The latest album to hit the racks on Bhejafry Records, is CORREKT by Bandish Projekt, the band that is led by one man, Mayur Narvekar, and his friend. We caught up with him, to find out more about his take on music, his fan following and the dream project…
How do you position your band, Bandish Projekt amidst so many others?
I have been performing since the age of five as a classical tabla player, and started producing music ten years ago. Bandish Projekt has been continuing to produce music for different genres, until now. The USP of Bandish Projekt is that I produce music for any genre, be it dance music, films, plays or a music piece for a specific purpose to be scored. As a band it comprises just me, a.k.a Bandish Projekt. The live set of Bandish Projekt consists of DJing, playing percussion and vocals; and I do it all at the same time. So as a band this is the USP of Bandish Projekt — that no other band performs like this.
Tell us about your works. How has the journey been so far?
It has been a fantastic journey till now. I have produced music just not for the dance scene around the world but for also background scores for movies, documentaries and international artistes. So it has been quite an exciting and learning process for me as a producer as I have collaborated with international artistes and producers, and have tried to achieve a new sound in every piece I make.
Tell us about some crazy experiences you have had with fans.
One of my fans had registered by the name of Bandish Projekt on a blogging site couple of years ago. When I tried registering one on the same name, they said it was already taken. I searched and found the guy who got the name. By then, all my fans and other artistes thought it was me and started adding him and communicating with him. When I asked him to give me the login details, he demanded a couple of tracks from me. I did send him some tracks, but did not receive the details in return. He wanted more music to be sent to him! I took that as a compliment. He was the craziest one of them all.
Who is/are your inspiration(s)?
Coming from a family that is deeply into music, I'd say that music is in my blood. My first inspiration was my dad who first taught me to play the tabla. Then, my guru Shri Divyang Vakil who taught me classical tabla for 20 years. All the classical musicians I encountered as I grew up, have inspired me. Thereafter, I was inspired by the music and the producers from the West, which made me think of my own music in a different format. That's when Bandish Projekt started.
Tell us about some of your forthcoming projects.
After CORREKT, I'll be collaborating with different international artistes for another album soon. Some of the tracks are already ready. There will be single release early next year by Bhejafry records, before this album releases.
Tell us about CORREKT. What's new this time around?
The entire album is compiled with a variety of sounds. I have explored genres like folk, classical, drum and bass, trip hop, Electronika combined it with new age IDM (intelligent dance music) presented in a way never before, but each of them in their own way. I don't stick to any rules, I make my own rules, and break them too. So the music in this album is not correct. It's CORREKT. It's my Correkt.
How have the promotional campaigns been going?
The album is already out digitally on itunes, Juno music UK, and all major radio stations in UK, US, Europe, BBC radio1, BBC Asian network have been playing the album since the last one month. All major blogs have been reviewing the album; one of them is Generation Bass in UK. I am also doing a Correkt India Tour soon with a five-piece band.
If you could emulate the success of a band and reach the same height, which one would that be?
I don't think it would be a band, but definitely Madonna. I have grown up listening to her music for years and the most important think about her music is that she always has been innovating in every song. All her songs have their own flavour, style and age. I think every artiste should try and achieve that quality, so that one does not restrict oneself to a particular sound or music style.
Your message to all those die-hard music fans out there...
Thank you all for giving your love and support for Bandish Projekt for so many years. Please buy the album and show your love and support to the artist. I hope you continue to love me this way. I assure you to get the best Asian elektronika music to your ears.
Finally, tell us about your dream project.
Performing with a 72-piece live orchestra with 10 tabla players, every folk drum possible from around the world, Indian classical singers, choirs and Elektronika…
Sample the music at:
www.myspace.com/bandishprojekt official
Preethi is a student of Mass Comm and Journalism at St. Francis Degree College for Women, Hyderabad.
