Says Sahej Bakshi, or Dualist Inquiry as he is known in the music circles, who is all set to perform at blueFrog on September 12. He talks about his music, experimenting with various genres and the evolving electronic music scene in the country
Q. Why did you choose ‘Dualist Inquiry’ to represent your music?
A. I wanted an artist name that meant something definite, but was vague enough to leave a little scope for interpretation at the same time. I think the name puts a set of ideas in your mind, and yet, leaves plenty of room for the listener to interpret its meaning.
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Q. How and why did you decide to pursue electronic music?
A. I’ve been a musician since the age of nine, which was when I learnt to play the guitar. I discovered and picked up electronic music while I was a student in Los Angeles. Pursuing electronic music was a subconscious decision. I just felt the need to do it and learnt it
right away.
Q. What are the highlights of your upcoming show? How different will it be from the music you have played elsewhere?
A. I’ll be presenting new material from Natural Disasters EP (Extended play — an album with a number of songs in it) for the first time in a live setting, and I look forward to that the most. The audience will be able to relate to the familiar tunes but will be introduced to a different way
of presentation.
Q. What challenges did you face while creating your music? And how has your music evolved over the years?
A. I don’t try to create music that belongs to one genre. While that means I get to have my own sound and identity, it also means that reaching out to music producers and record labels, who pay attention to the genre of music, is a bit more difficult for me when compared to other musicians. It’s all good though. In terms of how much my music has evolved, earlier, I’d take on a new song blindly and then work around it to strike a chord with the audience. Now, I tend to have a much clearer idea of what I’m going for, and so it takes less time for me to compose music that will work with the listeners.
Q. What do you think of the electronic music scene in the country? Do you think there is scope for all kinds of music here?
A. I think we’re past the point where we have to doubt India’s acceptance of electronic music. Our generation relates to electronic music and we show it by flocking to nightclubs, festivals and concerts in ever-increasing numbers. Unfortunately, I’m not sure we can say the same about the government and other authorities’ acceptance of the music as a legitimate cultural phenomenon. As a scene, we’re constantly at a disadvantage because we don’t have the police, their understanding and protection on our side. In fact, we hope they don’t show up at a nightclub as they may stop the party and shut down the place. Personally, I’m quite hopeful that this situation will work itself out over the next few years as the authorities realise that a peaceful, bustling nightlife scene needs their support.
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