Purbayan Chatterjee Interview
Q. How would you introduce your musical journey to someone experiencing your work for the very first time?
My journey has been about allowing the sitar to move beyond tradition—carrying its essence into contemporary soundscapes. It’s not about fusion for novelty, but about creating a language where the raga feels at home in today’s world.
Q. Was there a defining moment when music became more than just practice and turned into a deeper calling for you?
There wasn’t a single defining moment, it was a gradual realization that music wasn’t something I did, but something I am. At a certain point, riyaaz stops being discipline and becomes identity.
Q. Indian classical music carries deep tradition, yet your work feels contemporary, how do you balance these two worlds?
For me, tradition is a foundation, not a limitation. Once the grammar is deeply internalized, you gain the freedom to express honestly, and that honesty naturally finds a contemporary voice.
Q. What does your creative process look like when you’re building or interpreting a piece?
It often begins with a mood or a sonic idea rather than a defined structure. I allow the raga to guide the emotional arc, then shape it through texture, rhythm, and collaboration, almost like scoring a film that doesn’t yet exist.
Q. Have there been phases where you felt creatively stuck, and how did you move through them?
Creative blocks often come from overthinking. In those moments, I return to silence, to listening, and to the purity of the instrument. When you stop forcing expression, it finds its way back.
Q. Music often communicates what words cannot, what emotions or ideas do you find yourself returning to most through your art?
I often return to a sense of longing and release, the tension between stillness and movement. It’s that space where something ancient meets something yet to be discovered.
Q. What role do live performances play in shaping your connection with your audience?
Live performance is where the music truly completes itself. The audience doesn’t just listen—they shape the energy, the risk, and the spontaneity. No two performances are ever the same, and that’s where the magic lies.
Q. If you had the chance to step away from classical music for a day and experiment with a completely different genre, what would you choose?
I’d explore progressive electronic or cinematic sound design, something immersive and textural.
Q. Which artist would you collaborate with, and who would inspire you to explore that genre?
Collaborating with Jon Hopkins or Jordan Rudess would be compelling. Both approach sound with a sense of architecture and emotion that deeply resonates with me.
Bio:
Purbayan Chatterjee is one of the leading contemporary sitar virtuosos, known for seamlessly blending the depth of Indian classical music with modern sonic expressions. Trained in the rich traditions of Hindustani classical music, he has carved a unique space for himself by pushing the boundaries of the sitar beyond conventional frameworks.
His music reflects both discipline and experimentation—rooted in tradition yet open to innovation. Through global performances and collaborations, he continues to redefine how classical instruments can exist in contemporary musical landscapes, creating experiences that are both timeless and forward-looking.
Interviewed by: Niyati Gupta
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