JOIN US'My instruments are like babies to me'
Percussionist Sivamani was in the City recently, to perform at the Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava. He had come attired in a red shirt, red jacket and a red turban.
When told that he should have been the hero of ‘Rockstar’, and not Ranbir Kapoor, he says, “Ranbir Kapoor is a rock star only in the movie, I am a real-life rock star!”
The talented artiste then went on to recollect his childhood days. “Though my father S M Anandan was a renowned drummer himself, he was very skeptical about my musical career.
Whenever he saw me playing music, he would push me to study. Until he saw me perform with T V Gopalakrishnan, a Carnatic and Hindustani musician from Chennai, he did not encourage me. But ever since the performance, he has only supported me!” he says.
His musical instruments are very dear to him. “My instruments are like babies to me. I talk to them, and I apologise to them when I am late. Without them, I do not have an identity of my own. My body will die, but not my music,” he says.
Ask him if he finds any difference between the audience in India and the audience abroad and he says, “There is no difference. The hearts of the people are same everywhere; their heartbeats are the same. Everywhere I go, people enjoy my music, and I enjoy their company.”
He observes that there is no technique or formula for composing music. “I try to be very innovative with music. I can create music out of anything. There is no particular formula to this. A musician has to work really hard, almost meditate upon it, and just wait for the music to flow – naturally!”
About his upcoming projects, he says, “I am coming up with a video album called Tu Hi Tu, the music for which is prominently created from water. The video will be released soon.”