The sheer immensity and scale of a work like ‘Parvat’ (released 11/01/22), the 37-minute showcase of classical Indian Ragas seamlessly blended with flourishes of Jazz, has to be given its due credit and attention. Fortunately we had the pleasure of chatting to its Grammy-nominated composer, Harpreet Bansal, to dive beneath the lines…
UR: How did you get into music in the first place?
My father Harbhajan Singh Bansal is a musician. He taught me ragas from when I was two years old.
UR: Did you have other goals/dreams if it wasn’t going to be music?
Music has always been my first choice. I was very interested in photography and have always a camera at hand when traveling. Astronomy has been one of my big interests before I started studying music.
UR: How do you spend most of your spare time outside of music?
Family and friends. But like so many musicians, a lot of my time is spent on administrative work, answering emails, making phone calls etc.
UR: If you could share the stage with a deceased music star who would it be and why?
I would give very much to share the stage with Solo Cissokho again. He was a giant, and we played together for many years. I miss him.
UR: What’s your method for discovering new music?
Live concerts. A lot of my friends are musicians, discussions with colleagues etc.
UR: What did you learn about yourself as a person and as a musician from writing “Parvat”?
I learned that such a thing could be done, that my personal expression could be translated into the symphonic format. This is also because both the arrangers know me and my music very well, and the orchestra was so flexible. Together, I think we made a very good record. Listen to Embrik Snerte’s bassoon improvisation in the opening of the third movement for example – when you work with people like that, we all lift each other up.
UR: How would you say people have reacted to your music so far in your career?
Very positively. I have been nominated for the Norwegian Grammys and I received the NOPA (Norwegian Society of Composers and Lyricists) award in 2021. Great reviews, both at home and abroad. My music has been broadcasted in several countries in Europe and overseas. There are also people who really hate it, but that is life.
UR: Do you think the sounds of Indian music is currently under-represented in the western sphere of music?
I don’t think so. You hear influences of Indian music in different genres, jazz, crossover etc.
Connect with Harpreet below: