Exclusive Interview With Rising Star Tanmay Bichu: A Tabla Maestro Blending Tradition, Innovation And Technology

Tanmay Bichu is a distinguished tabla artist, celebrated for his contributions to Indian Classical and World Music in both India and the US. In 2024, he has performed at notable events such as a solo Kathak performance with Smt. Shambhavi Dandekar, the Ustaad Ali Akbar Khan Tribute concert, and the Ashavari Festival.

Set to perform at the BMM Convention and other prestigious concerts this year, Bichus’s versatility is evident. Trained under renowned gurus, including Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri and Ustaad Zakir Hussain, he combines his musical mastery with a career as a research engineer at Apple.

In an exclusive conversation with Loudest.in, he shares insights into his musical journey.Here are edited excerpts:

Q1.You began learning tabla at the age of six. Can you share how your early training with your maternal uncle Shree Vinayak Naik shaped your musical foundation?

I think I get my musical genes from my maternal side of the family, which is a family with a rich Indian Classical Music heritage going back multiple generations. There was always music around me when I was growing up, be it my mother’s vocal practice or lessons or my uncle’s Tabla practice or his lessons.

When I was a baby, my maternal uncle Shree Vinayak Naik would take me with him for all his Tabla lessons and I would sit in his lap when he played his Tablas and taught his students. The Tabla sounds must have resonated with me the most since I started playing the drums even before I was 2 years old, when I could manage to sit upright and reach up to the Tablas which were taller than me! My parents and uncle realized I had a natural calling towards Tabla and rhythms when they saw me play rhythms to popular songs playing on the radio.

Even though my fingers were too small, I would use my entire palms and replicate the rhythms on the Tabla. My maternal uncle started teaching me Indian Classical Tabla repertoire as soon as I had fingers long enough to play the drums. When we moved to different cities, I would spend all my summer vacations at my maternal uncle’s place attending all his classes at his academy, spending more than 8-10 hours every day just learning and practicing Tabla. This was an important part of my journey, shaping my musical foundation and instilling a deep love for Tabla in me.

Q2. 2024 has been a monumental year for you, with performances at prestigious events like the Ustaad Ali Akbar Khan Tribute concert and the Ashavari Festival. What were some of the standout moments for you during these performances?

2024 indeed has been a very musically enriching year for me. I got to share the stage with some of my idols like Vidushi Ashwini Bhide, Pandit Sanjeev Abhyankar, Pandit Raghunandan Panshikar this year. Accompanying Ashwini Tai was one of the highlights for me, being able to accompany someone who you have revered since childhood and getting their appreciation and blessings is like a dream come true. The Ashavari Festival was also a gratifying experience.

This festival began last year as a Golden Jubilee celebration of my guru, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri and is the only festival of its kind (3-day long Indian Classical Music festival) in the USA. It features the best Indian Classical musicians (Ustaad Zakir Hussain, Pandit Sajan Mishra, Kaushiki Chakraborty, Niladri Kumar, Rakesh Chaurasia to name a few) and it was a great honor for me to perform on the same stage as these musicians.

This year I was a part of opening performance for the festival where we presented a unique musical piece with 11 different compositions - each in a different Raag and different Taal (rhythm cycle), starting from the 6 beat Taal called Dadra and going up to the 16 beat Taal Teentaal covering all the intermediate beat Taals (7, 8, 9, .. up to 16 beats). Since it was the opening piece, all the musicians performing at the festival were present in the audience and sat in the front row.

After the performance, they all came backstage to bless us and praised the performance, being especially proud of the fact that we were continuing to perform and promote Indian Classical Music outside of India. I was overjoyed when all the eminent Tabla artists like Pandit Samar Saha and Pandit Ashish Sengupta came to talk to me personally and gave me their whole hearted blessings for my musical journey.

Q3.With a growing presence in both India and the US, how do you see Indian classical music resonating with global audiences, especially at events like the BMM Convention?

Music truly knows no boundaries. Indian Classical Music in particular has been a powerful tool for bringing together the very diverse communities in the USA. Great musicians like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustaad Ali Akbar Khan and my gurus Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri and Ustaad Zakir Hussain have dedicated their lives to promoting Indian Classical Music in the West and have drawn a huge non-Indian population both as an audience and as students of our music.

Thanks to their efforts in spreading our music and educating the audiences worldwide, there is now a large pool of global audience for our music which is evident from events like the BMM Convention where the only Indian Classical music event drew a crowd of more than 2000 music lovers from across North America! Indian classical music is deeply emotional and can evoke a wide range of emotions from meditative, joyous, exciting to sombre or even spiritual. And that is the reason it resonates with audiences across the world.

Q4.In today’s digital age, how do you see opportunities for traditional musicians, especially those in Indian Classical music, to monetize their art?

Have platforms like streaming services or music licensing changed the way classical artists sustain their careers? Absolutely! Traditional musicians, especially in Indian Classical music, have a lot of opportunities to monetize their art in today’s digital landscape. Streaming services and social media really help them reach a global audience. Digital concerts and livestreams have become great ways to generate income directly from fans who can enjoy music from anywhere in the world. Additionally, many musicians are offering online courses and workshops to share their expertise, which not only brings in revenue but also builds a community.

Music licensing for films and advertisements can provide significant financial returns as well. Collaborating with contemporary artists helps to introduce their music to new listeners, which is fantastic for visibility. A strong social media presence is also crucial, as it engages fans and can attract sponsorships. In the US, I also see crowdfunding and merchandising offer further avenues for generating income and supporting projects for many musicians.

Q5.You’ve collaborated with some of the finest musicians in Indian classical music. Who are your biggest musical inspirations, and how have they shaped your journey?

My biggest musical inspirations have been my Gurus and I have indeed been very fortunate to have very eminent Gurus. My first guru was my maternal uncle Shree Vinayak Naik who introduced me to the beautiful instrument of Tabla and instilled a deep love for our music in me. My guru Pandit Ramdas Palsule helped me realize the importance of discipline and riyaaz (practice). His training helped me build a strong sense of laya (or metronomic speed) and navigate through complex rhythm patterns. After moving to the US, I started learning from Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri who is the doyen of the Lucknow Gharana. This style of playing involves using open strokes to create more powerful phrases from the instrument and has had a long history of prolific composers.

Training with Swapanji has allowed me to incorporate it very well in my repertoire and lets me demonstrate very contrasting styles of playing (strong and subtle) when I am playing a Tabla solo by adding a lot of dynamics to my performance. I have also been studying with Ustaad Zakir Hussain who is undoubtedly one of the most significant Indian musicians of our time. I have learned a lot of repertoire and path breaking approaches to the presentation of the instrument from him. Since Zakirji is the trend setter for the instrument, the entire world is inspired by his ideas and all Tabla players try to borrow ideas from his concerts. It is great to be able to learn the thought process behind all his music and his style of improvisation straight from the man himself. It has broadened my horizon and also allowed me to explore the true improvisational style of our Indian Classical Music with more confidence.

Q6.As a rising star in the world of Indian classical music, what message would you like to give to aspiring tabla players or young musicians following in your footsteps?

To aspiring tabla players and young musicians, I would say: embrace your passion wholeheartedly and never stop learning. The journey in Indian classical music is both beautiful and challenging, so patience and dedication are key. It’s essential to connect deeply with the traditions while also finding your unique voice within them. Don’t be afraid to experiment and collaborate with other genres; innovation can breathe new life into your art.

Surround yourself with mentors and a supportive community—they can provide invaluable guidance and inspiration. Lastly, always perform with authenticity and joy; that connection with your audience is what truly makes music magical. Keep practicing, stay curious, and enjoy every moment of your musical journey!