As Indian rock has progressed, we hear increasingly distinct sounds. One of the most identifiable and unique bands in the country is Motherjane, who effortlessly combine Indian and Western elements in their music. And much of this is thanks to their brilliant lead guitarist, Baiju Dharmajan, or Baiju chettan to his fellow Malayalees. Deepak Gopalakrishnan speaks to one of the most gifted guitarists in India.

Deepak : Namaskaram, chetta! Congratulations on Motherjane being declared the band of the decade. First up – modesty aside, you’re largely considered one of India’s finest guitarists, and definitely one of the most authentic. The feeling that when you get on stage, there are hundreds screaming your name – you’re one of the recognizable icons of Indian rock, Indian music even. What does this mean to you?
Baiju : Hi Deepak, thanks a lot for all the good words.

As a young struggling musician, just like every other dreamy guy, I was obsessed with the thoughts of making it big. At that time the visuals that always knocked were of me being a successful appreciated creator, traveling all over the world with a band, meeting other senior iconic widely respected music players and getting that special rush of blood when you are performing for a big audience.
I am happy to have achieved at least some part of my aspirations. And for the success I am now enjoying as a guitarist, I am hugely indebted to my family, friends and fans. Without their support I would have never made it.
Music is an ocean and I believe that my boat has just started its voyage. There is a long way to cover. I believe that if it is the “Band of the decade award” or even a“Grammy”, I have reached at least up to this level only because I never faked and believed strongly in never forgetting the paths of life that showed me a light ahead to move on. I am still the simple man from Vypin Island and I have not forgotten my roots. Accolades will follow all of its own if you can be successful in being yourself and believe in your beliefs.

Deepak : Tell us about the pre-Motherjane Baiju. Where did you grow up, when did you get into music, and how did the guitar come into the picture?
Baiju : Even though my ancestral house is at Vypin in Cochin, I was in Kollam district for a considerable part of my teenage years. I got to know the pleasures of music from a very young age as my father used to play the Hawaiian guitar and my grandfather was a Carnatic musician.
I first tried to learn carnatic violin but then slowly shifted to guitar. Sharatchandran sir was my guitar guru. The greatest help that my guru did was giving me chances to play for a reputed music troupe at a very young age, might be twelve or thirteen. He used to play for a group headed by a man called Edava Basheer who led a film music troupe that was considered to be one of the best in Kerala at that time.
One day my guru suggested my name as the guitarist as he was going to the Middle East region for a couple of months as an accompanying artist for some other group. There started the journey. I got used to big crowds and huge set ups inside the stage from my teenage years. I remember the very first show I did. It was for a festival in the Trissur district organized by the Koodal Manikam Temple. And I am very lucky to have the chance to play with all that famous play back singers in Malayalam film industry. Believe me those where the best days of my life!

I still remember the day I played with the legendary playback singer Yesudas and I was sixteen or seventeen at that time! After all those rocking years with the eastern troupes, I came back to my home town Vypin Island.

After relocating to Vypin, the first band with which I played was INSTINCT, formed by Leslie sir who is a professor. He used to play drums, guitar and even sing! He can be rightly called as my first mentor as far as playing in a rock band is taken into consideration. From the practice sessions of that band, I really understood what it means or say how it really feels to be a guitarist in a rock band. After a couple of years the band broke up and I joined another band called WRENZ. That was in the 90s. With Wrenz I played all over the south. In 93 they fired me from the band. And I stopped playing guitar for couple of years. Then I was invited to play with fusion band called ATMAA, formed by ex Wrenz drummer Nirmal. From the practice session of that band I met John of Motherjane and after that everything is history!

Deepak : A question I’m sure every one of your fans want me to ask you – when and how did you get into Carnatic playing on the guitar? We know you were influenced by the music you grew up listening to, but when people get a guitar, they usually start off with the blues, power chords and essentially western progressions. Was the change from playing metal on Em to ‘progressive Carnatic shredding’ a conscious decision?
Baiju : Carnatic style of playing got diluted with Motherjane’s music as a need to create a new musical direction arose. When the songs in “Insane Biography” were composed we did not think much of having a unique sound. May be we were still searching in darkness regarding a sound of our own. At that time we wanted to make songs exactly like the way musicians in the west compose. The turning point came in as the recording of the song called ‘Broken’ was going on.

After I recorded the lead part of ‘Broken’ and went home, this uneasy feeling of “Something gone wrong” kept on coming back to haunt. Even though the pattern that got recorded was good ,I knew that I could have done better. I composed another lead part in carnatic style and the next day it was recorded. That turned out to be brilliant and I have won the best guitarist at Jack Daniel Awards!!

The rapid popularity that “Broken” got propelled Motherjane to think of a music style that can combine the elements of Indian music and the hardness of rock in a balanced way.

After ‘Broken” was released, Motherjane travelled a lot doing lot of gigs all over the country. We got lot of feedback regarding the feel of the new sound and we got convinced that our second album ‘Maktub’ need to retain the sound that started off with ‘Broken’. (Watch Broken)

Deepak : For the benefit of our guitarist readers – what’s the technique that goes behind the way you play? Do you start off getting comfortable with a scale and then try techniques like the Gamak?
Baiju : Lot of young guys frequently ask me about the way I create progressions mixing carnatic and rock style of guitaring. They ask me how it is possible for them to do it. The only answer I give them is to find their own ways and consider the ear as the greatest tool. The reason I give them such an answer is because I strongly believe that the method that worked for me may not work for them as the mind set of each music player is different. If they try to do exactly what I do, then it will turn out to be just imitation and they will fail to create their own playing style. That will harm them.

Even though I borrow from this ocean called carnatic music, I am not well versed or an expert in it. The only knowledge I have regarding this south Indian traditional music was learned way back during my younger years while playing for the eastern bands. As film songs of those times had more of carnatic influences to it than at present and I was in constant company of highly talented eastern music composers, I had the good fortune to absorb lot of ideas and knowledge from their discussions and stage shows.

Even in western guitar playing, I have not learned much theory. I went guitar classes for a long time, but only learned C Major, A Minor, A Harmonic Minor and D Minor. This happened because most of the time I used to accompany my master for stage shows and it was more of practical knowledge that he gave. That experience has helped me immensely.

I also always tell the young guys not to just imitate. I advise them to understand themselves and try to play whatever music that comes naturally to their senses. Faking may help in going up to a certain extent, but in the long run, it will destroy the talent.

Deepak : When did you get the idea of playing Vande Mataram? Today it’s one of the most recognizable pieces played by any Indian band and people wait in anticipation of it whenever Motherjane take to stage!
Baiju : Oh I don’t remember the exact story behind that! I mean, before the start of FOS I used to improvise on rag DESH and NAATTA. And one day I thought ok let’s try something different so I started to play Vande Mataram which is also in raga DESH. I was surprised by the reaction of the crowd; the whole crowd was shouting “Bharat Matha Ki Jai”. I couldn’t believe it. Those were the most unforgettable moments in my life! Believe me; the power of music is unlimited. It is not mere seven notes; it is something beyond that, something very spiritual, mystical, powerful….

I have no words to describe that feeling!!

Deepak : What gear do you use?
Baiju : Ibanez RG320, DIGITECH GSP1101 and ART SGX 2000 PRE AMP andYamaha Compass series Acoustic guitar.

Deepak : What’s the tuning and tone you use when you play? I’ve noticed you don’t retune your guitar or change guitars between songs.
Baiju : Ha Ha no secrets! Standard tuning! E, A, D, G, B, E

Deepak : Let’s talk about the musical direction that Motherjane is taking. You have a strong Indian sound, do you want to further strengthen that? More Indian instruments? Malayalam lyrics, perhaps?
Baiju : hmm very difficult question to answer …you cannot predict what will come into your life in this very moment! So how can I predict the future! ok one thing I can promise is that we will try our best to push this band to the next level, in terms of music as well as spiritual. Insha Allah.

Deepak : Could you let us know how a typical Motherjane song writing session happens? Does Suraj being in Bangalore pose a problem?
Baiju : All the songs evolve out of jamming sessions. Sometimes a riff come first and sometimes a simple chord can ignite your idea; you never know what all sounds can trigger off certain ideas. Yes that is true Suraj being in Bangalore is a problem, but if there is a will there is a way!

Deepak : A few quick ones now… Motherjane song you’re the proudest of?
Baiju : You cannot discriminate your children! To me all of them are beautiful!

Deepak : Funniest moment on stage?
Baiju : mmm nothing like that!!

Deepak : Musical influences?
Baiju : The real list is long. So I will have to mention some of the musicians whom I really adore. I am a hardcore fan of illayaraja and I love the compositions of other Indian composers like Raveendran sir,Devarajan sir, Noushad and R.D.Burman. My father had a vast collection of Gazals by Mehdi Hassan, Anup jalotta, and Pankaj Udhas. I grew up with all these Malayalam,Tamil and Hindi film music. So these are my roots

And of course I am a true disciple of Jimmy Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Steve Vai , Joe Satriani, Reb Beach, Brian May, the list goes on and on…..

Deepak : Any Indian bands you follow?
Baiju : I have been receiving lots of emails requesting to watch the videos or listen to the audios of upcoming bands. Every other band in the country is coming up with albums and videos, so there is a lot of stuff to get updated with as far as the emerging bands are considered. I am in regular touch with all of them! Believe me India is brimming with talent!!

Deepak : G3 – Joe Satriani, John Petrucci and Baiju Dharmajan. Possible?
Baiju : Ha Ha good joke I like it!!!

Deepak Gopalakrishnan aka Chuck is a blogger and cartoonist based in Mumbai. He blogs here and tweets here.