Dhwanii - Issue No. 1

Genesis for New Beginnings

- Interview with Ranojoy conducted through email by Umesh

Ranojoy, a budding and much talked about composer and music programmer based in New York, is the first upcoming composer to be interviewed for Dhwanii's Genesis section. The 22 year old, who is completing his Masters in Mechanical Engineering at University of Illinois, hails from Calcutta, India. He answers the questions put forward to him by the Dhwanii Editorial Team. Dhwanii hopes to bring you many more such enlightening interviews to inspire those of you who revel in the creation of music. You can listen to our first Genesis composer's work at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/ranoshare
(Pics in the article are of Ranojoy's studio and equipment.)

Composing music is looked upon as a task bestowed upon a gifted few. And to many it's a mystery what goes on in a composer's mind. So we would like to know since what age have you been composing? How did it start? Was it like you had these tunes running in your head like a background score and you just had to put them down?

I started composing only when I was 19. I have always been in awe of good musicians. I had been playing around with keyboards for some time. So I finally thought maybe I could make something happen with music myself and bought a professional keyboard. Initially I was just rearranging familiar songs. I gradually pushed myself into composing and it took almost a year before anything sensible happened! I did have a feeling for it I guess, but it turns out to be more difficult than what I had thought. Buying the keyboard was the starting point. Eventually I have expanded my equipment according to my needs.

You do tend to project music in your mind, but it's very difficult to translate/interpret that into the music that you end up composing.

Who and what were your early influences and inspirations? What are they now? How have you grown as a composer and what do you see yourself as in the future?

I think it all began with Roja. I heard the song Dil Hai Chhota Sa on TV and I was absolutely stunned by the music. I had never heard anything like it in my entire life. Eventually I found out that the name of the composer was A. R. Rahman, and the journey started from there. I have heard everything he has composed post Roja (released) and he continues to be the greatest influence in my music. He has composed for nearly 60 albums and almost 95% of all his songs sound amazing to me, and the rest are all good anyway. I don't know of any other composer at any point in time that has been this prolific and this good at the same time. And I hope to see much more of his work over the next years. I probably started composing because I saw how he was able to move me with his music. That is very powerful.

Besides him, I like Deep Forest, Enigma, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Lisa Gerrard and other world musicians.

Composing is a continuous learning process. Programming is an aspect that you can constantly improve on. You also get a sense for the right sound over time and the programming becomes more detailed and well-planned. Of course you continuously listen to what others are doing and learn from them.

The future remains a mystery for me. I would like to be a good composer of melodious music, hopefully.

How did you start experimenting with composing? Did you start with any instrument? What is the formal music training that you have received? How important is formal music education for a composer?

I didn't start off with a formal education in music, except basic music notation and so on. I liked the keyboard since I was very young. I do like to think of myself as a student of music. I learn by playing other people's music. It's a very rewarding practice. You sort of "see" the music and how all the notes come together to create the music and make things sound a certain way. It creates an immense respect for the composers. It's a great way to educate your self. You see that some songs have more complex melodies than others in playing them, and that some follow unusual progressions.

A sound musical training is quite useful when time becomes a constraint. One should have something to fall back on when inspiration is lacking, especially if he/she composes music professionally.

How do you get inspiration for a composition and what are the methods you use to record your ideas and develop your compositions?

It all starts with me sitting at the keyboard and playing pretty random bits and pieces of music. Then, hopefully, I chance upon a segment of music that moves me, and I develop it. It's more of a discovery than creation at this point. A good melody is always important to me. However, I have to use my own sense of judgment to say what's good and what's not. After that you put your melody on the sequencer and start programming around it. After the programming phase comes mixing and production, which happens mostly on the computer. This is the most exhaustive part of it all. Hopefully, at the end of it all, people like it!

Heard all your compositions on Ranoshare. Your compositions are very melodious are have quite a wide range of influences from new age, jazz to fusion. And somebody had also mentioned in your Yahoo Group that you like to do BGMs (Background Music) more. Why is that?

Thanks. I do try to compose melodies along specific styles. I think it helps people connect easily with the music. But I also don't like to confine myself to any specific style. I am always looking for new and interesting progressions and sounds that I haven't used before, while keeping a common signature sound. I guess the idea comes from my favorite musicians. Good things happen sometimes.

I end up creating 1 minute pieces because that is all my present circumstances permit me to do. I would like to compose longer musical pieces in the future.

Any plans of releasing an album or going mainstream to tap the burgeoning Indian pop scene?

"Pop" music is too challenging. One has to come up with concepts and needs a common vision for 10-12 songs. That is difficult to do. I like film music and advertisements, since there the composer is trying to project the ideas of the directors. I think I would be more comfortable with that. I can't speak of the future with certainty though. I am also interested in programming music.

What kind of music do you listen to when you are not composing? Who are your favourite musicians, groups, and singers?

I don't listen to music casually but to learn something new. All forms of music have something interesting to offer. I have mentioned some composers / musicians above that I have liked over the years. I seem to connect well with most of their work as a listener.

My favorite Indian composers from the past days are Madan Mohan, S. D. Burman, Shankar Jaikishan and O. P. Nayyar. They were all unique in their respective style. I like Illayaraja's work although I haven't heard too many of his albums. In the past few years I have also become a fan of western classical music, classical piano, jazz piano etc.

I like musicians who are a bit off the mainstream. But I have respect for the mainstream composers for being able to sustain their music and popularity over the years.

Does the learning curve of the technical aspects of music production take away from the creativity?

It depends from musician to musician, and from style to style. For certain forms of music, the sound and mix are more important with respect to the overall effect than others. But one needs to be creative there as well! That's very much a part of music, especially the kind of music that most of us deal with.
To me, the melody is the most important aspect, and demands the greatest attention. I try never to compromise on that.

Beyond that, the music production has to be good in the present state of things. One needs the right melody and the right sound. That is why sound engineers are highly paid individuals as far as I know.

Some people are more creative and original than others. Overall, you try to take care of things that you know you are capable of.

How disciplined are you in your Home Studio or do you just treat it as any other room? I am sure that there are many budding composers out there who would like to know the right working habits a composer has to inculcate in order to create successfully. Could you share your experiences on this?

One has to be passionate about the work. One has to get used to working long hours at a stretch with a lot of focus. It does require a lot of discipline, especially when time is a constraint. You have to balance professionalism with creativity and over the years you learn about the aspects of music that you cannot compromise on. I would rather ask for a day or two or a few hours more than publish something that doesn't work because I simply didn't have enough time.

When programming music, we make sure that every note is at its proper position in time and plays for the correct duration with the right velocity and so on. Things take time in production. I know of musicians who work 18 hour shifts daily. But at the end of it all, it is probably worth it.

Composing requires a lot of patience. But I think that is someone is passionate enough and serious about the work they are able to adjust to the demands easily.

What are your future plans?

My engineering studies are nearing their end for now, soon, which hopefully means I'll be able to get back to my studio. We'll see what happens after that.
I have a few things in mind, but nothing that I can/should promise. I do hope to program/compose professionally soon. Hopefully things will work out right.

Good luck for your magazine and thanks for this interview. Hopefully I will be able to justify your decision through my work in the future!

We wish Ranojoy the best for his future.