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Music: Dream team
Kolkata musical duo Parekh & Singh are back with an all-India tour, new music, and inspiring life lessons
The last time they planned a tour of India, in 2019, Kolkata-based musical duo Parekh & Singh cancelled it citing mental health reasons. Something not too many musicians have the privilege or mindspace to do, given their hectic schedules, lives on the road, and pursuit of creative excellence.
One pandemic and three years later, Nischay Parekh, 30, and Jivraj Singh, 35, are back, and how. They’ve released their new album—their third full-length one—titled The Night is Clear, in September 2022, are working on releasing music videos, and they’re back on the road, with what seems like a comeback tour, having already performed in Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad, with big plans for Delhi and Bengaluru, and the NH7 Weekender, in Pune.
Good things come to those who wait, and those who give importance to their mental health. Clearly. What’s even more inspiring though, is the way they have each other’s backs through that difficult phase, besides the decade and then some they’ve spent collaborating together (more so than any of their peers).
Take a break
“I’d been struggling and grappling with anxiety in life. With the 2019 Science City India tour, and personally as well, I just wasn’t prepared,” says Nischay, confessing that he was glad they cancelled. “That gave us the chance to introspect on our own craft. Now, I know exactly how, what and when we want to play. Those questions became easy to answer once we took a step back,” he explains.
For Jivraj, it was inspiring to see Nischay put himself first and take a strong decision like that. “Prioritising yourself whenever possible isn’t a notion we’re used to. We’re not taught that on an educational level. And I had gotten used to doing things even if I wasn’t totally prepared, operating in uncertainty and discomfort, and just winging it and hoping for the best. Which is not healthy,” he explains.
“You get so caught up with the professionalism aspect of what you’re trying to do—which is important for the economics—but you forget that you are the asset. In the long run, jobs will get assigned to the asset that’s the healthiest,” adds Nischay.
The way Jivraj sees it, the best way to live life is being open to all experiences and all aspects of it, including good or bad emotions, and just allowing things to change you as a person instead of resisting and blocking them and trying to avoid ups and downs.
“That seems to be the healthier way to live. I saw my parents ignore problems as opposed to engaging with them. So, this is just more of an awareness of what’s healthy. Uncertainty will always be there—it’s the nature of our lives. Flowing with it is better than trying to control it,” Jivraj nods.
Time to refocus
“Mental health has been the central focus of my personal energies. I’ve been preparing myself and reframing how I feel about travelling and performing live. It’s been a challenge, but it’s one that I feel more comfortable about and at ease with now,” says Nischay, who says he’s adapted tools that aren’t specific to his life as a performer, but available to anyone dealing with anxiety or depression.
More specifically, he’s been meditating for eight minutes a day, and reading self-help books. “Different things work for different people. I did certain cycles of therapy but it’s not a regular thing for me. I’m just reading as much as possible and doing academic research on the psychological reasons for anxiety, and what happens when humans are stressed,” says Nischay, admitting that as a result, the shows are truly stress-free experiences. Even in his performance, he feels he’s given more of his personal enjoyment to the act of performing, and hence, is drawing more from it.
Jivraj, too, has found his peace in meditation. “I don’t really have any problems or challenges with touring; the meditation helps to balance all the forces that may be encountered during the process, helping me navigate in a fairly peaceful manner.”
Comeback tour?
So, is this a comeback tour?
It is. And it isn’t.
“When it comes to live performances, yes. A lot has changed even when it comes to our personal perspectives. It’s nice to be back on the road. And to see that people are still interested in our music,” says Nischay.
“Not particularly. That puts unnecessary pressure on it. Let’s just look at it as tour with our new music. Hopefully, we will have many more,” says Jivraj.
They may seem like two peas in a pod. But apart from having the same core ideas, almost everything about Nischay and Jivraj is different. They are curious, humbly grounded, get geeky and carried away, and come across as shy, till you get them talking about things they feel strongly about.
Ask them to pick between Tinder and Sima aunty, and this is what takes place:
Nischay: I’ve seen one episode of it. (Addressing Jivraj) It’s quite bad but you should watch one episode of it. You’ll understand everything within 15 to 20 minutes of it.
Jivraj: Wait... what is it called? How do I watch it?
Nischay: It’s on Netflix
Jivraj: I deactivated my Netflix account.., like I said I am isolating from social media...
Nischay: You deactivated your Netflix? Add that to what irks me. But Neflix is not even social media.
Jivraj: I’ve cut down on unnecessary expenditure... and I wasn’t using it at all.
Nischay: Haan. That’s also there... What about Amazon Prime?
Jivraj: Deactivated. Because I wanted to get MasterClass, so I offset things. I don›t order enough to make the most of it. (Gets distracted by Nischay picking up his guitar to just strum a little.)
Jivraj: Is this the new guitar?
Nischay: Yeah! My girlfriend got it for me.
Though the two attended the same school, La Martiniere for Boys, they only met and started collaborating in 2009, while Nischay was still in high school. “I always knew I wanted to make music at a young age and took guitar lessons from Kolkata composer Tajdar Junaid when I was 13. In the third lesson, after learning some basic chords from him, I wrote some sort of a song. Just the act of creating something out of nothing was attractive to me as a kid and still is,” Nischay describes his turning point, which first prompted him to enroll at Berklee College of Music and then start playing music with Jivraj.
For Jivraj, who comes from a family of commercial musicians, music was always around. “It wasn’t some strange discipline. I was resisting music and there was a whole process of accepting music as my career choice,” he reveals.
Creative cognizance
Do they argue? Not really. They tend to explore situations from all sides, curious to see the full picture. “It’s nice to never argue but instead construct something new out of our differences. Give good feedback and reach a new middle ground which is something more evolved. There’s a constant flow back and forth about music and creative things in general. We learn a lot from those conversations,” reveals Jivraj.
Nischay adds, “There’s a lot of talking! Which is an important part of our process—words.”
They seem seamlessness despite the fact that Nischay is now in Dubai. His girlfriend, a CA, got a job there and the two decided, why not? Pre-Covid, Nischay was anyway looking at playing more shows out of India, and Jivraj was also travelling frequently and not spending as much time in Kolkata. The transition was pretty seamless work-wise.
“We’re just taking it as it comes. There’s not that much FOMO in our lives in general,” laughs Jivraj. “I had that when we had just started playing and I wanted to play at festivals. Now we aren’t jaded, but a little more aged. We prioritise different things now, as people would in any profession,” interjects Nischay.
Lockdown musings
The pandemic helped Nischay realise that his lyrical viewpoint on how he wants to write songs and music has changed. “The time and space has changed my perception of how time works. I realised that it’s more essential to make music that’s timeless. It will survive and be satisfying for the creator and consumer,” he says.
With their second album, Science City, they felt rushed—like they were reacting and acting on their first impulses. But time has allowed things to gestate and marinate and develop a bit more flavour.
“It allowed us to say it’s okay to take time and just make exactly the music you feel like making. This isn’t the easiest prospect for any creator. Just to say I want to be free of all the vanity around me! That’s been a takeaway,” Nischay adds.
Now, they’re paying a little more attention to ensure there’s no unnecessary fluff, musically, being a little more streamlined, and knowing what the essential items are in the construction of the music, being a little more considerate and careful with things.
Personally, Nischay misses life in India when he’s away, though he’s delighted to be back on tour. Jivraj has taken isolation a little too seriously. He’s no longer on social media or even WhatsApp. “It started with me not allowing any sort of panic to seep in. I took the time to read and do some emotional processing on various topics I’ve been putting off. Quiet time helps and Kolkata is extremely noisy for me, anyway. It’s like an extended retreat in an ashram. There’s been a lot of creative work as well. It’s been therapeutic,” he smiles, admitting that though it was tricky initially, over time, his mood and concentration have improved.
Band bonding
Have they grown closer over the years? “When we started out it was all... it’s weird knowing someone, being friends with them and being in an intimate musical or artistic relationship for over a decade. People probably think it’s tumultuous, erratic and full of passion and rage. But it’s the subtle details and shifts that are more meaningful in the long run. It’s been quite unique and enriching,” says Nischay.
Jivraj points out something a lot more crucial he’s learnt from their relationship—how any sort of relationship works! “I’ve always struggled with communicating, always been a bit detached from everyone I know, even my closest friends. My equation with Nischay has helped as he is able to talk to me in a way that the information reaches my brain instantly and I process it. Our communication is very effective at this point. It’s something we seem to be working on as well. People in a relationship of any kind with other humans need to do that,” says Jivraj.
Any advice for young musicians starting out? “The less burnt out you are, the more enjoyment you will derive from the experience. It’s your respect and privilege to keep your mental health and inner being nourished and healthy so that you can give what you want to,” concludes Nischay. Besides lower screen-time and looking at the real world more, Jivraj opines, “Try and tap into the child-like self that was more independent, and curious about things in the world. And not look at what is popular. And so, really find what gets you excited. Take care of yourself and study about your mind and body.”
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From HT Brunch, November 26, 2022
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