Getting to Know Better – Madmast.

Madmast is a Hindi-Urdu musical project from Mumbai. Formed in 2017, the band has been working on their original music since the last couple of years, which can be described as a tasteful rich lyrical content floating over riveting melodies and intricate musical arrangements. The band draws inspirations from all kinds of music, be it Hindustani Classical, Folk, Rock, Blues, Funk, Pop or Film music.

If you were to introduce your music and genre to someone unaware of your music, how would you?

Our music, very broadly speaking can be called Pop Rock, but considering the different moods and musical vocabularies our compositions explore, it would be safe so say that our music is like an assorted Cookie box!

Tell us something about your latest single. Inspiration behind the name and the project.

“Ae Dil” is a song that I as a songwriter don’t take much credit for, it wrote itself, at-least the first half. I was sitting on a park bench and the song just happened to me, lyrics, melody, they were all there in my head quite instantly, the inspiration might be my current state of mind at that time maybe, who knows?! After around a year and a half of this ‘park incidence’, I wrote the second half of the song, and I had to had to release this because of the message it held, so I made my band-mates hear it, and they loved it. Then we went on to arrange and record the song into what it sounds like today, from just a basic melody and some scribbles in my song-book. 

One artist you’d like to collaborate with, but you know it’s not the right time now.

That’s a really tough one! There are so many, but to name one, I would personally love to collaborate sometime, inshallah, with the legendary Abida Parveen ji. She is a God figure to me, and I am getting the goosebumps even thinking about this. Someday! Someday!

According to you, what does it take to earn the acclaimed badge of “Established Artist”?

It’s simple, when you have a good fan base, and you have enough resources to publish and promote your music in a good way that it reaches its audience. If you are a live artist, you should be getting ample number of shows to perform at. And most importantly, when you don’t have to have a ‘side hustle’ for living a comfortable life and you are making enough money doing what you truly love, is when in my humble opinion you can consider one an ‘Established Artist’.

Your Highlight performance till date and why so?

Ahh, the best performance as a band that we have had till now is our first one! We got to play a set at the one and only Prithvi theatre in Mumbai. We played just our originals, and the response was insane! People were singing our songs, the first time they had heard them, we got an encore request, and the audience had some people that we had seen in movies and web series etc.
We were delighted, and we really got the encouragement to carry on with what we were doing, and do it better!
That show is a beautiful memory!

An artist’s Best Friend is?

Because if you are not honest with the art that you are making, what’s the point even? Also, if you are not honest your art won’t be unique, it won’t be yours, and again what’s the point of that?

A piece of equipment that has been absolutely pivotal in onstage performance?

My beloved Konig and Meyer upright Microphone stand. I absolutely love it. 

What was the first ever instrument/equipment you played?

Believe it or not I picked up the drums at first, a djembe the second and then I tried my hands on a harmonium, only when I decided to train myself in Hindustani classical Music. Drums are too much fun, the raw energy you feel after playing drums for an hour maybe is something that words can’t describe. Playing drums, made me a better live singer, and also increased my overall musicality. 

How has your place of Origin been an influence to your music?

This might be an invalid question in my case, as I have grown up in multiple places. My dad was in a transferable job. I can at best say, that the fact that I have been in so many different places in India and have got to meet so many different people, is why I have got a lot of different musical influences. Bengali folk music, left a huge mark on me. I really enjoy listening to Bowl and Bhatiali music. 

How are the psychological rewards in this career you have chosen?

It’s the satisfaction of doing what I thought I would be doing as a 6-year-old. ☺

If we speak to you again exactly this date 5 years from now, how different are all the above answers going to be?

A lot of them might be exactly the same. I hope, I wish and I pray, time does not dent me bad, haha. Having said that, answers to questions which depend on my activity in the recent times would certainly change, and I wish that the answer to question number 1 is ‘chilling on a pristine beach in Bali, sipping on a pina colada and watching the sun go down’, God I hope you are listening!

If we speak to you again exactly this date 5 years from now, your answer to which question would remain unchanged?

Answer to Question number 7 won’t change. 

Well, thank you once again for spending time with us, giving us valuable insight into your career. We wish you all the very best of luck in your endeavors. See you soon at a Concert.

I really enjoyed answering these questions, and I would go on record to say that whenever I meet the person who has crafted this interview, I would buy them a nice drink or an ice cream or both.
Cheers!

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