<p class="bodytext">Diptangshu Bhowmik is a relatively new name on the Bengaluru jazz circuit. But the 24-year-old got into music quite early in life. His mother worked as an Indian music teacher in England, where he was born. She frequently experimented with linking different cultures through music, and performed quite often. This gave him access to diverse genres of music.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The artiste, who later on moved to Kolkata, is part of a band called Lakkshya, a Karnatik fusion band formed in 2019. Having recently completed their India tour, they are currently working on a new album that will blend Karnatik and jazz traditions, as well as influences from around the world. “We respect the grammar of Karnatik traditions but at the same time we are attempting to globalise it,” he shares. The album will tentatively be released within two months.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Growing up in Kolkata, he played for fests and bands. He befriended musicians who’d been playing around the country and internationally. They introduced him to new music. It was his initiation into the Indian music scene. When Bhowmik began playing, he found a link between pop music and jazz through hip hop.</p>.Alpha, Bravo and Charlie of ham radio.<p class="bodytext">“I think as teenagers we are edgy so we start by listening to psychedelic rock and similar genres. But when I ventured into jazz, I was strongly influenced by the likes of Robert Glasper and Thundercat,” he says.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bhowmik is currently working on an album with Suraj Gulvady, a producer, and guitarist for singer Lucky Ali. He’s also working on some jazz compositions with a few musicians that he’s met in Bengaluru, like Rohit P S, the drummer from his band Drip. His aim is to be his own recording artiste someday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“To survive as a musician, you cannot box yourself into one category,” he believes. So he also dabbles in Karnatik fusion, pop and rock.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The musician says that jazz culture is alive and well in India. Talking about the jazz scene in Bengaluru, he says, “I think it’s getting better. While there might’ve been crackdowns on live music venues, it’s still not so bad. There’s a lot of young kids that are choosing the genre. Musicians are supportive of each other.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Diptangshu Bhowmik is a relatively new name on the Bengaluru jazz circuit. But the 24-year-old got into music quite early in life. His mother worked as an Indian music teacher in England, where he was born. She frequently experimented with linking different cultures through music, and performed quite often. This gave him access to diverse genres of music.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The artiste, who later on moved to Kolkata, is part of a band called Lakkshya, a Karnatik fusion band formed in 2019. Having recently completed their India tour, they are currently working on a new album that will blend Karnatik and jazz traditions, as well as influences from around the world. “We respect the grammar of Karnatik traditions but at the same time we are attempting to globalise it,” he shares. The album will tentatively be released within two months.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Growing up in Kolkata, he played for fests and bands. He befriended musicians who’d been playing around the country and internationally. They introduced him to new music. It was his initiation into the Indian music scene. When Bhowmik began playing, he found a link between pop music and jazz through hip hop.</p>.Alpha, Bravo and Charlie of ham radio.<p class="bodytext">“I think as teenagers we are edgy so we start by listening to psychedelic rock and similar genres. But when I ventured into jazz, I was strongly influenced by the likes of Robert Glasper and Thundercat,” he says.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bhowmik is currently working on an album with Suraj Gulvady, a producer, and guitarist for singer Lucky Ali. He’s also working on some jazz compositions with a few musicians that he’s met in Bengaluru, like Rohit P S, the drummer from his band Drip. His aim is to be his own recording artiste someday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“To survive as a musician, you cannot box yourself into one category,” he believes. So he also dabbles in Karnatik fusion, pop and rock.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The musician says that jazz culture is alive and well in India. Talking about the jazz scene in Bengaluru, he says, “I think it’s getting better. While there might’ve been crackdowns on live music venues, it’s still not so bad. There’s a lot of young kids that are choosing the genre. Musicians are supportive of each other.”</p>