Congratz Masala Records (-°-)

Just got the news that a mate of mine started his own label. Check out the vid below and the link to the site.

http://masalarecords.wix.com/masalarecords

 

 

 

Some weekend in Bombay…

For some reason I’ve had the chance or luck (or karma) to meet several of my musical influences. Mainly those who had a profound role in the -Asian Underground/Massive- music movement. Short meetings nevertheless, but they were all very spontaneous and a nice memory.

It was end nineties when a mate (through another mate) gave me a copy (on TAPE) of Karsh Kale’s “Classical Science Fiction from India”. It was this piece of music and Talvin Singh’s Grammy winning  “O.K.” that started to influence me heavily and changed the way I wanted to play music. Along with the almighty Zakir Hussain they became my major inspiration to fondle and fiddle away on that magical instrument called “Tabla”. Of course since 95% of my “tutoring” is DIY, I ain’t too fab on it. Nevertheless, it was never my intention to play  Indian Classical music but rather to use it (tabla) in semi-electronic sets and more as a “groove-instrument” rather than becoming a virtuoso on it.

First weekend of April 2009…for me, the last weekend of a 9-month stay in India & Nepal before I took off back to Europistan. My flight was leaving from Mumbai and had one last weekend to kill. Which is easy for me since Bombay (Mumbai) is so far my most favourite city in India and elsewhere. (There’s tons of shtuff to do, to see, to explore, to eat, to find, to discover, to listen, etc. And there’s this amazing venue in Lower Parel called “The Blue Frog” where they have artists on stage from around the globe! Check this place out when in Bombay!) While reading through “Time Out – Mumbai” under the cool breeze, created by the ceiling fan, my eye wandered off to an ad for the New CD release of the Midival-Punditz starring (their frequent collaborator) Karsh Kale and all this was happening at the blue frog…two nights in a row that very same weekend. My “last” weekend in India was going to be a musical one!

At the Blue Frog later that night… Although, through the help of my (then) girlfriend, I was able to hang out with Karsh and the Punditz for a few memorable moments, the real treat and surprise, however short-lived it was, came afterwards. While standing outside (the blue frog) for a cigarette (yep, I know, filthy habit) some guy asked me for a light. Since we were the only two standing there, we had a brief conversation. Can’t remember exactly what the guy’s role was but I think he might have been from Karsh’s or the Punditz’s management. All of a sudden there was this gorgeous lady walking up to us and introduced herself to me and greeted the dude I was standing with. Clearly they knew each other well. I got her name right though, Anoushka… We had a brief conversation about where I was from and about music. And then it hit me, I was standing there talking with the amazing Anoushka Shankar, daughter of Sitar-Maestro; Ravi Shankar. (-°-)

Enjoy the beautiful playing of Anoushka Shankar in this amazing performance!

 

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Bombay2Goa

Perhaps it’s because I’ve done this trip meself for dozens of times that I like this movie so much. But nevertheless it still remains one of my favourite Bollywood flicks! (Starring a very young Amitab Bachan) Enjoy!

Some common sense…?!

Seems that someone, somewhere used a wee bit of his/hers common sense and let couchsurfing off the hook. Then again, I think this matter (letting Couch-hosts pay) will re-surface eventually. But for now….it seems okay again…

http://www.deredactie.be/permalink/1.1944245

How not to drive a scooter…

I’m a pretty empathic person and don’t want to see other people hurt or in pain…but this got me in stitches. Please, note the amount of times he runs into other cars and bikes before ending up in that great big hole. (Tip: full screen) Enjoy. (-°-)

 

Beautiful…must watch. (-°-)

FREE MUSIC (-°-)

Decided to put my tunes up 4 FREE download. Enjoy.

Spot on…and well funny!

Came across this dude a few months ago. He nails it regarding certain issues in India. Issues that a lot of my fellow India-travellers seem to be blind for. Perhaps mostly through overdosing on (fake) spiritual crap. Anyway, Wilbur Sargunaraj…hope this man’s videos will spread a bit more. Enjoy and learn. (-°-)

Goa revisited prt.1

After working and living in Indonesia (95/96) I went (briefly) back to Belgistan only to find out that I’ve left my heart somewhere in Asia. Rapidly, I was searching for new ways to get back to it (Asia) ASAP! It didn’t really mind which country exactly…as long as it was in that region. But, I believe if you want something bad enough (in a healthy way mind), the Universe picks it up and will bring you closer to it. So while strolling through Antwerp one afternoon I stumbled upon a wee shop called “Ganesh & Co”. A typical hippie/India/incense/statue-shop that you’ll  find pretty much in every town these days. I got acquainted with the owner of the shop and during one of our conversations he shared his idea of wanting to start a guesthouse in Goa, India. If only he could find someone who was willing to run the place, since he (the owner) had to be in Antwerp most of the time. Needless to write I guess that I stuck onto his idea like flies to shit!

A few weeks later we both flew to Bombay, then the bus to Goa. (I’ll do a post soon on my first impressions of India, since it’s hard to describe it in just a few lines). We went scouting for locations and a suitable house…and found one in Anjuna (Goa). Anjuna was back then (already) pretty crowded. Especially on Wednesdays (tourist-season only) when the flea-market is held. It’s set up in a coconut grove edging the beach. Yes…there are worse spots to spend a Wednesday afternoon. ;)   And the market exists out of hundreds of stalls selling stuff coming from all over India. Tibetans selling beautiful silver jewellery. And even the occasional traveller with own leather-carving work, seashell jewellery, etc. Except that it has grown enormously in size since then (97) (it had already since the flea-market started back in the sixties), the flea-market still has the same vibrant buzz to it. Some will debate this…to each his own. (-°-)

Perhaps I should have called this post “Arambol revisited” rather than “Goa revisited”…then again….the word “Goa” probably scores better in the search-results, better leave it. ;) Since Anjuna demanded a pretty full-power kind of living-style, i.e.; too many of them “Goa-trance-parties” (which until this very day I loath!) and since there were just too many drugs on the scene it attracted (at least to me) the wrong kinds of people. And since, by nature, I get easily tired and bored of how people (mis)behave when they’re in groups…I set out on my motorbike from time to time to go and explore other parts of Goa. On one occasion I was driving up north from Anjuna when suddenly the road stopped at a river. I could cross with a shabby old beaten’ ferry. About fifty minutes later I was on the other side, driving through little roads crossing hills until I saw this sign saying “Harmal/Arambol”. I followed it and eventually I arrived at a very nice tourist-free beach. The beach had a nice cliff-side and near it big shark-tooth-like rocks sticking out of the sea. There was such an amazing pleasant vibe on this beach and the local people that I soon got to know were (and still are) diamonds! Guesthouses or hotels…if there were any at all at that time….were certainly not found by me. Someone in Arambol “town” had told me that there was a guesthouse in the village of Aswem called “Villa River Cat”. A peculiar name I found and checked it out. It was some sort of Portuguese roundhouse villa…ground-floor plus one  floor on top. It was set among coconut palms and the beautiful garden of the house edged on the river. It was an amazing lush beautiful exotic spot. (little did I know that some years later I’d be working here). The place had also a fair share of cats (hence the name) and some dogs. All peacefully living together. The whole place exhaled tranquility and seemed so far removed from the mindless pill-popping crowds in Anjuna. I decided to book a few nights. And promised myself that…from then on, if I should visit Goa again…I’d make Arambol my base. TBC…

The Worldbiker

Recently I was asked by my mate and co-musician and friend, Davide Swarup, if an acquaintance of him , could use a track (that me and Davide made) for a short documentary. I hadn’t seen it yet and while browsing around just now, I stumbled upon it (by chance, not via that website) ;)

 

<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/40018968″>The Worldbiker</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user8768233″>openmindfilm</a&gt; on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a&gt;.</p>