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Words fall short when one sits down to describe the majesty of music maestro Zakir Hussain. An artiste par excellence, Hussain is better known for introducing Indian music to the western world. In a heart to heart with Urban Asian, Hussain opens up about his work, upcoming events and more.
How does it feel to be performing in the United States once again?
First I must inform you that I have lived and worked/performed in the USA since the early 1970s, so I consider myself a local artist here. Over the last 50 years there has been a steady growth in numbers of the Indian music audience and with the advent of digital media, most of the audience has become quite familiar with musics from across the globe, so that performing in America now is almost like performing in India.
A number of artists fear working with the younger generation due to the lack of their experience but you have never been one to back down. What has your collaboration experience been like with the current generation of musicians?
The young Indian classical musician of today is a more complete and well rounded performer with the advantage of having received training simultaneously in not only Indian music but musics of all different genres, thereby developing a comfortable learning process inclusive of multi music traditions; by the time they reach 20 years of age, they already know and are comfortably entrenched world musicians. To reach this level it took me almost 40 years. I like the challenge of seeing music as a global entity through their eyes and it helps to bring my music some fresh insight and be more in the present. It is therefore not a fear thing at all but instead a very exciting learning curve.
You recently wrote a book titled Zakir Hussain – A Life in Music. Tell us a bit about it.
From the tender age of 3, I had the honor and the opportunity to be a fly on the wall in the presence of some of the greatest icons of Indian music and some of the most important lessons came my way in these situations. The book in a nutshell is about those moments and those lessons learned that have made me the musician I am today. That is what this book is about.
What kind of music do you like to listen to?
I like to listen to folk music from all over the planet and The Blues.
Performing in front of a large crowd can initially be nerve-wrecking. Do you recall an experience where you felt nervous while performing? How did you get over the performance anxiety?
Getting over being tense or nervous is a process that takes time. Not the first, possibly not the 100th; it might take more stage experiences to become comfortable. If a musician is not afraid to fail on stage and is not threatened by music around him, it is possible that eventually a comfort zone may be arrived at but just maybe.
What is your message to aspiring artistes?
Don’t consider music as a job, this is a love relationship that requires acceptance by you and by the music of each other. As soon as it becomes work, the magic is lost.
Accompanied by flautist Rakesh Chaurasia, the legendary Zakir Hussain will be seen performing at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall on March 15th. For tickets logon to their website.
