The Score Magazine May 2016 Issue

ISSN 0974 – 9128

Vol 09 Issue 04 May 2016

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India's National Pan-Genre Music MagazinE

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ONE-ON-ONE WITH

DARSHAN DOSHI TALKS ABOUT HIS JOURNEY, MUSIC PROJECTS, ASSOCIATION WITH ZILDJIAN AND A LOT MORE.

PRODUCTS TO LOOK OUT FOR SENNHEISER ANNOUNCES WIDE RANGE OF EXCITING PRODUCTS TO BE LAUNCHED THIS MONTH

COVER STORY

RENDEZVOUS WITH

MR. PRASHANT GOVINDAN, DIRECTOR OF HARMAN INDIA HE SPOKE TO US ABOUT THE VARIOUS BRANDS UNDER THE HARMAN UMBRELLA, THEIR USP, AND MUCH MORE.

SUKHWINDER SINGH HUMBLY OPENS HIS HEART OUT TO US TO RECAPITULATE HIS RISE TO STARDOM FROM AN EAGER LEARNER AND MUCH MORE. ALSO INSIDE : WHAT HAPPENED AT MUSIKMESSE 2016 AND MUCH MORE.

DIRECTOR'S NOTE Director, Strategy and Planning Ajay Prabhakar Director, Business Development Pragash VM

Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to represent the Indian Media fraternity at Prolight + Sound 2016 at Frankfurt. The scale of the event and the attention to detail by the organizers was mind blowing and it gave us an opportunity for exposure and learn of new ways of changes to bring to India. Some of the highlights of the expo was that it not only catered to large industry businesses but also small business from across the globe.

Director, Marketing & Operations Sneha Ramesh

Another thing that amazed us was how the sound levels at the festival was managed efficiently without causing hindrance to others and this is something we think the expos in India must follow.

Editorial Advisor Nikila Srinivasan

Musikmesse app kept us well informed about the expo with details of the exhibitors and events happening across Frankfurt. We hope to make it to such exhibitions every year representing the Indian market.

Creative Director George Vedamanickam Lead Designer Nipun Garodia Content Contributors Pramita Bose Amogh Rao Manisha Bhat Shubham Goyal thescoremag

@highonscore

This year we continue the tradition of being associated with Palm Expo at Mumbai and we look forward to meeting our patrons, peers and readers at the expo.

Every year there is a lot to learn from Palm Expo and we look forward to sharing the experiences with you very soon. Keep in tune with us for further updates and more info.. Stay in touch!

PRAGASH VM

Director - Business Development

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contactus@highonscore.com +91 95000 12975 DISCLAIMER: Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photography or illustrations without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and illustrations. Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publication and accordingly no liability is assumed by the publisher thereof. Advertising copy and artworks are the sole responsibility of the advertisers. http://www.motherteresafoundation.org.in The Score Magazine is proud to support the Mother Teresa Foundation and urge our readers to join us in giving back a fraction of what we have been given.

I NSIDE

SUKHWINDER SINGH

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Sukhwinder Singh humbly opens his heart out to us to recapitulate his rise to stardom from an eager learner, his multifarious experiences as a musician and much more.

MR. PRASHANT GOVINDAN, DIRECTOR OF HARMAN INDIA 34

MAATI BAANI

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He spoke to us about the various brands under the Harman umbrella, their USP, products to be launched this month and much more.

SENNHEISER’S PRODUCTS TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS MONTH

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A wide range of exciting products to be launched later this month.

Get a glimpse in this issue!

SREEJITH EDVANA

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We had a chat with the talented duo about their musical journey and much more.

He spoke to us about his musical journey, his sources of inspiration, projects to look out for and much more.

DARSHAN DOSHI

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HIPHOP HOMELAND 32 The street is alive, the street has a voice, the street is omniscient. Most of all, the street is a catalyst for change, always has been and always will be.

MUSIKMESSE 2016

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We give you the highlights of what happened at MusikMesse Frankfurt earlier this year.

We had a chat with Darshan Doshi about his journey, music projects, association with Zildjian and a lot more.

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SUKHWINDER SINGH Sukhwinder Singh aka Sukhiji is not only a big name in Bollywood playback but certainly a phenomenon to reckon with in the Indian music industry. His unique tonal quality, powerpacked volume, high-pitched throw and a formidable wide range set his class apart from the rest. The supremely talented National Awardees humbly opens his heart out to the Score Magazine to recapitulate his rise to stardom from an eager learner, his multifarious experiences as a musician, the rite of passage in his life, courtesy A.R. Raman and his insatiable hunger to continue charting out the unclimbed cliffs of music.

Did performing live on stage as a child encourage you to become a singer in future?

Yes, definitely. I realized that singing can get me rewards, recognition and makes me a happy person at the end of the day! A toffee given to me as a prize soon after my maiden public performance was definitely a muchcoveted boost on the threshold of my entry into this infinite world of music. And ever since, it is the audience appreciation and not awards that has been my biggest driving force in my career.

See, I had only two professional options to pick up in life as I was also a very good sprinter and ran really fast. I had even undergone training for the Olympics in 200 meter-race because my timing was very competitive.

So I could either become an athlete or a singer. I chose the latter route or on second thoughts, it is music that chose me with the blessings of Maa Saraswati.

You also joined LaxmikantPyarelalji’s troupe and became a music arranger. How has this tryst help train you in music?

I was quite fortunate to have these two master composers as my mentors to commence my career from within the peripherals of film music because they were the best in their own special way.

You know, being a music arranger for a vocalist is an added bonus as that faculty aids him/her in understanding music better. Today my flirtations with music, my playfulness with the songs before recording them, are all because of my comprehension of music as a music engineer. I had sung the song ‘Aaja sanam

meri jaan chali’ for Laxmi-Pyare (LP) for the movie Khilaf starring Madhuri Dixit and Chunky Pandey. It was such a soul-stirring song and so beautifully composed, but since the film fared poorly at the box-office, the song too failed to get its deserving due.

Tell us something about your South India experience.

Why did you go down south looking for work?

I had heard the songs of Roja and Bombay by Rahman (ace composer A.R. Rahman) and found his compositions absolutely brilliant.

His music was of international standards and I knew that I had to meet him. So I spoke to one of my friends who knew him from close quarters and arranged for a conference with him. That’s how I landed in Chennai. Meeting the exceptionally talented man was simply amazing. He asked me, if I could write and I instantly nodded with a yes, and that triggered the beginning of our professional relationship for years to come. I had also worked with him for his regional tracks like ‘Lucky Lucky’ for the Telugu movieRakshakudu and ‘Thiruvallikkeri Rani’ from Udhaya.

After your initial breaks in Bollywood received a tepid response, you quit Mumbai to survey and study different forms of music on the foreign shores. How did that phase enlighten you and enrich your voice?

I won’t call it tepid but yes, it was not as hot as I had wanted it to be.

TrueKhilaf could not spin magic at the box-office and the songs also died alongwith it. Naturally, I was deeply disappointed and decided to experience myriad forms of music. So I set out to trip around the world and witness it first-hand. I remember watching opera and listening to its wide-ranged music. It was highly informative to say the least. The bottomline is that if you are a good listener, then half the battle for learning is won. Most of my music-lesson is therefore done by listening voraciously to great singers and saints. I had extensively visited Russia, three countries in the Middle East, America, Europe, China, Hong Kong and Mexico to gain a serious exposure to world music. I can emphatically say today that Russian music is my dear favourite and so is the Russian Opera. It is so immensely replenished with a melange of varied textures. This tour had strongly opened up my senses to a vast plethora of musical genres and its multiple layers for a much-required revelation.

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Your association with Rahmansaab proved to be a winning combination for the music fraternity as it churned out some captivating chartbusters and even went onto win an Oscar on international stage. What do you think spells fireworks for you two?

represented by Bollywood and routinely generates films comprising music and melodies in enormous proportion. Since cinema has its own expansive appeal and impact, it absorbs the maximum market share. Also with digitalization, accessibility has increased. Now every first-class work of music is quickly able to reach its listeners more effectively.

It’s the comfort level and understanding of each other I suppose.

Currently, he is undoubtedly one of the best composers we have on the board of global music. But once he finishes off with his scores, he allows me to toy with that bulk output and live with it for some time, before okaying it for recording at the studios. In between, Gulzar sahib adds his magical Midas touch with the pen to that tuneful creation. See, every song has three basic components which make it a success. Song composer, lyricist and last but not the least, the singer — all three departments are extremely important to the job and must unanimously arrive at a consensus to be on the same page. As for the three of us, we are very secure with one another and trust our trio’s synergies completely to match our wavelengths and decisions.

If suggestions pour in, they are accepted with an open mind and with full confidence. Although the creative field is believed to be highly territorial, still it is essential to remain amenable towards accepting ideas from your colleagues and teammates to reap benefits.

What about experimental music and the band scene in India as many music fests are still patronizing and rooting for independent voices?

But don’t you think, prestigious gongs like an Academy Award and a Grammy recognition for the song ‘Jai Ho’ could have prompted a bright, promising career for you on the world-pitch with important collaborations (with universally acclaimed artistes) or as an independent soloist for that matter?

You see, I was already singing for international films, for example, Inside Man, Bombay Dreams, Million Dollar Arms and other similar projects. I do have an international fan following and keep doing shows in Australia, USA, Canada and across the European belt where apart from Indian expats, white spectators congregate to delight in my concerts. Yeah, I can’t deny the accolades and a pervasive platform that Slumdog Millionaire’s ‘Jai Ho’ and its ensuing Academy Award feat has brought me and I’m sincerely happy for that. Especially because the song was in Hindi and the lines were written by none other than Gulzarsaab. It is very much our song, a desi creation. However my identity in music is accredited to the Indian film industry where I belong to and my fellow compatriots hold me in highest regard and esteem. For me, music is my passion and soul. So whether it’s Bollywood or Hollywood, quality music irrespectively finds a peak seat on my priority list.

Is an album in the works?

Frankly speaking, launching an album is almost like making music for a film. It is as demanding and equally challenging, may be a little more creative since it lacks that extra edge of a film’s storyline and its valuable casting of actors. On the other hand, a private non-film album is solely embraced on the basis of its musical content. Besides my debut albumMunda South Hall da, I did unveil a single called ‘Aatish Para’ which dealt with the issue of child labour and dignity, and was well-appreciated amongst the industrywallahs plus music lovers in general. We had released it digitally. Singles have become a trend of sorts now which is an appreciative sign. I have yet another concept on paper and have been dabbling in it for quite sometime now. It’s a full on commercial entertainer.

With mainstream Bollywood monopolizing every musical realm, does India have much to offer in its independent category?

You have assessed this quite correctly as the bracket of indie music has palpably limited space but we still have some satisfactory work springing out from the bedrock of original, free-spirited music. We can certainly boast of some very good independent singers despite Hindi movie music ruling the roost on a pan-Indian plane. On the contrary, if you look at the scenario abroad, any good piece of music gets an equal place of significance whereas Indian music is predominantly

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Yes, music festivals are like oxygen to independent voices as well as experimentation in music which is conducive to its growth and overall development. So there are bands on national as well as local podiums as Indians in generic are blessed with music in their DNA. Add to this, the nation’s assorted social fabric which prides in an unlimited room for different types of music in different regional languages.

Bands like Parikrama, Indian Ocean and Pentagram have thus survived the onslaughts of changes and thrived over the years. And as a case in point, singers like Raghu Dixit, Vasu Dixit (of Bengaluru’s folk-fusion band Swarathma fame), Palash Sen, Mansi Scot, Sneha Pant, Anushka Manchanda have their own fan following as powerful independent performers.

So on a positive note, they have been there and done that and are hopefully here to stay for many more seasons ahead.

Do you feel there should be a resurgence of indie-pop like the 1990s’ decade when a host of solo careers with the likes of Alisha Chinai, Gary Lawyer, Remo Fernandes, Baba Sehgal, Daler Mehndi took a to a meteoric rise?

Indie-pop in the 1990s rose to dizzying heights in absence of a global reach.

Some of them had even exercised mass-hysteria but today world music is easily available at one’s finger tips at the click of a mouse. You just need to browse the net and Youtube at your sweet will.

People are invariably downloading stuff on the I-pods or as caller tunes on their mobilephones, much to

PRAMITA BOSE the producer music company’s chagrin. However, many artistes are also utilizing this cyberspace as their launchpad and even promoting their singles or EPs/LPs on the social media. Besides, concerts of overseas singers are being frequently hosted in public.

Youngsters, who vie for pop or rock gigs now smoothly get their fill from international markets, thereby confining the saleability scope for home-grown independent music only to corporate events and college shows. I mean, it’s no small pie on the revenueearning chart as corporate dos and college functions do draw a voluminous chunk of music enthusiasts as well as fan groups.

we have some really fantastic untapped talent amidst our Gen-Y. And yes, if guided and imparted with proper taalim, they can catapult music to greater heights from the soil of India. But sadly enough, there are countable few with true knowledge of music and its subtle nuances. Unlike earlier, when every musician was a brilliant composer or a lyricist or a singer in the closet, today technologies have helped converting non-singers into singers and people with scanty command over music into bankable composers. So we really need to cull true talent to maintain the bonafide class and purity of music.

You have composed for so many movies. Are you planning another in near future?

Tell us something about your forthcoming national/ international concerts?

Well, composing for films is very time-consuming but an entertaining process for sure. I have enjoyed each of the ventures I have composed for but currently my focus is more on singing and doing justice to that commitment. However, my composers are very generous in nature. While recording, they always permit me to improvise and flirt with their songs, that gives an ecstatic pleasure to the composer in me.

Concerts keep happening all the time and every month my schedule gets jam-packed with so many soirees to tackle with.

We recently did a tour of Canada and the US. Plus we went to Singapore and Australia. But I always yearn to traverse across my motherland India. My country is my preferred haven and I enjoy the surrounding milieu prior to a live performance. My outward façade may be stylish and that may also echo in my vocal chords.Par phir bhi mera dil hai Hindustani. At heart, I am a pure desi (smiles!).

Many scorers are turning singers and songwriters and vice versa in Bollywood nowadays. Do you find this multi-tasking a healthy habit and a nice progression for the music industry wherein the younger talented lot can hone their prolific skills as well as keep their appetite for music alive?

Personally, I am all for multitasking and recommend it largely to our next-gen budding aspirants, provided one has the caliber to execute it. I write songs, compose music and with the blessings of Maa Saraswati, I also sing. But creative pursuit is something that you can neither force nor pretend to have. So don’t use technology to showcase a talent that you do not have. Do it only if you have it in you. Otherwise I would advise an amateur to do one thing at a time. My suggestion will be to first concentrate on the job at hand and then move on to something else if more opportunities knock at your doorstep.

At this stage of your career where you have attained a celebrity status and stability after hitting a long purple patch, which appears more precious to you — awards or audience appreciation?

Audience, audience, audience and their unconditional love.

Period. That’s the Gospel for me. You see, awards have their own estimated value but nothing counts on your way, unless you are felicitated with love, respect and appreciation of your admirers and discreet listeners.

How was it like winning the National Award for a difficult composition such as ‘Bismil’ in Haider?

What do you have to say about the versatile composer-filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj?

Genius is the only word that can describe the multifaceted Vishal Bharadwaj. He is a natural composer and his repertoire in Haider was opera styled and its lyrics were a sure shot tongue-twister.

But the end result was so unique. Obviously I was overly happy to receive the prestigious National Award for such a mindblowing composition as‘Bismil’. With each film, I know the man is proficiently capable of bringing out something novel and more interestingly with newer elements to the table.

You have judged the Gen-Y in musical talent-hunts.

How do you see India’s future in music? Is it in safe hands?

I have been a judge on only two talent shows till now. Although I haven’t mentored anybody on any talent-hunt, but I know that

Your upcoming Bollywood projects?

Well, a lot is lined up on that front. I have sung a couple of numbers in Vishal Bharadwaj’s much-anticipated film, Rangoon.

Orchestration of the songs is superlative and like Haider, Rangoon’s recordings too are rendered in an operatic, musical style. I have a gut-feeling that these theatrical gems would further take the Hindi film industry and its musical goldmine forward from the point of milestone, planted by Rahman only a few years ago in the international market. So a benchmark was already set by the Mozart of Madras and now a new feather will be added in the cap to raise the bar even higher. This apart, I have sung for Sultan and also crooned a celebratory track for Sarbjit. Another film’s music to be mentioned is Pranam and the music director Vishal Mishra is a very passionate scorer. Then there are two films of Mahesh Manjrekar. So, plenty of good work on the cards is happening all around, where some are romantic and some situational in context.

Tell us in detail about the twin unique concepts you’ve adapted for your stage shows.

Yes, it is in two parts actually — ‘Sukhwinder Singh Unplugged’ and ‘DJ Night with Sukhwinder Singh’. In ‘Unplugged’, my throat dances while in ‘DJ Night’, my style dances on stage. One is about passion and the other for fashion. Basically, when I am singing inside a studio, we are given a composition. To get into the groove and catch the precise mood, we experiment with strains of classical, jazz and pop music flavours. Slowly we build a warmup session before going for the final take behind the mike. Many a time, my composers retain some nuggets from these scratch versions into the final product. So the naughty dalliance that I do with my songs within the four walls of a recording studio is what gets best reflected in my unplugged avatar on the dais. In the second half, we conjure up the ambient noise and effects of a night club with music-band, drums, other acoustics and a DJ. The entire arrangement is a spectacle of dances and props, suitably mirroring a musical circus.

You come across as a die-hard romantic but you are still single! Why this contradiction?

Problem is that I am strictly passionate about music. Whenever the mood strikes, I start singing or immerse myself in riyaaz. So often I end up savouring my own company and don’t much feel the inclination to mingle with people or let them intrude my privacy.

Although Rahman always jests that he wants to see the Sukhi junior but I personally don’t see myself as a marriage material. I am only attracted towards glamour and fashion.

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Harman Professional will be introducing a wide array of products at Palm Expo 2016

Soundcraft Vi7000 The latest Vi7000 digital mixing console delivers the best Vi sound ever, bringing optional 96kHz processing, upgraded channel counts and even more reliable hardware to live sound's most popular mix interface. Partnering a compact control surface with new Local Rack and Active Breakout box hardware, Vi delivers simultaneous mixing of up to 128 inputs and 32 mono/stereo busses.

Pristine sound quality is assured by ultra-low noise mic amp designs and enhanced 96kHz* 40-bit floating point digital audio processing, while FX come courtesy of 8 independent Lexicon multi-FX units, BSS DPR901ii™ integration and a BSS graphic EQ on every bus output. Rapid configuration and powerful automation features, radio mic status monitoring and extensive ViSi Connect I/O expansion (EtherSound™, CobraNet™, Dante™, MADI, etc.) complete the package.

JBL EON208P Packaged 8" 2-Way PA with Powered 8-Channel Mixer and Bluetooth Get legendary sound quality with the EON208P all-in-one portable PA system, complete with an 8-channel mixer and Bluetooth audio. With a convenient suitcasestyle design, the EON208P makes it easy to get great sound for performances, meetings and events. The 8-channel detachable mixer provides professional connections for mics, instruments and line-level sources, while the 8” two-way stereo speakers deliver best-in-class audience coverage. Bluetooth connectivity also allows you to stream audio from your mobile device. With 300 watts, you’ll have more than enough volume to be heard. Plus, the compact and lightweight form factor means you can carry the entire system with one hand.

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All-in-One Linear-Array P.A. System with 6-Channel Mixer Legendary JBL sound.

Unparalleled convenience.

Style for every situation.

K92 Headphones

K182 Headphones

A Studio Mainstay

Take Control of Your Sound

Mix and master your tracks with uninhibited clarity with the AKG K92 over-ear, closed back headphones. Professional-grade 40mm drivers reveal even the subtlest nuances, so you can be confident your mix will translate accurately on any system. Whether you’re fine-tuning track levels within the mix or mastering the final product, the selfadjusting headband and lightweight design will provide hours of comfort. Designed by the company whose mics and headphones have helped create some of the world’s most iconic recordings, the durable K92 is a serious headphone that delivers great sound in the studio and beyond.

Never too hot. Never too high. Always just right. Designed for discerning musicians and engineers, the K182 professional closedback monitor headphones deliver incredibly accurate sound. 50mm drivers keep it loud — even when using mobile devices — while the 10 Hz - 28 kHz frequency range provides a truly balanced mix. 3D-axis folding and comfortable, replaceable ear pads make these headphones an easy travel companion, no matter where your sound takes you.

Lexicon QLI-32 Quantum Logic® Immersion Processor HARMAN’s Lexicon introduced its QLI-32 Quantum Logic Immersion cinema processor, designed to deliver up to 32 channels of surround sound in professional cinema applications.

The new QLI-32 interfaces with a theater’s media source and existing cinema processor to provide a multi-dimensional listening experience with left, center, right, surround, rear and height channels, all via HARMAN’s proprietary Quantum Logic Immersion surroundprocessing technology. In doing so, the QLI-32 provides theaters with a cost-efficient and easily deployed upgrade path to significantly-improved immersive cinematic sound.

To know more, visit Harman at Palm Expo, Stall no. #D09

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CELVIANO

GP-400BK GRAND HYBRID PIANO

New Elegant Design, Wooden Keys, and Three Historic Grand Piano Sounds The new GP-400BK comes with the three historically popular grand piano sounds featured in the GP-500BP and GP-300BK, as well as the same reliable key response and supple playing comfort. New with the GP-400BK is the design, which boasts a curved rear panel and thicker side panels and legs to capture the bold and refined image one expects of a high-quality piano. The height from the keyboard to the music stand has also been made the same as a conventional grand piano, for an experience even more like that of playing a grand piano. In addition, Casio used a black wood grain finish for the entire piano to give it a dignified look. All of these design features come together in this latest elegant model in the CELVIANO Grand Hybrid lineup.

Main Features of the GP-400BK

keys are also finished in the same way as on a grand piano. Since this makes them more familiar to the pianist, fingers are less likely to slip or fatigue. The new model also boasts a new unique action mechanism that delivers the right hammer movement, which has a big impact on the playing response of a grand piano. The mechanism conveys delicate finger nuances more accurately, and enables dynamic touch to translate directly into expressive power.

Grand Acoustic System generates a space of three-dimensional sound: Casio has developed a Grand Acoustic System that faithfully represents the sound of a grand piano as it emanates from above and below the soundboard. Through careful positioning of six speakers and the creation of sound pathways, the system delivers threedimensional sound with tonal elongation, expansion and depth.

Thoroughly refined sound and reverberation reminiscent of a grand piano

Special playing experiences made possible by a digital piano

The AiR Grand Sound Source reproduces the same beautiful sound and rich reverberation as a grand piano: Multi-dimensional Morphing smoothly transforms sound waves, and realizes tonal changes based on both time passage and intensity. Even during a gradual crescendo from pianissimo to fortissimo, the technology allows even and natural tonal changes.

Scene feature enables pieces to be played with the optimal sound: The Scene feature consists of 15 preset types for different composers such as Chopin and Liszt, as well as musical genres such as jazz and easy listening. The presets combine the best optimal tones, reverberation, and effects for the type of piece being played.

Users can also create and save their own presets.

Moreover, the String Resonance System, designed to deliver the string resonance of a grand piano, controls the amount and combination of resonance according to the playing situation.

Concert Play offers an experience like playing with an orchestra: The spectacular sound of a live orchestra is recorded in a high-quality digital format. By playing the piano together with the recorded orchestra, users can enjoy the feeling of performing at an orchestral concert. The technology can also be used in practice, as it allows the tempo to be slowed, and also features rewind, fast forward, and repeat playback of A-B sections.

By producing reverberation that fits each of the 88 keys, the technology enables natural and comfortable performance.

By combining these two technologies, the new model offers the sounds of three grand piano styles. The Berlin Grand is known for its elegant clear sound and reverberation that gives each performance rich melodic color, while the Hamburg Grand delivers gorgeous power and strength with a lot of string resonance. The Vienna Grand provides calm bass with a solid feeling along with soft and beautiful sound.

Natural Grand Hammer Action Keyboard enables even more delicate expression: The GP-400BK features keys is made from highquality spruce, which is also used in grand piano keyboards. The

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Hall Simulator provides the experience of performing in a special venue such as a concert hall: The Hall Simulator allows the pianist to enjoy the immersive sound found in different types of venues such as an Amsterdam church, or a classical concert hall in Berlin. Also, the GP-400BK enables users to switch between the Player's Position, which provides a sense of playing a real grand piano, and three types of Listener's Positions, which gives the pianist the effect of listening to the performance from the audience.

KIYOHITO SUZUKI Kiyohito SUZUKI from Casio Japan spoke to us about the products displayed at MusikMesse 2016, their plans for the Indian market and how they plan to expand their products worldwide in a short but informative interview. We have also listed some important product specifications following the interview.

Could you tell us a little bit about your latest products available at MusikMesse 2016?

What are the New Technology of Casio keyboards & piano keeping in mind the customer requirement?

In this expo, we have mainly displayed several new products. Some of them being GP-400, which is an extra line up of Grand Hybrid Digital Piano. MZ-X300 and MZ-X500, which are newly developed arranger keyboards. We have also introduced a colour variation model PX160WE (White version)

With regard to grand hybrid GPC’s, we have mounted exactly the same grand piano keys. People can use it like a grand piano. The price is comfortable and not as expensive as grand piano.

What are your plans of product launches for the Indian Market this year?

What according to you is the worldwide keyboard market and especially India?

We are launching MZ-X300 and MZ-X500 in May 2016 in India. Our main goal is to reach out to the musicians directly, the ones that are well known who would use these products on a daily basis ranging from studio to performances.

CASIO MZ-X300 and MZ-X500 both have a color touch screen interface, rich tones and rhythms, multi pad equipped with powerful 20w + 20w speakers which gives an amazing experience of sound while working in studio.MZ-X500 having hex layer capabilities and 16 multi pads which incorporated to create new performance dimensions and makes it music arranging machine.

We have mounted different piano cells for the beginners who are our direct consumers.

We have a market in India and would like to launch the MZ-X series and the Grand Hybrid Series. CASIO has 3 models in Indian keyboards and have developed as per Indian market requirement. It shows our commitment to develop Indian market. Apart from this, having good quality Indian tones and rhythms in standard models at initial learning levels give more flexibility to mass consumer segment.

We are also launching Grand Hybrid Piano in May 2016 which is an extremely user friendly model .

Kiyohito SUZUKI Planning Section / EMI Marketing Dept

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Sennheiser announces their list of new products being launched at Palm Expo 2016

HD 25

HD 25 Plus

The HD 25 is very lightweight and comfortable, even if used for long periods.

Considered to be the "Industry Standard" for DJ Headphones, these headphones are often found in DJ Booths, small and large, around the world! The closed-back HD 25 are purpose-designed, professional monitoring headphones offering high attenuation of background noise.

HD 25 Light

The HD 25 PLUS is identical in design to the HD 25 but spoils its users with extra accessories and two included cables. Users can choose between a coiled steel cable (length: 3m/1m) and a straight, 1.5m steel cable. The PLUS version also comes with a handy storage pouch and a second set of ear pads in a soft velour version. For the music lovers who like extra accessories, HD 25 PLUS is a perfect option.

The HD 25 Light are closed, dynamic headphones for monitoring, recording and outdoor applications. They are extremely comfortable, featuring a minimalistic headband and a unique capsule design, making them an attractive and lower-cost alternative to the HD 25-II. These are also suitable for nightly DJ use.

KH 805

TLM 107

Evolution Wireless D1

Multi-faceted versatility, no-compromise sound and innovative operation: With five directional characteristics and a novel operating concept, the TLM 107 provides sound without any coloration. Featuring equally impressive level handling and low self-noise, it captures everything from the softest whisper to thundering drums.

Evolution wireless D1 is a digital sound transmission system that makes no compromises when it comes down to reliability, sound quality or userfriendliness. ew D1 is the number one for every gig and live event when you need to simply rely on pure brilliance. It can run up to 15 output lines in parallel and independently adjust the sensitivity of every transmission. The result: A more dynamic, relaxed presentation.

The KH 805 has a unique 2.1/0.1 Bass manager which enables it to be used in many different applications. There are four routing modes to ensure maximum flexibility. Fourth order crossovers and adaptable acoustical controls allow for seamless system integration, and the bass management function can be remotely controlled.

Visit Sennheiser at Palm Expo, Hall No. 1, Stall #D19

Sennheiser revived the HD 25 family creating a perfect haven for the DJs

DJ headphones are an intensely personal thing. They’re the only weapon in a DJ’s arsenal directly in very close during their work, and as such, concerns of fit, comfort, sound, and style all have a part to play in choosing perfect headphones for them. One design has risen above the fray, as unarguably the most consistently popular single model in the DJ world is – the Sennheiser HD 25.

Even if the stated choice is between brand X and brand Y, you can almost guarantee that some expert will insist that the HD 25 family headphones are the only headphones worthy of any DJ’s ears. And with good reason. With 7 variants to choose from, the die-hard fans of the HD 25 family were always confused as to choose which headphones for themselves. Now Sennheiser has streamlined its classic HD 25 pro headphones portfolio to make product selection easier.

The new revived HD 25 Family has now one classic HD 25 with two sister models – the HD 25 LIGHT, which has slightly different features and accessories, and the HD 25 PLUS, which adds additional accessories to further enhance the classic. The two other versions can be easily recognized by the compact Sennheiser logo beautifully embedded on the earpieces, with the version and impedance information now provided on the headband.

It is truly said that the HD 25 family is a true classic which is overwhelmingly renowned across diverse fields outside broadcasting and DJ-ing as well. Now all the three new headphones in the family has clearly differentiated features, which ensures that both pro users and consumers will get just the right pair of headphones for their preferred applications.

Due to their low weight and the option of one-ear listening, the HD 25 family headphones are indispensable for mobile monitoring. The closed-back HD 25 are purpose-designed, professional monitoring headphones offering high attenuation of background noise.

Capable of handling very high sound pressure levels and of extremely robust construction, these headphones perform exceptionally well in loud environments, e.g. ENG, sound reinforcement, studio monitoring and audio equipment testing. Ideal monitoring headphones for cameramen and DJs, these are a pair of true sound professionals’ working headphones.

The HD25 family is surprisingly light compared to some of the competing headphones such as the AKG K181 and M-Audio Q40. The adjustable dual headband exerts very little pressure – the majority

of the force is applied by the supraaural coupling. Though clamping force is fairly strong in the HD25, the structure does a great job of distributing it over the entire surface of the pads. The cups have a good range of motion despite lacking any joints whatsoever and conform very well to the shape of one’s head. Let’s talk about the entire family in detailThe classic HD 25 comes with its iconical split headband, 1.5m single-sided connection cable and a flip-away earcup for single-sided listening. Newly designed headband ends ensure that the earcups lock securely into place, while lightweight aluminium voice coils ensure an excellent transient response. With a frequency response of 16 to 22,000Hz, an impedance of 70 ohms and a maximum SPL of 120dB, the HD 25 lends itself to any monitoring task, whether broadcasting, live recording or in the DJ booth. The HD 25 comes complete with a screwon jack adaptor to 1/4” inch (6.3mm) for its straight steel cable. In a true sense, the headphones are a paradise for any DJ or a broadcaster.

Its sister model, the HD 25 LIGHT, is the entry-level version for demanding consumers and cost-sensitive pro users who are looking for a good pair of mixing and monitoring headphones. The HD 25 LIGHT features a simpler headband design and slightly different drivers but brings a well-defined bass and detailed treble to any monitoring task.

The headphones have an impedance of 60 ohms, a maximum SPL of 114dB and a frequency response of 30 to 16,000Hz. The straight, dualsided steel cable (3m) comes complete with a 3.5 to 6.3mm (1/8” to 1/4”) adaptor. For the pro users, who are looking for pocket friendly options, HD 25 LIGHT is an ultimate option.

The HD 25 PLUS is identical in design to the HD 25 but spoils its users with extra accessories and two included cables. Users can choose between a coiled steel cable (length: 3m/1m) and a straight, 1.5m steel cable. The PLUS version also comes with a handy storage pouch and a second set of ear pads in a soft velour version. For the music lovers who like extra accessories, HD 25 PLUS is a perfect option.

Hope you find this article good for your perfect choice of headphones.

REIMAGINED MOBILE SYNTHESIZER SERIES Yamaha Music recently launched a series of 4 innovative synthesizers.

Called the Reface Series, they are 4 mobile synthesizers and re-imagined interfaces of Yamaha classic keyboards that intuitively control the big sound and come with built in speakers and battery time. Designed for people who can think beyond the presets, this is a haven for keyboard performers, music producers, composers, sound designers and DJ’s.

These mobile synthesizers can produce vintage sound and also gives the user unlimited possibilities of creating their own signature sounds which is a hard to get feature at the price offered by Yamaha.

Reface CS (Control Synthesizer) Analog modelling synth: simple control, complex sound, endless possibilities.

The 8-note polyphonic Virtual Analog reface CS’ five unique oscillator modules create an incredible variety of sounds from analog to digital. CS allows you to play around and control the sound produced ranging from pads, leads, effects and more.

Reface DX FM synth From nostalgia to trendsetter with modern control.

Reface DX goes retro 80s to cutting edge modern at the flick of a switch. Multitouch controls let you edit multiple FM synthesis parameters with your fingertips. A new feature of this engine is continuously variable feedback on every operator allowing for a wide-range of sound creation

Reface CP (Combo Piano) Electric piano: retro control, classic sound and incredible response.

Reface CP features iconic 70s stage keyboards and vintage effects in a retrostyled package with great sound, playability and polyphony. It features tines and reed based electric pianos, and clavinet which is apt for musicians who uses electric piano for jazz, blues, pop, soul and funk.

Reface YC (Yamaha Combo) Combo organ: a ton of vintage sound and control that weighs less than 2kg!

Reface YC has the unique expression of drawbars, rotary speaker, percussion and effects for a complete organ experience, best suited for rock bands and traditional churches. YC has 5 famous organ models and you can add character with two retro organ effects: Distortion and Reverb.

“Reface Capture” a free app on iTunes, helps you store and load unlimited sound data using your iPhone or iPad as a preset library ideal for live performance.

Soundmondo – Create your sound, inspire and be inspired, Yamaha’s online patch sharing platform is a section on Yamaha’s Synth website that uses Google Chrome’s new Web MIDI feature. With this you can plug in your Reface Synthesizer to a computer via USB and the site will recognize it. You can then use the browser interface to create your own

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presets and load it to the Reface Capture app.

Yamaha with Mr. Manoj Jons David (Synth Guru) is conducting a series of workshop on synthesis to get you acquainted with the reface series.

Contact your nearest Yamaha outlet or at in.yamaha.com for more details.

Also check out the new Yamaha Reface video by renowed Yamaha artist Mr. Stephen Devassy on youtube or Yamaha Music India FB page

introduces

RC-202 LOOP STATION Ultra-Compact Tabletop Looper with Multi-Effects

BOSS is pleased to announce the RC-202 Loop Station, the newest addition to the BOSS lineup of live looping devices. The two-track RC-202 offers the look and tabletop interface style of the flagship RC-505 Loop Station, and features multi-effects, external control capabilities, and more. Compact and powerful, the RC-202 is well suited for club and electronica performers, beatboxers, and other looping musicians.

The RC-202 features two stereo loops with dedicated fingertip controls and dynamic status indicators. It also includes 64 phrase memories for storing and recalling live loop creations, organized in eight different banks for easy access while performing. Loops can be saved to the current phrase memory without ever stopping playback, allowing users to save and switch memories to perform advanced song structures and evolving arrangements.

Equipped with extensive multi-effects capabilities, the RC-202 offers more real-time processing than any other BOSS Loop Station.

Four Input FX and four Track FX can be used simultaneously, and numerous effects types are available for loop creation and playback.

During loop recording, the sound can be enhanced with Input FX like P. Shift, Lo-Fi, Ring Mod, and more. Track FX such as Beat, Filter,

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Slicer, and others provide DJ and sampler effects for high-impact processing during playback. The effects can be quickly adjusted with large knobs, and turned on/off via dedicated panel buttons.

The RC-202 includes 17 onboard rhythms that can be used as backing for loop recording and jamming. The rhythm part can be directly routed to the rear-panel Phones jack to provide a dedicated click track for monitoring purposes.

The RC-202’s panel is equipped with numerous buttons and knobs for hands-on creative control while looping. There’s also a jack for connecting up to two footswitches or an expression pedal. Via MIDI, extensive control is possible from a MIDI foot controller or keyboard.

MIDI also allows for synchronization with an RC-505 or a second RC202, as well as drum machines and other devices.

Inputs include an XLR microphone jack with phantom power, mono/ stereo instrument inputs, and a stereo mini-jack for connecting a smartphone or other device. All inputs can be used simultaneously to capture a variety of different sources into loops.

The RC-202’s USB port allows users to connect to a computer and import/export WAV audio phrases. This provides backup for loop recordings and the ability to load up RC202 phrases with backing tracks and one-shot phrases. The RC202 also functions as a USB audio/MIDI interface, making it easy integrate with music software for stage performing with a laptop, audio recording, MIDI sync, and more.

BOSS is also pleased to announce a Version 2.0 system update for the flagship RC-505 Loop Station. Free to RC-505 owners, the userinstallable update offers many new features requested by top users.

Simultaneous effects can now be used in the Input FX and Track FX sections, and the number of available effects types has been increased. Many useful performance and system functions have been added, and the real-time control capabilities have been greatly expanded as well.

METEOR MIC Meteor Mic is the universal solution for recording music on your computer. Perfect for your home studio. With Meteor Mic, you can make incredible recordings that are out of this world.

Solid and Sound Producing rich audio recording for any application, Meteor Mic has one of the largest condenser diaphragms (25mm) of any USB mic available. Its cardioid pickup pattern, smooth frequency response and 16-bit, 44.1/48kHz resolution give you professional audio results no matter what you're recording.

Meteor Mic's chrome-plated body includes a fold-back leg design that looks amazing on your desktop. And the legs adjust to the optimal position for any recording application from acoustic guitars to vocals or speech.

Key Features Large (25mm) diaphragm condenser for rich audio recording Cardioid pickup pattern Smooth, flat frequency response of 20Hz - 20kHz CD quality, 16-bit, 44.1/48kHz resolution

A stereo 1/8" headphone output for no latency monitoring and headphone volume knob give you complete control. A microphone mute switch gives you audio privacy while video conferencing.

Fold-back leg design provides optimal mic positioning

Since there's no need for drivers, you can start recording right out of the box on any computer. And Meteor Mic is compatible with most computer-based digital audio workstations

Durable chrome-plated body

Take Your Music To The Other Side For singer/songwriters or a band looking to capture a jam session right on a computer,Meteor Mic ensures you get every note. Its cardioid pickup pattern captures pristine vocals or can be used to close-mic an instrument or guitar amplifier.

Meteor Mic Meets iPad Unlike other USB mics that require a powered USB hub, Meteor Mic plugs right into your iPad with Apple's Lightning USB Camera Adapter or Camera Connection Kit (30-pin). It's never been easier to start recording.

Plugs directly into any computer with a USB input, no drivers required Compatible with most computer-based digital audio workstation software Stereo 1/8-inch headphone jack for no latency monitoring Headphone volume control with microphone mute switch Includes USB cable and carry pouch

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SREEJITH EDVANA

We had a chat with Sreejith Edvana on his musical journey, his sources of inspiration, projects to look out for and much more.

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Tell us about your musical journey.

I was raised in Thripunithura, which is the art city of Kerala.

After my graduation, I worked for an IT company for about a year. But my mind was completely into music. So I decided to give up that job, and moved to Chennai to peruse the love of my life, Music and hence did my sound engineering course in 2006. After completing the course, I worked as a sound Engineer, assisted some legendary music directors and along with that I used to try and compose songs. By end of 2009, I started my own recording studio and got to work with a lot of fine musicians.

Yuvvh which was my maiden project happened in 2012. All the songs were composed by me when I was working as a sound engineer back in 2008. I had always wanted to do an independent album, and so I brought those compositions together and called it Yuvvh. The distribution was by Sony Music and yuvvh was sony music’s first ever Malayalam Project and it was a huge hit which went viral on internet. After Yuvvh was a tamil – Telugu bilingual movie called Shivani, and then an album called Love policy and Namsthe. After that was a project called Kamasutra 3D. Five songs from that movie were in 2013 Oscar contention list for best songs and best scores category. And after that was Madhura Naranga(Malayalam movie) which was a big hit and ran for more than 100 days. And now its Dhuun which is released in April 1st. It’s a Hindi pop album with 7 shades of love. It’s a very experimental project and the lyrics are done by Chandan Kataria.

Songs rendered by Shaswat Singh, Sooraj Santhosh, Saptaparna chakraborthy, Roshni Suresh, Neha Venugopal and my self.

And currently working for a Tamil Film named Meow directed

by Palaniyappan and one Malayalam movie with the director Sugeeth. On june starting composing for a Marathi and a Telugu Film.

Where do you draw inspiration from while composing music?

I get inspiration from everything. Everything around us has music. I do have a passion and appreciation for art. A passion for catching the vision of a project, imagining, and giving that vision color, vibrancy, and life.

Sometimes I let my mind drift over things and at some point, a concept takes shape.

Which has been your most interesting composing experience?

My most interesting composing experience was, when I worked for Kamasutra 3D, Madhura Naranga and Dhuun.

Kamasutra 3D was a periodic movie. Each song from that movie were of different genres. One of the songs was about the Naga Sadhus. It was a great learning experience to explore music in that genre, to go in depth about their life style and music. Due to budget limitation, I could not go in for an elaborate orchestra. So I experimented layering the patches of the same instruments with multiple tracks, and managed to record with a single musician. I got a lot of appreciation for that particular work, that It actually gave a feel of a big orchestral session. That was really exciting and challenging at the same time.

The best experience about Madhura Naranga was that, it was spot composing where, I actually sat with the director of the movie, and composed on the spot. That was new, joyous and exuberant.

We have heard of spot composing back in the olden days, where the composer and Director and others related to the film sit together and work out a song. But these days things have changed.

Dhuun was again very experimental. Apart from normal fusion,

I have tried to explore into different genres and how effectively EDM genre can be used and how to make trance music etc.

Though its my independent project, all the songs were composed on the spot after I got the lyrics in hand.

You've composed for movies across different languages, how do you differentiate one from the other?

I don’t see a major difference, yet, what I feel is, every language has its tradition and culture. So one must be aware of those because, only then certain feelings and emotions can be rendered and conveyed effectively to those audiences. So mainly it’s the musical culture and tradition. All other things remain the same according to me.

What's your take on the current scenario?

The genres in music are expanding.

Today with electronic technology at its peak, we listen to unaltered music very rarely. It has altered how music is heard, performed, and composed. What I feel is, if a song is recorded in its originality and perfection right at initial stage, avoiding any scope for pitch correction later, then such songs will definitely leave a long lasting impression because originality and versatility cannot go unnoticed.

Also talking about independent albums today, there are a lot of challenges in the promotional phase when it comes to private music. It definitely gives a musician an individual recognition and hence it should be used to experiment new genres and also used to make music that are new and unheard of. At the same time, our record labels, visual medias, print medias etc., must take a little more initiative in promoting Independent music’s and Albums.

Which is your most favt composition?

My favorite composition has to be Nenjodu cherthu form Yuvvh because, it was something that just happened. When I sat down to compose, the lines just came into my mind. Aarum kaanathe from Madhura Naranga also happened in the same manner. So both these songs are very close to my heart.

Who is your favt composer of all times and why?

My favorite composer will always be A R Rahman sir because, we grew up listening to so many songs and music from so many musicians, but he just redefined Indian music. He has been a great inspiration for me, to come to this field of composing. His skill at using synthesized sounds and beats in his music is commendable.

He broke all the boundaries of "Indian music" for the best, and took it to a different level.

You've also made independent albums. How do you differentiate from films?

A film music is always script dependent. When writing music for film, the main goal is to sync dramatic events happening on screen with musical events in the score. But when it comes to independent music, we have more control and freedom to take decisions and experiment. It also helps to make an individual recognition as a musician.

What's your message to readers of the magazine?

I would like to say,” Please listen and support Dhuun.. the songs and videos are now available on every Digital Platforms.

Please support and encourage good music and good songs. Do not judge a song by the star cast or a huge promotion.”

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Hi p Hop

Homeland

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Good stories have no frontiers, good storytellers fewer still.And when it comes to good stories, very few places match up to the streets of India.

A wise man once said, “The street always wins…” - and the logic in that statement is sound for the simple reason that the street is alive, the street has a voice, the street is omniscient.

Most of all, the street is a catalyst for change, always has been and always will be.

The street is home to the naysayers, the rebels and the misfits. Ones who observe what goes on in the name all that is ‘mainstream’ and cannot help but express their angst.

It was this angst that gave birth to what the world knows and loves as ‘Hip-Hop Culture’, and the streets of India have given it their signature brand of ‘desi swag’.

Rappers, graffiti artists, b-boys and sundry crews have all found ways of expressing themselves beautifully all over India. They talk about social awareness, express and defend their politics, idolize social activists, talk about their own struggles and those of the ones they keenly observe, they end up hiding from the authorities and sometimes flouting rules.

All in all, they talk in different languages, but their grammar is the same.

And it was this grammar that 101India wanted to highlight with the popular web series ‘Hip-Hop Homeland’, an attempt to show a larger audience how youth in India is using hip-hop to give voice to a young, vibrant and more socially conscious nation.

Hip-hop Homeland is a monthly gig series that seeks to showcase India's finest hip-hop talent. It is a series of raw, gritty profiles about a fast emerging youth trend that cuts across gender, class and geography, and makes powerful statements of youth identity and voice.

The series begins in Mumbai and travels to Kashmir, Shillong, Punjab, Calcutta and finally South India.

From the gullies of Mumbai to villages in the North-East, from Southern India to the valleys of Kashmir, hip-hop artists are using the genre to speak directly to the world - telling them what's real and what's not and side-stepping the propaganda (read drivel) spewed by traditional media.

Divine Divine is an award-winning rapper & hip-hop artist from Mumbai.

Born and brought up in the ‘gullies’ of Bombay, Divine has come to be known as “the Voice of the Streets”- narrating tales of the people that he's grown up observing since childhood- and paying homage to the characteristics of the city. Divine has been recognized by BBC Radio One and iTunes as one of the artists to look out for in 2016 and is the first Indian artist to exclusively release his music on Apple Music.

Prabh Deep Prabh Deep Sagar is an MC from New Delhi, India. Gifted with a unique voice that contains traces of traditional Punjabi folk singers, Prabh has been at the forefront of Delhi's hip-hop scene.

Besides being a recording artist, Prabh also pushes for and organizes MC Battles in the city.

Hip-Hop Homeland Live is an on ground extension of the hugely popular web series featuring some of the country’s finest underground hip-hop talent. The line-up featured upcoming rappers MC Mawali, MC Tod Fod, Mumbai’s Finest and Delhi’s Prabh Deep Sagar. The event was headlined by the Mumbai-based rappers, Divine, who took the country by storm with the release of his anthemic single ‘Mere Gully Mein’ (feat. Naezy) and ‘Jungli Sher’and Naezy, who has become one of the most prominent politically conscious artists in the country today.

The artists belong to different communities and backgrounds but what binds them is their passion to tell stories of their neighborhood and change the thinking of people.

HERE IS A LINE UP OF THE ARTISTS Naezy Naezy aka Naved Shaikh is one of the best Indian hip-hop to come up in recent times. The MC - who rhymes in Hindi and Marathi - was brought up in the chawls of Kurla, a suburb in Mumbai.

Hailing from an orthodox Muslim family, Naezy employs razorsharp wit to address socio-cultural problems and uses hip-hop to bring attention to the state of affairs in his part of the world - one that is often ignored by traditional media. He's also written the title tracks for All India Backhod's critically acclaimed show 'On Air With AIB' and the ICC T20 World Cup.

Mumbai's Finest Mumbai's Finest are one of India's first hip-hop crews. Founded

by MCs, B-Boys, Beatboxers and DJs, the crew is the physical embodiment of hip-hop culture in India. Recently, they won three awards at the Radio City Freedom Awards.

MC Tod Fod x MC Mawali MC Tod Fod and Mawali are members of Mumbai's Swadesi crew.

With their socially conscious lyrics and penchant for incorporating local slang into their flow, they're rapidly getting recognized as a crew to watch out for.

Catch the updates from the show on www.101india.com

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IN CONVERSATION WITH

PRASHANT GOVINDAN The Sr. Director of Harman Professional India & Sri Lanka, spoke to us about his journey in this industry, various exciting products of Harman, new launches this year and much more.

Tell us how you got into this industry and your journey so far in Harman.

I started out in the Computer Engineering phase. I had been selling software, writing software and more of a geek, that’s where I come from. I was doing a lot of travel between India and UK in the early 2000s. I used to run an IT publication in Glasgow. I always liked Music, Audio Technology and used to build Loudspeakers, Amplifiers etc during college. It was more of a hobby for me. My first job was in Architectural Audio, a Singapore based professional audio distributor. That is how I got my feet wet with professional audio. We were more focused on installed rather than portable or professional side of it. My expertise was built in the Installed audio area. From there, I went to Biamp Systems, which manufactures high end digital signal processing equipment for board rooms, conference room apps.

They build paging products for airports, convention centers and such. I was representing Biamp in India, Middle East and Africa.

I was there for 5 years. One of my ex colleagues from Biamp who joined Harman back then, moved to India to head Operations at that time. He dropped me a line and I came on board as the Director of Sales in 2012 and from there my journey has been very interesting. I subsequently took over as head of operations in 2013.

How do you think Harman has reached to where it is today in India?

Harman professional is a collection of 11 different brands: AKG, Soundcraft, Studer, JBL professional , Crown, Lexicon, BSS, DBX, Digitech, Martin Lighting and our recent acquisition: AMX. For us, when the journey started, we started as an R&D center. We develop software, firmware for all our mixer products including Soundcraft and Studer and signal processing products in fact we have a testing facility in Bangalore.. That was one of the reasons for us to come to India. It is the best cost country for software and hence we’re based in Bangalore. We started in 2009 with small set of R&D engineers. In 2011, we decided to establish commercial operations. We set up our office in Bangalore and in 2012 we went direct, until which we had a single point distributor who would buy from different Harman factories.

We effectively took over all the distribution and operations in India.

Harman professional in India is the first pro audio company to have gone Direct. We did because India is a dynamic and a fast growing market so we wanted to invest and grow the market ourselves. It is easier to put in investment when we require it. We have 14 service centers across India, a full fledged warehouse in Chennai for both finished goods and spares and three sales offices

You have a great variety of Endorsees. How do you pick them?

World over, our Endorsee program is all about collaboration with great musical talent. We look for Innovation and how engaged our endorsees are with the brands. In India, we work with different talent from various genres which could range from a guitarist, percussionist, Bollywood, classical, fusion etc. We have artists such as Sivamani, Mihir Joshi, Siddharth Mahadevan, Selva Ganesh, Ranjith Barot , Sunitha Sarathy, Niladri Kumar, Soulmate, Stephen Devass, and are signing on Kabir Café and Sweta Pandit soon. Our endorsee program is mainly for musicians to look up to endorsees

World over, our Endorsee program is all about collaboration with great musical talent. We look for Innovation and how engaged our endorsees are with the brands. In India, we work with different talent from various genres which could range from a guitarist, percussionist, Bollywood, classical, fusion etc. and get a hang of the products, the ‘Why Harman’ factor. Each artist endorsee uses a different brand and product too. We’re a versatile house of brands and have a wide array of products that suit all musical styles and genres. For instance, our go-to vocal microphones for live performances are the AKG D5 & D7 are fantastic, extremely rugged,and tour grade. For studio purpose, we have the C414XLS which is the legendary studio microphone. It’s been used for over 20 years. Some of the most memorable recordings are with those microphones. We have the tube microphones like the C12VR, and the small diaphragm C1000s which have brilliant sound. It is not just a transaction with the endorsees, it has a lot of personal factors to it too; most are very good friends too.

How do you think Harman helps the budding or amateur musicians?

We have been known to be a “Professional’s Choice” and that could be a little bit intimidating when you’re out there selling gear. We come from a legacy and have great brands but we don’t let that stop us from innovating and we love to bring products for the youth.

Let me share with you about this product from Soundcraft called Ui series which is a console that you can carry around with you. It doesn’t even have a surface, your smart phone acts as the surface. It is light weight and you can mix a small band, up to 16 microphones and line inputs going into it and it works on wifi. For a small band, they don’t need to carry around professional gear. But by no means is the quality less. We use the same technology even in larger consoles.

It’s a scalable product. There is a new product called the EON 206, a “Concert in a briefcase” because it has a mixer, microphone pre amplifier in built and it is an amplified pair of speakers. It can be used by larger professional musicians for jamming too. We also build guitar pedals from Digitech the most recent being the TRIO. You can just play a chord and it automatically gives you the bass and rhythm.

We do build for professional and we also have a set of products for budding musicians.

Tell us about your journey with Palm Expo India.

Palm Expo is a great platform and Ramesh and team have been so supportive of our ideas. We are usually always ready to jump on any new ideas. In fact this year, they are coming up with a Video Wall for

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SNEHA RAMESH which we are going to be providing the Audio. So it is more of a partnership. I think we owe it to the community. I have been following the Palm show for 10 years now right from the time when they started at the Nehru Centre. The show has grown, they have added new halls, exhibitors, concepts and we are happy to be a large part of it, an anchor brand of the Palm Show . They have given us that respect and regarded our commitment with the kind of space that we have wanted. We have created properties together like the Live Arena and we have also seen our Sales take off where people have come and told us that they bought a certain product because they saw it at Palm Expo. It is a great testimony to the fact that we have invested in the right place. Our tagline says “Expect Brilliance” and I would say that is what we are delivering at the Palm Show.

To help cut down on the sound levels which are a general complaint at Palm show, we have included a Demo area this time which is going to be Sound Proofed. I would expect the same level of commitment from our peers in the industry. It is a place where people come to meet others, collaborate and make business happen. We cannot afford to disturb that and it is a collective responsibility in my opinion.

Live Arena has a dedicated place for Demos. The Demo Cube was created for this specific reason last year. We must follow the International standards where the business discussions happen at the booth, and the demo happens in the dedicated areas.

What to expect this year from Harman at Palm Expo?

We are launching the VI7000 console which is a state of the art large format desk, a successor to the VI6. This is going to be a top end digital console with 128 channel inputs, state of the art algorithms such as BSS DPR901ii™ Dynamic EQ. This is gold standard in consoles. It is going to be launched in India for the first time. People will be able to

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touch, feel and play with it at the Harman Live Arena and also at the booth. We have got a lot of new lighting fixtures coming up this year.

We will launch the Martin Mac Axiom a hybrid fixture which can do combining beam and spot into one compact unit that also offers diffused wash functionalityout of one fixture. We are going to be showcasing some interesting technology from AMX as well. At AMX, we acquired a company called SVSI, a video transport company whose specialization is 4K high def video over standard Cat-5 Gigabit LAN network which is incredible in terms of technology. We shall run a live relay from live arena into the booth so people can watch it from the booth as well.

We have the new Digitec Trio Plus Pedal which has a Looper now and its going to be a lot more powerful and an interesting addition to the family. We have got the new EON ONE series, which is a small portable column speaker which a sub woofer in built. There are a lot of new products which will be exhibited at the new demo room for these products.

We have some exciting gigs happening this year too and hope to give a power packed musical feast for 3 days.

Your Message to readers of our magazine.

I think the industry of India has come of age. We have so many new musical talents, the recording and broadcast industry has come of age with the adoption of digital technologies. The technologies that people are using are global. So, a publication like yours takes the message out of what is latest and the greatest, best practices, into the community. As Harman, we would like to see more adoption of new technology. We are seeing a lot of migration from analog to digital which is pretty amazing and we’d like to see much more exploration of new technology.

PALM EXPO 2016, MUMBAI In and Around the Show

The PALM Expo has consistently evolved in tandem with the dynamic growth and expansion of the pro sound and light market, and as always, the expo will present limitless opportunities for business, brand building, distribution and promotion of technology.

PALM Expo is India’s premier B2B exhibition for stage sound & light, DJ gear, AV install and music production. Summer is already on a roll and temperatures are set to soar even higher at the expo this year, courtesy the spurt in brands present on the floor.

This will be a great show for product buyers as more than 500 major pro audio brands display an endless slew of pro-audio products and turnkey solutions that include high-end professional speakers, line arrays, amplifiers, woofers & subs, mixers, consoles, patch panels, cables, connectors, mics, headphones, extended racks, stage lighting, lasers, smoke & fog machines and more.

Brands present on the floor include names like, Bose, Yamaha, Martin, Antelope Audio, Adam Hall, TW Audio, Jona LED, Harman, Sennheiser, QSC, Behringer, Genelec, Avid, Meyer Sound, DiGiCo, Beyerdynamic, Robe, Christie, d&b Audiotechnik, Turbosound, Tannoy, Shure, Lab gruppen, Nx Audio, PKN Technologies etc. and a whole lot more, who have confirmed their participation at the grand spectacle.

More and more global players are now trying to make in-roads into the robust Indian market. A clear indication that international brands are finally taking concrete steps to affirm their commitment to the Indian market by exhibiting directly, is reinforced by the

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participation of more International brands which include names such as Adam Hall Asia , P Audio , Nicolaudie Group and Grand Power LLC, to name a few.

The PALM Expo will open its doors on 26th May 2016 to a mega event spread across 5 halls at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon, Mumbai, where visitors will have access to the expo floor and the many prominent features taking place concurrent to the trade show activities.

For the seventh consecutive year, HARMAN will be back with its much-awaited Live Arena which is one of the most attractive features at the PALM expo. A lineup of some of the best bands and musicians perform at the arena thus showcasing Harman’s top of the line audio and lighting products.

Carrying forward from the previous two years, the Demo Qubes which are conceptualized to serve as a ‘live’ demo area will feature two major brands – Hi-Tech Audio and Pope Professional. The sound at these acoustically treated, Demo Qubes can be manipulated, tested and heard at various volume levels, giving these companies a chance to showcase their systems across a range of audio spectrum, without any restrictions or disturbances from neighboring booths.

If you are a rental company or an event management company,

contemplating adding a line array to your inventory, then you’ll likely want to attend the Open Air Line Array Demo, conducted in the open space at the venue on Ground IV, near the visitor parking area. One of the successes of the previous years, the outdoor line array demos, will exhibit displays from 12 brands which include Audio focus, Audio Center, Beta 3,E wing, KV2, Lloyd Lee, Montarbo, Next Pro audio, Power X, Sound Capital Pro Audio, T W Audio and Z Sound.

Yamaha Music India Pvt. Ltd. has once again booked its own independent space – hall 2B & 2C, spread across 1150sqm, where the brand will display a huge collection of mixing consoles, MI products, PA speakers and installation products. Attendees will also be treated to live stage performances by famous singers and bands in an acoustically treated section, equipped with Yamaha’s speakers and consoles, inside this hall.

HONOURING EXCELLENCE Honouring excellence in the domain of music recording is the 10th Edition of the glorious Indian Recording Arts Academy Awards (IRAA). The awards will continue to applaud the best in the Indian music recording industry. Spearheaded by Achille Forler, Awards Director and Anil Chopra, Founder & Chairman of the awards, the IRAA awards continues to grow. The awards will take place on the third day of the expo – 28th May 2016 at Hall 4, VIP Parking Area with winners being felicitated across 21 categories.

“There are a lot of new young sound engineers who are doing great work and the IRAA focuses on scouting these new talents and bringing them into the spotlight and awarding them for work done,” says Anil Chopra.

On the show floors itself the expo will offer an array of sideshow events that appease visitors, with the PALM Conference & Seminar Program being the absolute highlight, giving access to the largest and most relevant educational and informative program for proaudio, lighting and entertainment professionals. To be held at the International Lounge – Hall 1 Mezzanine, the Conference Program which includes a series of panel discussions and presentations on all three days of the expo has a particular theme dedicated to each day of the expo.

This year, the program boasts of an esteemed panel of industry professionals including Vijay Sabhlok, Milind Roarane, Anil Girkar, Sunny Sanour, Meghdeep Bose, John Stewart Eduri, to name a few, speaking on topics of prime interest on technology trends in the industry.

The first day features an EEMA PALM Conference Session, with a reputed panel by EEMA discussing the Dynamism of the Live Stage Market in India. The three day Conference & Seminar Program will culminate on Day 3 with an Open Forum for Sound Engineers which will be moderated by Aditya Modi and will consist of a panel including stalwarts of the music industry like Shantanu Hudlikar, Pramod Chandorkar and Mujeeb Dadarkar.

The rapidly progressing professional AV segment has become an undeniable force. In lieu of this ever increasing presence within the entertainment domain, the PALM expo will add further character to the show by including a 3D Immersive Projection & Mapping showcase on the floor in Hall 1.

The PALM Soundscape which is fast growing into the expo’s biggest feature will take place at Hall 4 VIP Parking Area. The Soundscape will enable networking among industry stalwarts who will share their experiences and expertise through interactive sessions curated by premier artist management agency, UnMute.

With continuous efforts, The PALM expo has been instrumental in promoting DJ talent via the DJ Championship, spearheaded by DJ Championship Director DJ Reji. The championship will bring together some of India’s top DJs and musicians.

True to its primary objective, the PALM Sound & Light Awards which is now in its 6th year, will showcase & recognize individuals and organizations for their unparalleled contribution to the industry by rendering outstanding services in the field of staging, lighting & live sound in the Indian market in the previous fiscal year.

“I am happy that PALM has been able to live up to the expectations of our exhibitors and visitors. The company intends to invest more in the show and ensure it continues to contribute to the growth of the industry. I look forward to welcome everyone at PALM and wish our exhibitors a successful ‘businessful’ show”, says Ramesh Chetwani, Exhibition Director of PALM Expo.

The PALM Expo dates have always been a highlighted date on the calendars of the Indian pro audio & music recording industry. Each year the organizers have upped their game and this year too the expo’s energy is all set to get more effusive with all the opportunities for business planned out at the venue.

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Explain what Maati Baani is all about. What's the story behind the name?

You've collaborated with different people. Anything specific you'd like to share?

Kartik: Maati Baani literally means the language of the earth.

"Maati " ki "Baani". What it also means to us is the modern sound of traditional India. We celebrate multiculturalism, where race, sex, geography do not matter. We create music with different musicians from across the world, and our music has traces of different cultures. Its a place where India meets the world and the world meets India.

Kartik: Musicians as a community across the world is a broad - minded community owing to the amount of time they spend travelling! When we collaborate with a musician from any part of the world we dont have to make any efforts to get in a comfortable zone to create music - the comfort levels already exists because our common language is music! Our latest song Jao Piya had western classical musicians playing Indian classical- that was indeed special.

Nirali: Kartik and me are both from different musical backgrounds.

I am trained in Hindustani classical and Kartik is completely self taught. He is more fascinated by sounds while I am more fascinated by melodies. So we combined both to form Maati Baani.

What's your take on music and culture going together?

Nirali: Music and culture are two sides of a coin. But right now we see that the musical trends are same in every country. If you hear the top 10 songs in Japan, or India or any other place, you will find a common palette of urban sounds. They will not be mirroring the culture or the tradition of the country. Most of the times the traditional music of the place will not be reflected in the top trends. With Maati Baani we incorporate the cultural sounds in a contemporary form and try to minimise the gap.

Kartik: We believe technology should be used to connect cultures, and that led birth to our new series "The Music Yantra". Its where we connect with artistes from across the globe via internet. It is a platform to showcase different and most amazing traditions of the world in harmony with Indian music.

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How do you make music?

Kartik: Nirali and I first create the basic melody of the song and format it. This basic format goes out to the musicians we have shortlisted for the song. Once they have the basic song structure, we discuss with them over a couple of skype sessions, how we imagine their parts to sound like. This is where the beauty of remote collaborations is. Here, you not only get to know a totally different kind of a music genre but also its subtleties! After the skype sessions, the collaborating musician records the parts in his/ her own country and sends us the audio files. Once we have all the audio files from different musicians, we stitch in one song!

This process used to take many months before, now we can manage it in a few days time! Owing to our body of work, more musicians are willing to collaborate with us than ever before! At times, We get requests from artistes to feature in our tracks now, without us asking which we consider to be a substantial achievement.

We spoke to Karthik and Nirali of the band Maati Baani about their musical journey, how they make music, what projects to look forward to in future and much more.

Where do you draw inspiration from while making music?

Kartik: Our inspiration comes from every good musician that we hear; however I draw a lot of inspiration from the street musicians across the globe. These are some of the best musicians ever but they choose to perform at stations, corner of the streets and at various public places for the joy of music. They dont expect much in return when they play on the streets even though they are presenting the best of their music.

Nirali: Every song in our series the Music Yantra which is presented

by Vivanta by Taj, is a concept based song. For this song, the concept was to make the artiste perform at his/ her country's landmark location. The song has a very spring-summery vibe and this vibe is best captured outdoors. Coincidentally, this song was completed right ahead of the Heritage Day! For us, this was an unbelievable example of synchronicity!!!

Artists/Bands you'd love to work with? And why?

Nirali: I draw inspiration from the great classical maestros of our country- they dedicate all their lives to master the art of Indian classical music; this attitude of serving the art with love and dedication is what i aspire for.

Kartik: We want to work with musicians of every genre; from India and abroad. Our rule is not to have any rule at all! Whoever inspires us, whose music we like we would love to feature that musician or band at some point in our lives!

Which has been your best performance yet and why?

What's your dream project like?

Nirali: Every performance of our is special as each time we perform for a new audience. But our latest performance at JKK was amazing because everything was just perfect - amazing ambience, great energy from the audience, our collaborating musicianseverything came together so beautifully :)

Kartik:The Music Yantra is our dream project and we are lucky to see it happening in real and also being loved by music lovers across the globe. In future, we would like to upgrade it by having great camera work!

If not music, what would you both have been doing?

Nirali: We are going to play at some of the best music festivals this year and also, we would keep on creating new songs!

Nirali: I would have been a social entrepreneur, something related with culture, and traditional arts.

Kartik: Graphic designer, may be!

Tell us about your latest song Jao Piya. How did it come about?

Future projects

What's your message to readers of our magazine.

Buy music, that is how you tell a musician we believe in your music and we want to hear more :) A word of appreciation for the work the musicians

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SHUBHAM GOYAL

THE HARMAN TECH EXCHANGE : NAGPUR “The Nagpur Tech Exchange” was conceptualized by Harman in October 2015. The objective was to do a brand recall and showcase new products of Harman. But it was more than just a “Tech exchange”.

A lot of knowledge, too was exchanged. As a follow up to a previous endeavor of encouraging the upgradation of technology (Analog to Digital) they had a short and sweet 2 hour training (2 sessions) covering product overview and Q&A for Digital mixers and Digital signals respectively. This was in continuation to similar trainings earlier in the region.

The date of 23rd January, 2016 was set, considering that the sound fraternity would be busy with festival season till the first half of January. The invites were rolled out after careful detailing of training, products on demo, and Venue on the 29th of December 2015.

From there on, Team Digitrons did a fantastic job on invitations.

They printed over 1500 cards. Digitrons sales personnel coupled with their regional agents (10-12 personnel) personally distributed cards to every possible sound people within and outside their network. Special emphasis was laid on penetrating interior regions and thus for the first time areas like Gadchiroli, Jagdalpur, Chandrapur ( Naxalite Presence) and interiors like Lakhandur, Achalpur, Parvada were reached .

Small sound rental companies from Aliabad (Adjoining district in Andra Pradesh) were encouraged to hire a special bus and shuttle for a day. Villages of Vidharbha, Maratwada, Chhattisgarh, parts in Madhya Pradesh were also covered. The invitation was followed up with over 5000 smses . An estimated footfall of 600 was arrived at!

Apart from the training, the day’s activities included the latest product display, Live Demos of VerTec 4887 rig (Single hang), A VRX 932LA (Single hang) the latest SRX 800 series (left and right ground stacked), and Martin Lights live on demo.

The marketing team made sure that the industry too, took notice of the event and therefore led it further credence.

After a smooth run up to the D Day, everyone was prepared for a fantastic evening with Harman. The Event was to begin at 11am. But, since Nagpur is a late starter and also owing to the fact that people were travelling from as far as 350 Kms by road transport. The event kick started at 12 Noon with symbolic lighting of the traditional

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“Diya”by team Digitrons and Harman.

The participants began to trickle in slowly and fluently. By 2:30 pm the figure had already touched 500. The participants had a good look at the products on display ranging through the audio chain and lights.

The participants then spilled into the open lawns for a live demo of the new SRX 800 series, The VRX 932LA and the big boys i.e. the VerTac 4887 Rig periodically. They left no stone unturned until they were satisfied with the sound. Right from EDM, Bollywood songs to live performances- whatever was needed was served.

The event was also interspersed with 2 small sessions of training on Digital Mixer and Signal processing. The venue was isolated from the exhibition and demo area. Thus ensuring that the relevant and interested participants get due attention. This was a packed house too.

Over 500 Goodie bags containing catalogs and caps and wrist band were distributed. They also had a small photo deck where they took pictures and registered the participants with their details. These pictures were later sent to them as souvenirs.. and additionally, they were running a campaign where they encourage them to go and tag on social media.

The participants were treated to some lip smacking snacks and tea through the event. A simple Samosa and Aloo Bonda had a Destressing effect on the Harman Team.

The event came to a closure by 5 Pm. By then some 800 people had attended. They were able to capture the data of 653 participants. They even had a decent booking and enquiries for the next quarter including the Tour Sound product. All in all, this was a highly successful event in terms of success achieved versus objective set.

And hence, to celebrate the success and to motivate the team from Digitron and Harman who worked painstakingly to deliver a great “Road show”, they concluded with some thanks giving and cheering at the Maharaja Bagh Club with dinner and wine.

They say: The residue of the Event is a “Great Team spirit” and “Energy” dying to take the fervor to next one.

WORLD CLASS NUAGE 7.1 STUDIO WITH REDNET UNVEILED SeamEdu School of Pro-Expressionism

The Mission is to provide holistic, experiential and globally relevant learning & standing true to unveil the Nuage 7.1 Recording & Mixing Studio. This studio is a perfect case study for futuristic technology like Network audio, latest mixing surface, working with 2 DAWs like Pro Tools & Nuendo simultaneously.

Think about the vast knowledge that can be acquired in this studio. Incorporating network audio in education for the first time in India. This time Seamedu did it with Focusrite Rednet.

What is Nuage?

Nuage is a DAW controller by Yamaha. It is the heart of the studio where all the signals are controlled. It’s a wonderful control surface that can control multiple DAWs simultaneously. It has multiple user assignable switches. This gives the students flexibility to use their custom keys & commands. The touch screen display and associated knobs with Nuage Master Control does a great job for setting cues and monitors. We will be using Nuage to work primarily with DAWs like Pro Tools HD & Nuendo. Students will get a chance to work in this studio for the Multitrack recording project, Post-production, 5.1/7.1 mixing projects or even their own personal projects.

What is Rednet & Dante protocol?

Rednet has been designed keeping in mind latest studios with multi-recording rooms, live sound, broadcast & other applications.

Completely digital so no running cables to record & transfer audio from 1 room to the other. RedNet is a step above its I/O competition, providing some of the most transparent and pristine audio quality

available – with the added benefit of the systems revolutionary networking capabilities.

Dante, developed by Australian company Audinate, is a tried and tested ultra-low-latency digital audio networking system based on Ethernet and IP technology – implementations of internationally agreed standards. Dante networks have been used in the live sound industry for several years. Audio can be made available anywhere it is required, capturing or relaying a live performance or distributing audio to previously hard-to-reach or prohibitively expensive locations.

Students will now get a chance to record music over Dante protocol using the Focusrite Rednet hardware. This gives them flexibility to sit in any of our recording rooms, music production lab, classroom, or anywhere in the building using a single CAT6 cable & start recording.

Apart from Nuage & Rednet systems Seamedu also acquired industry standard Mackie HR824MK2 7.1 monitoring system. These speakers are mind blowing for film mixing. Apart from 7.1 monitoring system, student will also get a chance to mix & master their music on the latest Neumann KH120 monitoring system.

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DARSHAN DOSHI We had a chat with Darshan Doshi about his journey, music projects, association with Zildjian and a lot more.

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Tell us about your drumming career. How did it all begin??

I started drumming at the age of 2. My dad Shailesh Doshibeing a drummer, inspired me to take the instrument forward. He runs a music academy in Juhu, Mumbai so there was always music in our house.

I would attend his concerts & was always fascinated to watch him on stage playing drums. My initial training then started under him. When I was 8, I joined an all kids band 'Little Wonders' & 'Little Stars' that was formed by music directors Kalyanji-Anandji & I got the opportunity to perform all over the world with some talented singers & musicians at a very young age. At the age of 11, my name came into the Limca Books of Records as the Youngest Drummer of India.

Where do you draw inspiration from as a musician?

I have been inspired by all kinds of musicians, I try to learn from everything I see around me, but when it comes to drums there are a lot of drummers that have made me want to push myself. I was lucky to have been trained under my idol - MrRanjit Barot, who is India’s finest drummer. I've had opportunities to spend time with drummers from around the world like Steve Smith, Terry Bozzio, Antonio Sanchez

& Eric Harland. Recently I attended the world famous Drum Fantasy Camp in Chicago & learn from drummers like Dave Weckl, JojoMayer, Benny Greb & Mike Mangini. For me, learning will never stop!

You've performed with big names in the industry. Tell us a bit about the experience?

I have been really fortunate to play with some amazing singers & music directors of the Bollywood Industry. Its been a great learning experience to perform with artists like Mr A.R.Rahman, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Salim-Sulaiman, Adnan Sami, Amit Trivedi, Farhan Akhtar & many more. Also thanks to Coke Studio & MTV Unplugged, I got to perform with some amazing folk & classical musicians. We also work together on film projects. I've had great fun recording drums for numerous films like Rock On, Fitoor, Kai Po Che, Black, My Name is Khan, Queen, & Bombay Velvet as well as upcoming films Rock On 2 & Udta Punjab.

You're currently with Farhan Akhtar Live Band. Tell us about your best show so far and why??

With Farhan Live it's always been fun. We mainly perform at college festivals, so the audience response we get is crazy. It's pretty cool to also perform songs that were originally played by me in the film Rock On. Farhan is an amazing live performer - we have to push ourselves to match his energy on stage. The Mumbai show at DJ Sanghvi College Festival in March 2016 was special as I was performing in my college grounds & a home crowd is always great. We even had Ranveer Singh who came specially to check out the concert cheering for us from the side wings!

Which has been your favorite stage you've performed in?

It would be so difficult to pick from over 3000 concerts performed all over the world! But in 2014, I got the opportunity to perform at the prestigious WOMAD Festival in UK with Salim Sulaiman & Karsh Kale - which to me was a dream stage to be on. We were even lucky enough to bump into Mr Peter Gabriel.

Artists/bands you'd love to work with and why??

I love playing fusion music & its been a dream to play alongside the amazing Ustad Zakir Hussain. I'm also a huge fan of composers Clinton Cerejo & Dhruv Ghanekar & would love to perform & record for them someday.

You're endorsing Zildjian brand.

What's your opinion about the product?

I've been associated with Zildjian Cymbals as an endorsee for over 5 years now. I've been using them with my kit since I was a kid, so for me, they are the finest cymbals. Zildjian Cymbals are a part of my music & work for me in any situation.

What makes this brand stand out in your opinion?

They have a wide variety of cymbals that work for different genres of music & happen to be available at a very good price range, making it easier for even a beginner to afford.

Your message to upcoming drummers in the country.

I would like to share with upcoming drummers that there are no shortcuts to success, you have to put hours & hours of practise into your instrument everyday & most importantly listen to all kinds of music!

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Frankfurt has been the capital of the music and event sector in April beginning: Musikmesse closed its doors on 10th April, Prolight + Sound ended on 8th April. During this time, almost 110,000 visitors from around 130 countries made their way to Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre to place orders at the two international fairs, find out about the latest innovations and try new products. This year’s Musikmesse and Prolight + Sound were characterized by new concepts.

“Both events left no doubt that Frankfurt is where music happens.

We are on the right track with the reorientation of our strong trade-fair duo. Against the background of changing sales and distribution structures in the wake of digitalization, we will continue in this direction together with the sector and fine tune the fairs in cooperation with the associations and exhibitors”, said Detlef Braun, Member of the Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt. Additionally, more than 20,000 music fans attended the 50-plus concerts of the Musikmesse Festival, which was held for the first time at over 30 locations currently with Musikmesse. “We are delighted that the first Musikmesse Festival was able to inspire so many people. The concept of taking music to the city is a success”, reported Musikmesse Festival Director Wolfgang Weyand.

A total of 2,043 exhibitors from 60 countries made presentations at the restructured fairs and the trade associations drew a positive conclusion with regard to the changes made to both events. “From the point of view of the VPLT, Prolight + Sound 2016 was a complete success. After years of growth, the turnover of the event-technology sector is approaching the € 4 billion mark. It was demonstrated that Musikmesse and Prolight + Sound rank among the most important business-to-business platforms for German, European and international companies. Given the full exhibition halls on all days, they were also able to show that music-making continues to be a relevant subject in society.”

Leading exhibitors were also very pleased with the results. “We have been pleasantly surprised by the course of business and the mood at the fair. The number of retailers was good on the first two days and the flood of consumers up to the level expected with the fair now open on all days”, said Michael Stöver, Director Country Management,

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Yamaha Music Europe GmbH. Michael Kunz, Senior Product Manager, Kawai Europa GmbH, said, “For us, the new concept has been an outstanding success. Our aim was to reach both retailers and consumers. And we achieved this very well at Musikmesse where the level of internationality is much higher than at any other comparable event.” Key players of the event-technology sector were also delighted with the course of business: “We found the changes to be very purposeful. Prolight + Sound is the most important of all the fairs we take part in – it presents the complete spectrum and everyone who works in the sector attends”, said Marlon von der Kraan, Marketing, Philips Lighting B. V.

Music in all its variety: Instruments and events in the halls, Festive atmosphere on the outdoor exhibition area From rock and pop, via classic and jazz, to electro and recording, visitors were able to immerse themselves in the complete spectrum of instruments and music equipment in the themed worlds of music at this year’s Musikmesse. Manufacturers attracted attention with extraordinary designs and new collections. “This was our first time at Musikmesse in many years. We regard the new concept as a good way to strengthen the fair as a marketing platform. Here, we showed our new product segment in the field of acoustic guitars and are satisfied with the contacts made with retailers during the fair, as well as with the interest shown by consumers”, said Hans Peter Wilfer, CEO of Warwick GmbH. The on-going trend towards digitalization could also be observed

during the fair: the boundaries between the acoustic and electronic worlds are becoming blurred, e.g., high-grade e-pianos are imitating the sound of concert grand with increasing precision, the feeling of playing a digital drum set is now closer than ever to a real drum kit, electric string instruments offer the opportunity to practice using headphones. Music apps are now also more than just a gimmick and are even arousing the interest of music professionals.

With the many new events and information services, the fair was a magnet for both trade visitors and music aficionados. At the new Business Academy, retailers and distributors learnt how digitalization processes can be used for their own business model.

At the very popular Drum Camp, musicians and music lovers experienced performances by world-famous drummers, received tips for perfect sound enhancement in the Club Forum and increased their knowledge of keyboard instruments at the Piano Lounge. Outdoors, there was a festive atmosphere – the Musikmesse Street Food Session presented culinary reflections on musical themes while well-known artists provided the right sound on several stages. Numerous stars were to be seen and heard within the framework of the musical program. They included electro-musician Schiller, Ärzte bassist Rodrigo González, pop-rocker Jupiter Jones, Bon Jovi’s guitarist Phil X, The Dead Daisies all-star band and singer-songwriter Konstantin Wecker who was presented with the ‘Pianist of the Year’ Award.

Musikmesse also expanded its commitment to young musicians.

Thus, the long established Music4Kidz participatory exhibition helped spark children’s interest in active music making and, this year, presented a new compilation of extraordinary instruments, interactive sound sculptures and creative sound experiments. For

the first time, the European Final of the world’s biggest band contest, Emergenza, was held at Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre.

At SchoolJam, young talents competed for the title of ‘Germany’s best school band’, which went to the ‘Aber Hallo!’ rap rockers from Regensburg.

Over recent years, the impressive pace of development in the eventtechnology industry has led to a growing demand for highly trained employees. For this reason, Prolight + Sound has further expanded its range of professional-development facilities. An extensive seminar program with over 70 lectures by top speakers communicated both basic and expert knowledge on technological trends, progressive event management and safety and security issues in the event industry. With the new ‘Future Talents Day’ on the Tuesday, Prolight + Sound offered for the first time a targeted program for students and trainees in the event sector. Thus, newcomers had the chance to find out about career scenarios in the event industry, to take part in match-making events and attend special workshops and lectures. “The extensive conference programme at Prolight + Sound included interesting events for both beginners and ‘old hands’ and this alone would be a good reason for making the trip to Frankfurt”, said Joachim König, President of the European Association of Event Centers (Europäischer Verband der Veranstaltungs-Centren – EVVC). “Once again, Prolight + Sound demonstrated its unrivalled position as the leading trade fair for event technology.”

The next editions of Musikmesse and Prolight + Sound will be held at the beginning of April 2017.

Further information about Musikmesse and Prolight + Sound can be found at www.musikmesse.com and www.prolight-sound.com.

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