Part II - My interview with Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash
Mum asks Amaan Ali Bangash to consider marriage and we talk about how social media has made people 'badtameez'
Reema: You know they say, 'journalists as generalists'. Does being an expert make you feel a)monotonous and b) lonely?
Amaan: Okay, we're not experts yet. Even now, if I haven't practised for five days, it feels as though I have gone back 15 years. It's muscle memory, it's everything put together.
Ayaan: You pray to your instrument. If you are not in touch, it's like your instrument would ask you, “Who are you?”
Amaan: Abba would always say, “If you don't play for a day, you get to know; if you don't play for two days, your teacher gets to know; if you don't play for three days, your audience gets to know."
Ayaan: It's a long journey. Abba says that he's still learning. He has reinvented himself every five years. In classical music, there is no rule book about how it should be presented; it is about the way you convey it.
Amaan: The other idea with the albums is the creative satisfaction. As a musician, you have to keep challenging yourself and see what genre you can merge in.
Reema: You two are really humble! But you still didn't answer the question.
Amaan: Haha! See, when you're playing music publicly; for someone who has bought a ticket and come to hear you; your first aim is to entertain. Okay, entertain sounds like I am dancing. (Laughs) They should enjoy it. They should go back home feeling good. The popular ones have taken the music across to the audience and the unpopular ones have failed to do so.
“The moment an artist starts feeling monotonous; then there is something wrong with her/his journey.”
If you're a musician, you should not get monotonous. It represents who you are—your highs, your lows, your linkups, your breakups..it reflects in your music. If this happens, then the musician should introspect.
Reema: In journalism, we're going from print to digital. How has classical music reinvented itself over time?
Amaan: There are different genres. Earlier musicians played raagas for two hours, today it is 20 mins. People don't have the patience. So, in terms of the future of Indian classical music, we are very happy with our journey and a lot of young musicians in India are doing really well. We don't compare ourselves with Bollywood; tell me five musicians from 10 years ago..probably one would be relevant today. In our case, it's like a 20-25-year-old journey as a classical musician.
Ayaan: Classical music is a niche art form. In the US, people can have a balance—western classical music co-exists with Hollywood.
Amaan: The concerts at Carnegie Hall or Royal Albert Hall, for instance, are by invite only. This is a different, niche market. I would want a chaiwala to come, but he will go and watch a movie, instead. That's fine. I know this will take time as this is an acquired taste.
Reema: I'm sure you must have been asked this before, but I was curious—can we touch upon the advantages and disadvantages of being Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Bangash’s sons?
Amaan: See, the pressure wasn't there while growing up. They were fun times; we were the centre of everyone's attention. Now, one can't escape...we have to deliver excellent music.
“We are definitely blessed and have got a huge head start, but what became difficult is to match up to the standard set by Abba. It's not easy.”
We were not rebellious while growing up. We wouldn't say we want a new style. I enjoyed being in my father's shadow and learnt, in fact, a lot from it.
Amaan: A lot of people may not feel comfortable being in someone’s shadow, but it's not a bad thing. Having parents is better than not having parents. The idea is not to be popular or to stand out.
Reema: What do you think Ayaan?
Ayaan: I forgot the question.
Amaan: Because my answer was too long.
Ayaan: Haha..no I recollect. Yeah, so it definitely has its advantage. But once your awareness increases, hard work is the only mantra. It still is. Both of us have been extremely conscious. We would watch a movie and feel guilty about not practising.
Amaan: I still have that guilt. That's why I didn't get married!
Ayaan: Now, please don't overdo it.
Amaan: No, no the idea is delays are better than disasters. When people ask ‘Why aren’t you married?’, I'm like, nahi hui toh nahi hui.
Ayaan: Yeah...ek toh all the friends are also like, bhai shaadi mat karna; shaadi mat karna (laughs). So, I tell him to get married, but to take his own time.
*At this point, my mum decides to interject.*
Mum: See that's the problem with this generation. You all don't want to take more responsibilities.
Reema: Okay mum, I did not see this interview taking such a turn!
Amaan: Haha. No, see, I feel Ayaan is married, he has kids and it's all great. If I get into a wrong situation, it would be scary.
Ayaan: Aunty, you're right! My mum would love you! (laughs) People are scared today of adjustments. In fact, I recently saw this picture on Facebook. It was a picture of an old couple and the caption said, 'We worked on things instead of breaking it off.'
Amaan: Are you listening Reema? It's all for you..
Reema: Haha! Let's digress, please? Since you brought up Facebook, how difficult is it to stay relevant in the times of social media?
“Social media has made people very ‘badtameez’”
Amaan: I have always had friends who have been active on all these social media apps--from Facebook to Snapchat and Twitter. What it has done wrong, though, is that it has made people very badtameez. Let's say a younger musician has more 'likes' than a senior musician on his Facebook page; he starts feeling, 'I am better than him' Everything is about 'likes'. It's become rather fake.
Ayaan: As far as the Indian classical music fraternity is concerned, social media is misleading younger musicians.
Reema: How much time do you two spend together? Do you feel you're stronger together, as performers especially?
Amaan: In a month, we do about 6-7 solo performances, 3-4 duets, and one or two trios. Duets are usually corporate events and they are more fun. Trios are more of a learning experience as we are performing with Abba. Since Ayaan stays just two houses away, we usually spend time over tea, coffee, etc.
Ayaan: We are usually out for tours and performances. When I'm in town, I try spending time with the kids, I have to take them to the grand parents. Abba has to see them everyday. (smiles)
Reema: That sounds like a perfect sibling relationship!
Amaan: Haha...We have arguments all the time. Ayaan Bhai gets upset when I go out with friends and if I come back late.
Ayaan: No, no, not at all. I don't; I just put my phone on silent and go to sleep.
Amaan: No, I get a lecture the next day! With him the thing is that he's too straight forward and he feels that the world around him should be like that.
Ayaan: No, I am not like that.
Amaan: He expects a lot; he gets upset when other musicians are not pure in their thought.
Ayaan: No, I don't expect anything; I don't care. (smiles)
Amaan: That's why you check your phone so many times! (laughs)
Reema: Haha, this has been an amazing interaction. Thank you so much for your time!