Dhwanii - Issue 2

Genesis for New Beginnings

- Interview with young, upcoming singer and composer Achyuth, conducted through email by Umesh.

Achyuth Kesavan, a 18 year old, who is completing his Bachelors in Business Administration at the American University of Dubai, hails from Kerala, India.
He has taken part in various stage shows, showcasing his singing skills. This shy and reclusive artiste composes too, with his trusty Korg and has created amazing tunes. He looks forward to singing for AR Rahman and produce his own albums in the future.

Could you please tell us about how your interest in music started? What age? And any special incidents that happened that made you aware of your talent?

Music, I believe, is a method of expressing emotions. I think music is the mother of all emotions. With music we can release all types of emotions and that's why one hears songs that describe happiness, sadness, disappointment, etc. I think my interest in music started with this realization. I like this method of releasing my emotions.
I don't recall exactly at what age I started singing, as I was quite small. But I still remember the first song I sang as I used to play around the house, it was, "Ek do Teen" from the movie Tezaab. I started singing on stage from my fifth grade, with the school choir. At that age I never took singing seriously although I liked being up there on stage. After my 7th grade, I went to India to study for three years. It was in the 8th grade that I got enough courage to go solo. It was a very nervous moment going solo for the first time, but I think it went ok. My close friends are very supportive and they tell me where I did well and where I went wrong after each show. They believe more in me more than I do myself.

When was it exactly that your parents noticed your talent and decided to encourage you?

Well, there was no exact point in time where my parents noticed. They gave me ongoing support. I used to go for shows and sing and they never restricted me. That way they were supportive from the beginning. I am grateful to my parents for not stopping me from performing or pursuing my dream of becoming a musician. But my father does keep my feet to the ground. He always tells me to never keep both feet in the same boat and this is why I am now in college continuing my education, which is extremely important. Even if I don't become a musician, I have my education that will help.

How did you start developing your music and singing skills? Did you attend any classes or learn from a Music Guru?

I have had different instructors so far in my life. And everyone had played an important role. I had learnt a lot from each of my instructors. Yes, I did attend classes and still do, as learning is a continuous process, which never stops whatever the subject.

What are the music equipment, instruments and gear that you use? What do you plan to get in the future?

I have a Yamaha PSR-510 (my first love :-). And recently I bought a Korg keyboard. Iwant to start investing and build my own studio, but that's a little more into the future.

Could you tell us about the stage performances? What were the favourite numbers that you sang?

Well stage performances are a lot a work. The preparation that goes into it takes time and patience. As I perform solo most of the time I have to sequence my own tracks, which takes the bulk of the time. Selecting exactly which songs to perform has very rarely taken a lot of time, as I go by instinct. I follow a process. I first listen to songs on my computer and try to get into the feeling of the song and then something in me says, "Yes, this is the song". Then I listen to the song more technically. Practicing the song is done mostly in the shower. And then I practice after the whole sequencing of the song is done. My favorite numbers, which I have performed, are Dil Se, Earth song (Michael Jackson), Vande Mataram (AR Rahman's), You Are Not Alone (Michael Jackson) and Truly, Madly, Deeply (Savage Garden).

Who are your favourite musicians, composers, and singers? Who has inspired you the most? What have you learnt from each of your favourite composers and singers?

Michael Jackson, AR Rahman, SPB, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan, Zakir Hussain, Sivamani, Talvin Singh, Sonu Nigam, UnniKrishnan.
Michael Jackson and AR Rahman have inspired me the most. However, every musician has their own experiences, which inspires in different ways.
Well, I can't say that I learnt something from them personally as I have never met them, but I'm sure that a lot of hard work goes into what they do. It is a universal truth that one can only succeed with hard work in any chosen field and so I believe that hard work is of utmost importance and I think it is fair to say that hard work is what I learnt from them.

What type of music do you listen to?

I like listening to music that mixes different genres in a song (fusion). I like Indian classical music.

What is your ambition? What would you like to achieve as a composer?

Well I would like to become a singer and then eventually a professional composer, but then everything is in the hands of God. If I succeed, I would like to have my own unique sound.

What are your plans in the immediate future?

My immediate plans are to complete my Bachelor's degree, hopefully do my Masters, while continuing music and learning courses in recording and sound engineering.

Any tips for budding composers, singers who are readers of Dhwanii?

Well, everybody has his or her own ideas, which I respect. I don't think I can add anything more as I am a budding artist myself :-).

We wish Achyuth all the best for his future.