Family music

Want to wake up to the birds of Munnar or watch the beauty of New Zealand’s glaciers without leaving your seat? With their second album ‘Nature and Places’, the father-son duo ‘Instrumental Conversations’ takes listeners through a global musical tour. But what’s unique is that an untrained IT professional became a recording artiste, and the family worked tirelessly to turn dreams into reality.

Multi-instrumentalist Ravi CA started the band with his son Rahul. His journey started in his school days, when he taught himself to play the guitar and harmonica. As a teenager, his first exposure to rock music was ‘Sultans of Swing’ by ‘Dire Straits’. He spent hours mimicking Mark Knopfler’s rhythmic solos. Since he was self-taught, he was not limited by terms such as ‘Western’ and ‘Indian’ music. He began playing publicly while at Christ University.

He loved music, but in the 1980s music was a limited career option. So, as he transitioned into the corporate world and got married, music remained a hobby. As years passed, he realised that he was ready to make music a full-time endeavour. “I don’t measure success by money or titles. If you have a roof over your head and fulfill your responsibilities, you can pursue your passion,” he says.

But he had real responsibilities towards his wife and two children. “They were supportive, but guarded. Your family has to be comfortable with your plan,” he says. Ravi worked for four more years, saving every extra rupee. “The key to following your dream is planning and management,” he adds.

In 2008, Ravi left his job, giving himself a one-year deadline for success or failure. While his ultimate dream was to record music, he and his wife first started the ‘RaGa School of Music’, partly as an income-generator, partly to share music with others. They started the ‘Music Gear’ shop a few years later, where he indulges his love for carpentry by repairing broken instruments. After the year passed, Ravi knew there was no looking back.

His teaching style is built on his own experience with music. He teaches “the instrument, not a style”.

While he never doubted his purpose, there were many strenuous moments. The family overcame financial struggles, personnel issues and the stress of running two businesses. But finally, Ravi and Rahul were able to start ‘Instrumental Conversations’. Inspiration for the album ‘Nature and Places’ came to him one early morning in Munnar, when he recorded bird calls and decided to build a song around the sound. Every track on the album has authentic sounds from different locations.

“I want to recreate places close to me, and places that others find special,” he says. Ravi uses gentle guitar solos, sound effects and ambient keyboard melodies to mimic the atmosphere of each area. The songs also weave in reflections on life, like his tribute to Bengaluru, which reflects his concern over the City’s changes. Although Ravi has many other plans for the future, including writing and teaching, he plans to focus on music for now. At the very least, he hopes to leave a legacy that convinces others to not waste their potential.

“People today rush to achieve goals, but they don’t know what those goals are. I want to help people understand a balanced view of life and success. I see life as a journey where I keep going and keep learning,” he says.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Lisa Pauline Matackal, Bengaluru / DHNS – July 30th, 2015