Catch a gig with Bryan Ernest at Hard Rock Cafe in Mumbai

"There came a time when I had to choose between a day job and my passion, music. In such situations, everybody turns personal advisor," reveals Bryan Ernest, a singer-songwriter from the city. The 25-year-old Pop and Rock musician actually wrote a song (What I'm Meant To Be) that left these so-called counselors, who only believe in set protocols, tight-lipped. Ernest will talk about his musical journey at a gig tonight.

New album songs

After five years in the music circuit, Ernest reached the post-production stage of his debut, still untitled, album. He will be introducing a few songs at his performance, including What I'm Meant To Be). "The basic point of this song is that everyone is different. Not everybody fits into the mould created by the society. There is a line in the song that says, ‘This is me, please let me be,' which sums it up perfectly. It says that you are unique and you need not be somebody else," he says.

Having taught music at Besant Montessori School in Juhu, he shared a solid rapport with his students. Even they helped him write a song. "A bunch of seven-year-olds wrote Walk Me Home with me. I made them rhyme to already written lines, which worked. They added an innocent and happy vibe to the song," adds Ernest, who will also cover tracks by Ed Sheeran and Coldplay. In fact, his version of the latter's Up & Up is popular on YouTube.

Singer-songwriter boom

Venues came and went, so did genres, but the sudden singer-songwriter boom gave him confidence to proceed with the idea of an album. "When I started, the Metal scene was dominant. It is a dying art today. I think Sheeran caused a revolution among singer-songwriters. We couldn't think of one man doing things alone on stage and being popular for the music. Many singers, like me, thought if he could do it, why can't we?" he reasons.

Eva Lakshtas, a Russian saxophonist, will join him on stage along with Elroy J on bass guitar and Joel Salins on the cajon. Ernest continued to collaborate with new musicians and also has two set ups. "I have a full electric set up, which is like a band format. I also have an acoustic line-up. A few people keep changing occasionally but the core band remains the same," he says.

On Tonight, 7 pm onwards
AT Hard Rock Cafe, Bombay Dyeing Mill Compound, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli.

CALL 24382888
COST Rs. 500