After unplugging himself from music, singer-songwriter Arijit Datta has re-emerged with a fresh new band Airport. Watch them put Hindi lyrics to jazz, funk and rock this Sunday night
After unplugging himself from music, singer-songwriter Arijit Datta has re-emerged with a fresh new band Airport. Watch them put Hindi lyrics to jazz, funk and rock this Sunday night
Tough as it is to believe, monotony happens to musicians too. There was a point in singer-songwriter Arijit Datta's life when "music on the whole had ceased to be a beautiful experience". Repeatedly singing his old songs pleased the audience but did nothing for him. So, he took the road less travelled, unplugged and pulled out of the music circuit completely.u00a0
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I say me, knowing all the while it's not me |
Groovy funk man who loves hitting fat bottoms |
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Arijit Datta |
Amit Ahuja |
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Born to play the guitar |
Classical music composer trapped in a modern-day pop tragic-comedy |
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Vinay Lobo |
Sidd Coutto |
Sometimes, taking a breather from creative work is the best way to get a fresh perspective. Ankur's tipping point came when his creative block opened and melodies began to pour into his being "like rain". "When you stop chasing and accept what you have or don't have, things just start to happen," says the frizzy-haired Arijit. Things began falling in place when he met guitarist Vinay Lobo from The Vinyls/Nikhil D'Souza. They formed Airport, a band that celebrates Vinay's crunchy blues style and Arijit's love for jazz and old Hindi music. The band comprises Arijit on vocals and guitar, Vinay on lead guitar, Sidd Coutto on drums and Amit Ahuja (Full Moon Rising) on bass.
Sidd brings with him rich onstage experience from Zero, Helga's Fun Castle and Tough on Tobacco. "The first reason I came on board is the fantastic track Shaam Tanha that Arijit wrote years ago. The bassist is mind-blowing. I've been his fan since his days with the band Spirals," says Sidd over the phone from a beach shack in Goa.u00a0
The music of Airport is like a cool breeze on a warm night. Arijit's Hindi lyrics are put to jazz, blues and rock. The tracks Abhi Toh, Yahaan, Raat, Iss Qadar and Malaal flow easily into one another.
Jonathan Paul will join them on piano and keyboard for this Sunday's gig at Bandra nightspot Bonobo. A recognisable face from Something Relevant and Medusa, Jonathan is busy setting up The Pulp Society with Imaad Shah. "I'm playing with Airport because Arijit finally managed to pin me down in one place for more than 5 minutes... and that is all the time you would need to fall in love with his music."u00a0
On: February 21, 7 pm onwards
At: Bonobo Bar, second floor, Kenilworth Mall, phase 2,
off Linking Road, Bandra (W).
Call: 26055050 / 26055353u00a0
Listen to their music on www.myspace.com/thebandairport
