Raghu Dixit gets candid on making music for the Hindi film Bewakoofiyan just before the release, the dying state of record labels, and going indie all the way.
Spending three years on the road, scrapping the earlier sets of recordings and working with a motley bunch of session musicians was bare essential for Raghu Dixit, frontman of folk rock band The Raghu Dixit Project, to imagine and construct his latest album Jag Changa (listen here) that released in 2013. Unwavering dedication and relentless efforts went into bringing that one specific, pre-determined shape, texture and bent into being that Raghu wanted the album to possess. Until that, there was no resting.
Till date, the sales of the album have done phenomenally well, all independently, that Raghu says it wouldn’t have been possible had they knocked on the doors of record labels, which contrary to popular belief are doing miserably. “They give you numbers as dismal as 2000 or 3000 maximum. And we’ve sold about 35000 in the last three months”.
While Jag Changa soared comfortably without trouble, Raghu’s latest commercial venture, composing music for the Ayushmann Khurrana and Sonam Kapoor starrer Bewakoofiyan was a different ballgame. According to him, the challenge lied in the ability to be creative in a limited space. “For me the title track was a victory. People have been very kind to like songs like ‘Gulcharrey’ and ‘Khamakha’ which are really not my taste in music.” He added that he learnt a lot about electronica music through this project, which he claims was his take home lesson.
The Raghu Dixit Project won the Best Live Act at GIMA 2014. Winning the award was a sense of validation for all their efforts, especially the fact that this award ceremony measured Hindi film musicians and indie acts with the same yardstick. Raghu Dixit can unanimously be referred to as one of the more popular indie musicians in our country. However, for Raghu, ‘success’ is being able to live life on his own terms; with his own music; getting chances to travel. There’s hardly much else that acts a thorn in his path.
Interestingly, Raghu has managed to achieve something many musicians don’t – getting the audience to sing along with you in a language unknown to most – Kannada. The track “Lokada Kalaji” is a crowd favourite, where Raghu spells out each and every line on stage. The roar of the ocean of people is a sight to watch. And if you’re part of the wave, then the infectious energy will get to you and before you know it you’ll be mouthing Kannada lyrics of the track.
Raghu, who started his traditional career path by finishing his studies and working as a microbiologist, saw his first spark of adulation while he worked at a pharmaceutical company in Belgium. During those days, he used to strum his guitar in his room recreationally. One day, his landlord came up to him and asked which song was playing on the radio. Raghu humbly told him it was his own song and not something on the radio. He then handed his landlord a CD, which in no time, reached the studios of the Belgian radio following which, in no time, Raghu was asked to do an hour-long show. In Raghu’s own words – The rest is all history. But one message he imparts to musicians of any cadre who yearn to break the clutter in search of an all-pervasive sound, and recognition thereafter. “From our second album we’ve definitely proved that every artist should go out on his own. Of course, it’s a lot of harder, but if you’re ready to do it and you’ve got your music sorted then there’s no looking back.”
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Watch this space for an exclusive chat with Raghu Dixit. Meanwhile, read our interview with Raghu Dixit on his indie album Jag Changa here. To read about an indie musicians’ dilemma – whether to Bollywood or not, click here.
