Mixed acts

Fluid sounds

Sounds, however fluid and versatile, are packed and stuffed into boxes before the second note can even touch the air.

And it’s no different for musicians, who are quickly labelled and tossed aside. But Akhil Kodamanchili refuses to let these labels stick and would rather find the magic in every form of music. Working on a project called ‘No Hero’, an alternative genre-agnostic blend, he recently released his first album, ‘Bare Witness’.

The improvised sounds, progressive beats and riffs and electronic mixes will definitely get your foot tapping. Talking about the album and more, he says...

The album was/is...

My album — ‘Bare Witness’ — was a personal challenge. I had to compose music out of improvisation in a way that blurs the line between the two. Technology these days for music production has given me the opportunity to record an hour-long improvised jam with drummer Peter Joshua Francis and then take that home to add other elements and bring in more flavour. All in all, besides the vocals, all the instruments were mostly random takes that just happened to make sense. I am also drawn to the idea of having a certain amount of rawness at this stage of my musical life, maybe as a contrast to the perfectly quantised sounds possible via electronic music.

When did your journey as a musician begin?

I picked up the guitar just before 10th grade, and one can only imagine the implications that had on my academic life!

What instruments do you play?

Having studied composition as my major in music school, I make it a point to indulge in all the main instruments of the modern ensemble — guitars, bass, drums, keys and vocals — and also try to be as competent with recording and production to make my musical journey more productive. Ultimately, it’s the music and the experience of channeling it via whatever instrument is what I think is key.

Have you named any of your instruments?

My acoustic guitar is called ‘Luci’ — short for ‘lucid’, not Lucifer!

A genre you’d see yourself trying next.
I think I’ll try anything that isn’t too vested in tradition and rigidity. I treat genres like a buffet made by various chef’s (bands) and with multiple outlets (DJs), and I just take as much as I want of whatever, depending on my state of mind and the circumstances of the moment. I’ve played with Indian folk artistes and fully electric/electronic ensembles.

Hardest part about being a musician...

Is integrating the music I make into society, it can be a little weird sometimes. I find that (at times), the business of music is independent of the music itself, and more dependent on the commercial aspect, thereby making it very difficult to sell something without having to scandalise the art of it or ironically, sometimes be censored. But, honestly, being a musician is quite awesome, and as long as you stay competent, good experiences are bound to outweigh the disappointments that life brings.

If, one day, you lost your musical talent and ability to make music...

I would trade up my music skills for some form of martial arts. Maybe not Tai Chi though.

Top three songs on your playlist (other than your own) at the moment.

‘Eriatarka’ by The Mars Volta, ‘Jackie and Wilson’ by Hozier and ‘Away’ by Plini.

Your music inspirations are...

I think ‘Linkin Park’ really lit the fire about 11 years ago and since then, there were phases where I was constantly introduced to so much music that it became really difficult to commit my inspirations. But at some point, Guthrie Govan made a huge impact on me with his album ‘Erotic Cakes’. Really, it’s more about how there are so many people to be inspired by than picking one or few I may want to identify with.

One music festival you’d like to perform at.
Shambhala Music Festival is a goal in life.

Now that you’ve released your album, what plans next?

Right now, getting ready to take ‘No Hero’ to stage. And I’m working on material for a live electronica/hip hop project called ‘Sharam Masala’ with rapper Aishan Vali and setting up some workshops on music philosophy and other educative matters.