INSPIRED BY

AS TAJDAR JUNAID TRIES TO ENCOMPASS ALL HIS INSPIRATIONS INTO HIS MUSIC, HE HOLDS ON TO THE STRINGS OF ITS RHYTHM TIGHTLY IN HIS HANDS

“Music played by my father on the radio — Begum Akhtar, Ghulam Ali and then the best of Grammy tapes he’d buy us where I discovered REM, Metallica and many others — inspired my album,” says multi-instrumentalist songwriter, composer and producer Tajdar Junaid, speaking about memories of his childhood that translated into the sound of his album What Colour is Your Raindrop, which he cut in 2013.

“I went to my first ever concert when I was five years old and I could tell something special was happening. It had Allah Rakha saheb with his three sons Zakir, Taufiq, Fazal, along with Sabir Khan saab on the sarangi,” reminisces Tajdar. It is no wonder then that a musician with such a varied background would make use of his multifaceted inspirations to create melodies like these — elements of post rock, and sounds from the realms of classical music from both the East and the West. “I’m quite a curious musician, who keeps his ears open all the time. I soak all the goodness one can and the bad will filter itself out,” he smiles.

Tajdar’s father, Junaid Ahmad, who influenced his early musical taste, did not just open up new horizons for the musician as a child, but also collaborated with him on one of the songs on his album, Yadon Ki Pari. He wrote the Urdu poetry on it. “He has been a huge support and continues to be. Whether it’s been with words of encouragement or repairing the electronics when my instrument needs work. He is always there and this is something I’m grateful for,” says the Kolkata-based composer.

Aside from his father, Tajdar collaborated with 18 artistes from around the world for his album. “My