“Music knows no boundaries” – Raghu Dixit

Yes, Raghu Dixit makes music that we love to listen to. You can feel his passion for music, the energy, the soul, the simplicity in his songs. His music is an amalgamation of Indian ethnic music and sounds from around the world, the lyrics are simple though intense and that’s why it appeals to audiences worldwide. His songs Mysore se aayi, Mumbai, Antaragni, Hey Bhagwan, Har Saans Mein, Gudugudiya and many more are very popular among his fans.

He has founded the Raghu Dixit Project, which is an open house for musicians and artistes from different genres to come together, collaborate and create a dynamic sound and expression. Though a gold medalist in Masters in Microbiology and a proficient Indian Classical Dancer (Vidwat in Bharatanatyam), Raghu Dixit is now known more as a self-taught guitarist-singer-composer-song writer-musician. As the founder of his band Antaragni for more than eight years, and now of The Raghu Dixit Project, Raghu has performed more than 250 concerts all over India and in UK, Korea, Japan and now Australia.

In early October he a was in Australia to perform in Melbourne and Perth (don’t worry he’s coming to Sydney early next year). The Indian Down Under caught up with the singer to take their readers for a musical journey where we will know more about this singer, his music and his optimism that epitomizes modern India.

Talking from Perth, Raghu starts off by telling us about his tour to Australia, “I reached on October 3 and played in Melbourne for a concert organized by the Kannada cheap jerseys community. The concert was a massive hit, and was colourful like an Indian wedding! This is my first trip to 5 Australia and the Kannada speaking people are treating me like a star. I have so many lunch and dinner invitations, I’m enjoying all the attention.

“I landed in Perth a day after and within an hour I contracted a viral infection, it happens every time I perform. I’m performing in Perth for a collaborative project with artist Mama Kin from Fremantle. It’s funny how I met her for the first time. On my flight from Perth to Melbourne, the Qantas staff didn’t let us take the guitars in hand baggage, so we were planning to buy new hard cases in Perth. Suddenly Mama Kin called out ”˜Raghu!’ They lent us their hard cases. That is how we met for the first time. Though for rehearsals we’ll be meeting her for the first time tomorrow,” says Raghu.

The first question that comes to my mind – if he’s meeting her for the first time, how will they do a concert together?

Replies Raghu confidently, “She is a blues, folk singer and we are going to find a common ground. Music knows no languages, no barriers, our hearts will talk to each other, and produce a harmony. Raghu dixit project is a sense of collaboration, anyone can play with me, be it a musician or dancer.”

So what was the objective behind this project?

“The idea behind the project is to collaborate with other musicians I like to play with and musicians who want to play with me. I wanted my journey to be like a Lead, river and carry what comes along with me. Since 2005 we have started, cheap nba jerseys more than 20-30 musicians come and go. This time we have five musicians with me,” Raghu says.

I can’t resist asking him why he didn’t chose Sydney as his concert destination and went to Perth.

He explains, “I initially planned to play in smaller concerts and festivals as my idea was to feel the industry about my music. I have done the same in UK, travelled for a few months, and then released an album. I just wanted my name to be known, and not only play for Indian audiences as my music is representative of India culture. This Australian week tour was mainly to focus on industry people, get invited for the festival season, and let people be turned on by our music.”

So how would you define your music?

“It is true representation of what India is today, at core we are deeply rooted by our culture but we are also adapting ourselves to the internet revolution. It’s the same concept; my music is deeply rooted with folk music but is supported with layers of music from all around the world. It’s a fusion of music coming all over the world. It’s like wearing jeans to work but wearing a bindi on your forehead.”

After a successful music album, do you have plans to join the Bollywood bandwagon?

“Though I have done music for Kannada movies, till date I have stayed away from Bollywood since I think my music doesn’t fit in there. But now the music scenario has changed, there is no more running around the trees and filmmakers are coming up with new ideas.   Now I’m ready to go Bollywood.”

So are you planning the release of your second album now?

“My first album took a long time and “偷”æŠ€æœ¯çš„“美国制造业之父” even with the second album I will take a long time, but many people come out with second one too soon. I want my songs to mature, and have a good producer which helps in making an album successful, and before doing that earn good money!”

Not many people know, but, Raghu, besides being a singer, is also a Bharatnatyam dancer.

“I used to dance, I don’t dance anymore. Now if you see my figure, I’ll gradually go for belly dancing (laughs)! South Indian Brahmin families force their kids to learn art, I learnt wholesale nba jerseys out of cheap nba jerseys force but continued to dance, but when I got the joy of singing I left dancing.”

Raghu also has a unique style of dressing – short kurta and loongi. “My dress is just for the stage as the audience also wants a visual treat. So we came up with this unique dress – an amalgamation of style and our culture. I’m proud to wear a loongi in my home and on stage and if anyone copies us they will be called a copycat! And yes, it also hides my belly which is half hidden by the guitar!”

On a closing note, Raghu ponders over the future.

“I don’t have any future plans – I’m like a leaf and where wind will blow me, wherever my music takes me, I’ll go there. Westerners only know Indian music by sitar and tabla, there is no true representation of the south Indian music and I’m proud to showcase my culture.”