Known for being one of the most eclectic music bands in India, Indian Ocean recently performed again at the Dublin Square in Mumbai. One of the oldest Indian fusion rock bands, Indian Ocean never fails to create magic when performing together in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Keeping it all together and how, Indian Ocean members Amit Kilam and Rahul Ram spoke exclusively about their secret sauce, why their fans keep coming back for more and whether they consider Artificial Intelligence a viable threat to talent.
Here are the edited excerpts of the chat:
Q: Bands and artists have come and gone but the Indian Ocean continues to be a fan favourite. What’s your secret?
A: I think the secret is that we love and respect the music that all of us do and the people we play with. We don’t get tired of each other’s music. We are always looking forward to being on the road and making new music and with this thought we carry on.
Fusion music vs Classics?
Q: Indian Ocean started fusion music when most didn’t understand what it meant. Fusion is no longer looked at with a lens of suspicion by the Puritans. Possibly because we don’t have so many Puritans who want the OG’s to not change. How do you reflect on that?
A: New music is always welcomed by music lovers. The beauty of the Indian audiences is that they have always shown interest in new kinds of music and sounds and have always welcomed people with new ideas.
Q: In the age of social media when everything has a lifespan of 10 seconds, how does the Indian Ocean retain its brand value? Do you indulge people on social media? Do you have the GenZs as your fanbase?
A: Firstly, we have never had a target base. Our primary motto is to make music we like and love. It has always been like that from day one. Going through ups and downs in life, accepting new things, change is inevitable as humans. But at the end of the day, what’s important is doing what you like. From the very beginning, we knew it was difficult for us to come under the “trend category”. We had long songs, an amalgamation of sounds and didn’t have any clear cut pure genre for any marketing label to use directly. We were always aiming to be ourselves and therefore, these thoughts never came to us. Having said that, we respect the people and will try our best to reach out to everybody while also being true to ourselves.
Is Artificial Intelligence a potential threat to musicians?
Q: What about the AI threat? Do you think it has the potential to replace human creativity and talent?
A: I have no idea how far AI will go and how much it will replace musicians. It is new, fascinating and sometimes saddening. Some styles of music might become easier to copy in the future and some musicians might face the fallout, that goes without saying. However, what I can say for sure is that there is no replacement for pure, creative and original skill.
Q: What’s the biggest challenge in today’s times for a band that has seen so many decades of evolution of music, tastes, and technology?
A: I think the biggest challenge is to keep working while also looking after your physical health. External challenges like the changing trends will always be there, however, what’s important is maintaining your physical health as well as mental health and being excited about making music.
Q: What was the experience like at Dublin Square? Also, should we expect any new music this year?
A: I can’t tell you the exact date, but yes, we are working on our new album and will release it sooner as compared to the last time. At Dublin Square in Phoenix Marketcity Mumbai, we played music from our latest album which was released last year called “Tu Hai” as well as some of our earlier songs.
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