives you a bleeding feel. It’s the purest form of music and the best way to express confusion and pent-up frustration,” opines Rajeev. “Trent Reznor, who is renowned for his angst-ridden lyrics and infamous music videos has inspired musicians from round the world to write about pain, and why not, as it is the easiest emotion to express. It’s a part of all of us.” he adds.
This house of talent who is working on various projects at the same time is soon to release his first industrial album as well, which is still untitled. “I came up with the idea for this project while I was passing by the red light area in Mumbai. I saw decay in the eyes of people there,” comments the musician. But Rajeev is not only about exploring the darker side of life. He is currently working on a Christmas project and also an album for children.
For someone who is an aficionado of computer-generated, distorted sounds, an album like “Fallen” is a brave effort. This album shows that this musician is not afraid to explore and experiment. He is all about writing a song that people can accept. As a musician Rajeev wants to chip in whatever way and his grandest attribute is that he cuts pretence.
DEBAYAN DEB
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
|
