Multi-instrumentalist and composer, Prem Joshua – pioneer extraordinaire in the field of World Fusion Music – creates and explores forever new synthesis in sound, transporting the listener as he does beyond the borders of both East and West.
Drawing inspiration from the deep well of the ancient music traditions of the Indian sub-continent, while remaining constantly in touch with the pulse of contemporary Western music scene, over the years Joshua has continued to refine his awesome talent for fusion, creating a sound both distinctive and unique. Prem Joshua talks aout his latest albumLuminous Secrets and the inspiration behind his music.
What is your new album “ Luminous Secrets “ all about?
It is simply the next level on my musical journey with my international band discovering ever new terrain in fusing the East with the West. One needs to just listen to how the music has evolved further. This time we wrote many new tracks bringing again alive the beautiful poems and lyrics by great mystic poets like Meera, Kabir and Hafiz. The album is now out in the Indian market with our Indian record company Music Today.
How did you get inclined towards Indian music?
I came to India for her music in the first place. It was love at first sight, or should I say: at first listen? Since then I have been fascinated by Indian music. We can't explain such things, maybe past lives? It was like a re-discovery of something I already knew deep within. In my heart I feel like an old Indian, this time reborn in Germany. Since my first stay in India more than 30 years ago this love affair has only grown and I have since then spent more than altogether 12 years in the country.
What do you think of the world music scene in India?
There are many very interesting developments in the Indian world fusion music scene now. Many open Indian musicians have taken their own musical backgrounds to a more international platform by daring to intelligently fuse them with contemporary influences, from jazz, over rock, to trance. Amongst these people currently my favourites are Zakir Hussain, Amit Heri, Bikram Ghosh, Niladri Kumar... and of course the great John McLaughlin, who is an Indian at heart like me...
Which instruments do you play?
In my live concerts I play sitar, bamboo flutes, soprano sax and I sing. On my albums, besides all the instruments played by my fellow musicians, I play some more, such as santoor, dilruba, pungani, gopichand and some percussion.
What do you prefer more – song writing or the live performances?
This question is unanswerable! Because I love both too much!
Finally, what’s the kind of artist you are listening to currently?
This question I get asked many times in interviews and I always feel a little embarrassed because I have to admit that I hardly ever listen to music, except to our own when we are practicing or performing, composing or recording. Silence is a very important factor to me. I need a lot of silence. Silence inspires me. Silence is full of music. And unless music is also full of silence it is just noise. Noise drives me crazy. Especially having to listen to music I don't like - I perceive it as very disturbing noise. To me birds are musicians. I love listening to them. And I even prefer any cawing craw to a dumb and noisy pop song.
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