VYOMA SHAH
PALM EXPO 2018
Palm Expo 2018 was yet another validation of the symbiotic relationship that exists between musicians and sound/
light centric paraphernalia. Here are some excerpts from conversations that we had with the artists at the expo:
YAMAHA STAGE:
Could you tell us about your act and
take us through your repertoire?
Louis Banks: Gangashakti is an
indo-jazz fusion band. On the Indian
classical side, we’re covering both,
North Indian Hindustani classical
as well as Carnatic classical. Our
singer will do North Indian and
our violinist will do Carnatic. Then
there’s Mohini Dey on bass and my
son Gino on drums. We’re playing all
my compositions, which I’ve written
specifically for this band.
Nise Meruno: Since this is an expo
and everyone is in high spirits, I will
be playing pieces that I feel everyone
will relate to. I will be playing a medley
of three Bollywood songs, as that’s
something people don’t expect from a
Yamaha artist. I’m will also play two
pieces from the contemporary pianist,
Yiruma because I feel like those
pieces demand your heart to be ripped
open and you can pour out all your
emotions.
What are your thoughts on Yamaha’s
Clavinova Digital Pianos?
Louis Banks: It’s the best thing next
to the original acoustic grand piano.
The advantage is that on the grand
piano, you get only one piano sound
but on the Clavinova, you get several
grand piano sounds like Bosendorfer,
Steinway etc. - you can chose. Besides
that, you have the whole orchestra as
well as choir, guitar, lead sounds and
synths – there’s no end to it. I love it.
Nise Meruno: As an artist, I know
that I am a Yamaha artist. My loyalty
and my support is with them and
vice versa. The reason I love digital
pianos is that they are personally very
intimate. You can put headphones on,
practice on them late night and also
control volume so your ears don’t get
filled and full. I truly feel that Yamaha
products are an extension of who I am.
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Score Magazine
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Montage, I was using the Motif and I
really love the piano sound on both. I
love the knob on the Montage; it has
such incredible features and is easily
programmable. Simple things like tap
tempo, using arpeggiators, filters and
playing around with the cut offs is
so easy to do on this keyboard. If you
you’re using it for recording, the way
it talks to your Logic or Cubase is just
mind blowing.
Could you tell us about some of your
upcoming projects this year?
Louis Banks: I just completed the
music for a South Indian psychological
horror film called Prana, which will be
out next month.
Salim Merchant: I’m currently
working on Race 3, which is going to
release on Eid. It’s a massive score
I’ve done and I’ve had a great time,
because I worked with the Budapest
orchestra and some amazing other
musicians. Post this, I will be working
on a musical, which I’m producing and
doing music for.
What advice would you give upcoming
musicians?
Louis Banks: Practice and learn how
to read music, because it’s an asset.
With Jazz, I would say, copy the solos
- it’s very important as a staring point.
Get a feel of how the greats played
certain things. Get it in your fingers
and you will get a better idea of how to
go about it.
Salim Merchant: Learn music. Learn
an instrument. You can’t create a loop
and say you’re a musician, cause that
loop will be outdated after 3 months.
However, the music you’ll learn will
be forever.
Mr. Rehan Siddiqui,
Assistant General Manager
MI Sales & Marketing
(Yamaha Music India Private Limited)
How do you feel about the Montage 8? Product launches at PalmExpo 2018
Salim Merchant: I really like
the signature Yamaha sound; it’s
phenomenal. Right before the We launched the portable keyboard
E463 which is a replacement model