Maple Reed - Interview
by:

Interview with Maple Reed - Bangalore

Check Maple Reed profile at MyBand

“Rock music has its followers..But do we have an Industry which can help bands reach out to their audience” – an exclusive interview with Bijesh - Vocalist of Maple Reed. Recently Bijesh, the vocalist of Maple Reed has been captured in a very special and exclusive interview over the Face Book Chat.  He talked about the pain and struggling side of Rockers, about the making of a song.

Maple Reed is a six member band from Bangalore, started as cover band. But now gradually they are all set to acquire a distinct place in the Rock Music arena with their original music.

Myband wish Maple Reed all the best for the work and endeavor and thank sincerely for the interview.

Myband - What is Maple Reed’s next song coming??
Bijesh - Working on an amazing stuff...song about a girl who represents scores of underprivileged children that we encounter daily in different scenarios.

Myband - Tell me if I ask you one song which you like most which one will be it??
Bijesh - I have plenty….in English it will be Coming back to life, Pink Floyd .
In Hindi it will be Likhe Jo Khat tujhhe

Myband - So basically lyric is what attracts you the most or the overall composition...??
Bijesh – Lyrics come first and then the melody or the composition.

Myband - So are you a poet, do you write song??

Bijesh  - I do write lyrics.

Myband - Which one of your own song u like most??

Bijesh - I have many... all yet to come out as songs.. they are just written and kept.

Myband – When did you write your first poetry??
Bijesh – Well, if you are talking about full fledged writing, it has to be from the time I entered the portals of my college. It’s a time when you react to everything and so began the journey of writing, all kept to myself though…..

Myband - And how do you start writing songs??
Bijesh – I decide upon the theme and then delve deeply into it.. It helps me capture all the nuances which I pen down on a regular basis..  The lines are then thought of and put into place and it keeps getting edited till I feel it’s a song.

Myband - How exactly do you feel that it's a song... I mean when u write a poem do u try to put it in a tune??
Bijesh  - At times yes.. at times no.

Myband - In your group who sets the lyrics to tune??
Bijesh - it depends...Sometime I will have the basic tune ready, sometimes some one will set a chord progression, so it depends.

Myband - Who is this someone?? Is he the other member of your group??
Bijesh – yes.. he could be Naveen, Ajesh or Sikanth. But once we start working on it, it’s like everyone adds on to what they feel most appropriate.

Myband - ok... so all the members in the group are equally talented.. It’s more like team work??

Bijesh - oh yes, talented and teamwork. Ranjith will take care of the percussion part. Dan will be doing keys. Sikanth is also a good lyricist, he has also written lot of his own poems and songs.... Apart from doing their part well, they also give valuable inputs on every aspect of the song which helps…


Myband - Before the recent revamp your group was like this you as Vocalist & Lyrics ; Jozef Rhythm Guitars ; Pranoy Lead Guitars ; Naveen Bass Guitars ; Dileep Keyboards ; Ranjith - Drums. Now who all are changed?? Like You said Dan will be on Key ... is there any more change??
Bijesh  - Yes. Rhythm guitars :Ajesh, Keys:Danny, and Lead Guitars: Sikanth. Base guitars, Drums and vocals remain the same as Naveen, Ranjith and I respectively.

Joseph had to move back due to his personal commitments for the time being. Dileep got in to the Chennai Music Circuit and is working on lot of movie projects. Pranoy moved out of band due to timing issues, he works at night. Hence the changes have been made in the group.

Myband - What is your biggest dream?? music or generally??
Bijesh - I would love to see Maple reed as a respected entity in the World of music.

Myband – Maple Reed is already doing well, taking a distinct place gradually. What do u think about this industry?? Is it the fact that rock music or new generation music is not liked by general public?? Where is the snag according to u??

Bijesh - May be yes if you compare this genre to Bollywood music. You may see that the number of people following rock in this country is less... but that does not mean that rock has nil following.. Rock music has its followers..But do we have an Industry which can help bands reach out to their audience?
I can see these days there are labels coming up towards bettering the rock scene, which is a warm new change... but things can be better


Myband - Can u suggest some arrangement by which we can fight out this??

Bijesh - How is Bollywood music reaching so many ears?? It’s marketing... we need some players who can do the same for rock in this country.

If there is a live gig, it has to be paid, and if there is a band that is doing good original music, there has to be someone to give them a helping hand in terms of marketing and album release. May be we cannot compete with the number of CD sales in Bollywood, but a decent online launch for songs which are recorded in international quality will do wonders for the bands.


Myband – Of course marketing is even there for Bollywood...but do you think that performance-wise Rock musicians are talented??

Bijesh - There is no doubt about the quality of talent this country has......Just have an online search on the songs uploaded by bands themselves and you will know that... but the issue is , how many of them get to record their songs in good quality studios?? Can they afford it??? The answer is NO

Myband - So the Rock music in our country is in a state of struggle... it is difficult to maintain only music career. But that is true even in Hindustani classical or Carnatic classical practitioners. Isn't it?
Bijesh - To a certain extent yes, but I still feel they have more visibility.. You know, they are more considered as artists of the land, where as we are people who are following a distinct genre from a different land.

Myband - But do you not think post Globalisation and specially with computer and internet increasing popularity much faster??
 
Bijesh - Yes it is better.... and the good thing is that we don’t have to be dependent on CD sales too... but again, this gives better publicity, but where is the flow of income?
That’s what i said , things could be better.

Myband - I think Gig, live concert followed by online store activity will improve the scenario.. Don’t you think online sale is the opportunity of tomorrows??
Bijesh - yes....it can be....as of now all I see is free downloading of songs

Myband - See in Myband site, we have given access to upload with free download or paid download or even without download.
Bijesh - which is good... it depends on how many people pay and download

Myband - Bijesh, we have to have patience - it is beginning. I am sure things will improve. What do you think about Myband portal??
Bijesh - As mentioned earlier also, Portals like Myband will definitely help bands, its great to have someone being a link between a creative band and an audience who needs good stuff

Myband - Bijesh, I thank u sincerely for replying to my questions... and wish you and your Band all the best.
Bijesh - Thanks a lot… may b i am the first rocker to get interviewed at midnight.
 
Myband – Yes, and on Facebook.

  Save to del.icio.us

Would you like to comment?