‘The influence of Indian music is on the rise’
Grammy Awardwinning Haitian music producer, Jerry Wonda, has worked with many artistes in India. He loves the culture, people and music the country has to offer, and is also influenced by it. “In fact, in the music I created for a global holistic well-being app, you’ll hear Indian vocals by Amrita Sen (singer). The influence of Indian music is on the rise, and there are so many unique sounds and instruments. Even the musical scales are so unique [in India]. Today, you can hear this influence in both hip hop and pop genres — and this is just the beginning,” he says.
So, is there any musician or artiste here whom he wishes to collaborate with? “There are some great young artistes. Sun J from Khatarnaak (Hop Hop Collective) really caught my attention a couple of years ago. I am looking forward to hearing his new EP (extended play record),” Wonda, 46, shares.
The producer has collaborated with some big names in the music world, from singers Beyonce, Shakira, Justin Bieber to late Whitney Houston. Speaking about his experiences, Wonda says, “I’ve tried to make real-life connections. I’ve worked with artistes when they were just starting out and 20 years later, I run into them, and it’s like we were never apart.”
He says that he is happy to see the evolution of music so far. “Music evolves to connect culture, countries, people and finance. It’s constantly evolving. About every five years, a new style emerges, influenced by a different culture, such as Afrobeats or reggaeton. This evolution of music connects cultures. An artist from a village in Africa can come from obscurity and find huge global success that changes their life,” he ends.