Bolton School Old Boy Arun Ghosh has been chosen as one of the
BT Celebrity Storytellers for London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics
to document the story of the London Games through all media
available by blogging, social networking, and through visual and
performance arts.
Arun is a British-Asian clarinettist, composer and music
educator, whose music style is described as original music of South
Asian origin with a contemporary jazz attitude. He was selected for
the 2008 edition of the Jerwood/PRS Foundation 'Take Five'
initiative for emerging jazz musicians produced by Serious and in
2009, was invited to perform at the jazzahead! Festival in Bremen,
Germany as part of the UK showcase presented by Jazz Services. In
2010, he was made an Associate Artist at The Albany Theatre, London
- a position still held and in April 2011, was made an
Artist-in-Residence for the Southbank's Alchemy Festival.
Arun released his debut album "Northern Namaste" on camoci
records in 2008 to critical acclaim. The opening track entitled
"Aurora" also appears on Gilles Peterson's compilation album
"Brownswood Bubblers Three" and two additional tracks "Deshkar
(Love In The Morning)" and "Where Shall I Live Now" feature in the
independent UK film "Everywhere and Nowhere" directed by Menhaj
Huda (Kidulthood).
Primal Odyssey, his highly anticipated 2nd album will
be released on 24th October 2011 on camoci records and
features ten original tracks. Produced by Arun Ghosh & Tony
Platt (AC/DC, Bob Marley, Soweto Kinch), and recorded at Vale
Studios in Worcestershire, inspirations and influences for Primal
Odyssey range from Greek mythology, Bengali baul music, Don Cherry,
Charles Mingus, Ornette Coleman, the late Pete Postlewaite and The
Bible.
Constantly experimenting with live
formats and arrangements has been key to Arun Ghosh's growing
reputation for creating music that is "...at once no-nonsense,
thrilling and beautiful...uproarious and irresistible" (The
Telegraph).
Read Arun's interview for the Old
Boys' Newsletter below:
-Did you enjoy your time at School?
I enjoyed my time at school especially music and languages, and
I remember teachers, friends and the overall atmosphere with
fondness.
-What are your best memories of school?
I really loved performing at concerts, solo and with the choir
and orchestra. I also worked on School theatre productions. I
composed and arranged the music for 'Romeo and Juliet', 'A
Christmas Carol' and 'The Snow Queen'. A major side to my work is
as a theatre composer, so those were very significant and formative
times for me.
-Did you have a favourite teacher/subject?
I really liked English Literature and German, but my favourite
subject, unsurprisingly, was music. My favourite teacher was Miss
Garner (later Mrs Butchart) who was my music teacher for a few
years. She was always supportive and encouraging of me, my playing
and my composition, and she also gave me good advice about music
and life in general.
-Did you always want to be a musician?
I always wanted to be a musician
-When did you first learn to play an
instrument?
I started playing the recorder when I was about 7, and really
loved it. I later started playing the piano and violin, but once I
started playing the clarinet when I was 12, I knew that that was
the instrument for me.
-Which instruments do you play?
As well as the clarinet, I play piano, a bit of guitar and a bit
of bass.
-How much did/do you practice?
It has gone in phases through my life. There have been times
when I have practiced routinely and religiously for hours each day.
At other times, simply listening and being have felt like the right
approach to developing. I practiced a lot from 14-18, and also in
my early 20s. Nowadays, I don't get to practice as much, or as
often as I'd like. Sonny Rollins once said, "I practice all the
time, to be there when the spirit comes". Easier said than
done!
-What genre of music does your music fall
into?
My main style as a performer could be described as Indian-Jazz.
But when I am composing (for theatre or dance, for example), I use
whatever sound or style is right for what I am trying to express,
from a minimal piano work to full-on electronic dubstep
madness!
-How has your musical style evolved?
It is grown with me, and has been shaped by new people around
me, the different paths I've taken and the different styles of
music that have come into my life. So along the way, Classical,
jazz, indie, grunge, hip-hop, jungle, Indian folk, minimalism,
afrobeat, dubstep have all shaped my sound, my performance, and the
way I perceive music.
-Did the School play any part in your decision to focus
on a career in music?
School was always supportive and encouraging to me. There were
many performance opportunities, inspiring and dedicated teachers,
orchestras and ensembles, and also places I could go and
practice.
-What has been your favourite/most memorable performance
to date?
When I played at the Royal Festival Hall at the London Jazz
Festival 2007, it was the start of something special. It had taken
a long time to get there, but a lot of things stared to happen for
me and my music after that.
-What type of music do you enjoy listening to the
most?
It depends, because I love a huge variety of music. At the
moment I'm listening to a lot of punk!
-Have you got any advice for young boys hoping to work
in the music industry?
When asked that question at a music careers seminar, my clarinet
teacher said "Don't do it" !!! I suppose he meant that unless there
is nothing else you want to do in life than be a musician, then do
something else! Being a musician is a vocation, and takes over your
whole life. If that is what you want, then pursue it.
-Is it difficult to earn a living in the music
industry?
Some find it easier than others.
-How do you ensure that you have constant
work?
Doing, and being able to do a range of work helps. I perform
with my own and others' bands, compose for theatre and dance, play
at functions, write film scores and run workshops for young
people.
-Who inspires/influences your
music? What is your favourite artist/band/album?
Any music with soul, passion and intensity can inspire me. For
me, this can be early blues, reggae, Debussy, Nirvana, Bismillah
Khan, Miles Davis, the Beatles, Toumani Diabate, Nas, Burial and so
on.
-Have you met any of your idols? Who would you love to
meet?
I recently met Ravi Shankar, the Godfather o Indian music. He
had listened to my album, really liked it and asked to meet me. We
had lunch and chatted about music, the Beatles, John Coltrane and
mangoes! He's 90 now, and great company.
-Do you work abroad?
Travelling is one of the best things about being a musician. In
the last year, I have performed in India, France, Kuwait,
Dubai, Germany, Austria and Morocco.
-What have you been doing today?
At the moment, I'm mixing my second album, "Primal Odyssey".
We'd better get a move on, as we're releasing and touring it at the
end of October!
-Everybody thinks it is a glamorous job- is
it?
Yes, it is extremely glamorous!!
-What are the best and worst parts of the
job?
I like it all, the long hours, the travelling, the lack of
routine, the job insecurity,,,because I love to perform and compose
so much.
-How often do you get to see your family and
friends?
Not enough, unfortunately. My band have become my close friends,
though.
-What is happening next for you?
I'm releasing 'Primal Odyssey', my second album (my first was
'Northern Namaste' in 2008). I'll be touring nationally in October
and November, and then I'm composing a score for the Unicorn
Theatre's Christmas show, 'The Snow Queen'.
Thank you for your time.
You're welcome!