Be honest. If you’re not, your audience will see right through it. You don’t have to fit into a mould, but it’s important to write lyrics that people can connect with. Some of the biggest artists in the business will testify that they’re still learning every day, so be willing to accept criticism when given and that will help you grow more as an artist every day.
1) Tell us about your backgrounds and journey.
Clinton: Its been a long one, right from when I used to bunk college and go for backing vocal sessions, to taking a loan in order to buy my first hardware workstation, a Roland XP80, to finally starting to work with people like ARR and Vishal Bhardwaj as a music producer, to composing jingles every day, to finally composing my own music for Coke Studio, Bollywood films and finally indie projects like Ananthaal and Shor Police.
Bianca: I grew up in Dubai, started singing in school and later did small gigs with bands there. In my late teens, I moved to Mumbai and began singing back up sessions for big artists in the city. It was only later when I began doing some advertising work, Bollywood sessions that I started to really find my sound as an artist.
2) When did you first decide you wanted to pursue music and how did it start?
Bianca: At a very young age, it became very clear to both me and my parents that music was a very important thing to me. I would literally eat and breathe music as a teenager even before I realised I could sing. I was exposed to a lot of concerts at a young age, and somehow always found myself drawn to the stage.
When people started noticing I had a special gift, I realised that it was worth taking it further.
Clinton: I think I decided I wanted to be a professional musician soon after college. It just seemed like the most obvious thing to do, cause of just how much time I was spending learning arrangements and production any way I could, without access to the internet the way kids today have access.
Clinton: I think I decided I wanted to be a professional musician soon after college. It just seemed like the most obvious thing to do, cause of just how much time I was spending learning arrangements and production any way I could, without access to the internet the way kids today have access.
It just became about striving to make every song better than the last.
3) Who are your favourite artists and why?
Clinton: As a music producer in advertising and film, one cannot afford to have a favourite genre. It’s our job to make every genre sound as convincing as possible and you cannot do that if you don’t genuinely love the genre.
3) Who are your favourite artists and why?
Clinton: As a music producer in advertising and film, one cannot afford to have a favourite genre. It’s our job to make every genre sound as convincing as possible and you cannot do that if you don’t genuinely love the genre.
But having said that people like Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Sting, Trevor Horn, etc have always been an inspiration. The list is endless actually.
Bianca: John Mayer, Sara Bareilles and James Bay are some of my favourite artists. I love their songwriting and production style.
4) Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a musician?
Bianca: If as an artist you can really establish your own individuality, then you have a hundred ways today to make yourself heard. The access to putting your music out there is way way easier than when we were just entering the industry. I think you have to look for that niche and see how you can bring your own differentiating factor to the table.
Clinton: I think these days with digital media having taken over completely, the opportunities are many. But you need to make sure you stand out from the crowd.
5) Is formal training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?
Clinton: I think formal training is great if one is actually getting the right training. These days while there are many good music educationists our there, there are also many scamsters looking to make a quick buck and wooing you with flashy marketing and celebrity names as past clients. That’s a surefire way to see your money go down the drain.
Bianca: While formal training is ideal because it gives you the tools you need to explore your ideas in a better way, real talent always finds a way to express itself. When you hear a voice that you connect with, it doesn’t matter if it’s trained or not. But it’s still no substitute for hard work.
Bianca: John Mayer, Sara Bareilles and James Bay are some of my favourite artists. I love their songwriting and production style.
4) Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a musician?
Bianca: If as an artist you can really establish your own individuality, then you have a hundred ways today to make yourself heard. The access to putting your music out there is way way easier than when we were just entering the industry. I think you have to look for that niche and see how you can bring your own differentiating factor to the table.
Clinton: I think these days with digital media having taken over completely, the opportunities are many. But you need to make sure you stand out from the crowd.
5) Is formal training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?
Clinton: I think formal training is great if one is actually getting the right training. These days while there are many good music educationists our there, there are also many scamsters looking to make a quick buck and wooing you with flashy marketing and celebrity names as past clients. That’s a surefire way to see your money go down the drain.
Bianca: While formal training is ideal because it gives you the tools you need to explore your ideas in a better way, real talent always finds a way to express itself. When you hear a voice that you connect with, it doesn’t matter if it’s trained or not. But it’s still no substitute for hard work.
You have to work on mastering your craft every single day. Practice makes perfect and that’s never been more true with music. It’s the only way you can reach your true potential.
6) What factors are important to keep in mind while forming a band?
Clinton: I think when we formed Shor Police, I looked for a synergy and a cohesiveness to the process of making music.
Bianca: Yes, I think that it really helps to be great friends first and getting along really well with your bandmates. Also being musically on the same wavelength is very important.
7) What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?
Bianca: Be honest. If you’re not, your audience will see right through it. You don’t have to fit into a mould, but it’s important to write lyrics that people can connect with. Some of the biggest artists in the business will testify that they’re still learning every day, so be willing to accept criticism when given and that will help you grow more as an artist every day.
6) What factors are important to keep in mind while forming a band?
Clinton: I think when we formed Shor Police, I looked for a synergy and a cohesiveness to the process of making music.
Bianca: Yes, I think that it really helps to be great friends first and getting along really well with your bandmates. Also being musically on the same wavelength is very important.
7) What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?
Bianca: Be honest. If you’re not, your audience will see right through it. You don’t have to fit into a mould, but it’s important to write lyrics that people can connect with. Some of the biggest artists in the business will testify that they’re still learning every day, so be willing to accept criticism when given and that will help you grow more as an artist every day.
Clinton: Learn, learn & learn. Don’t be so eager to put your music out there without having something concrete to say as an artist in the first place. True knowledge in our industry is never wasted and will always hold you in good stead.
- Clinton Cerejo (Composer, Producer) & Bianca Gomes (Songwriter)
Bianca Gomes: A current favourite in the thriving advertising and jingle scenario in Mumbai, Bianca has numerous jingles to her credit. Influenced by Jazz, Funk and R&B, Bianca seamlessly blends these genres to create a sound altogether her own.
Bianca Gomes: https://www.instagram.com/iambinkybee/
Shor Police: https://www.instagram.com/shorpolice/
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