In the midst of all the planning, Avaya Bajracharya, the bassist of Albatross squeezed in some time to recommend his 'five must have albums', all for the delight of our readers. Naturally these records that have helped shaped his taste in music are from the rock genre, however, you wouldn't find Avaya shaming the pop scene anytime soon. Find out why, in the excerpts from the conversation Priyanka Gurung had with him for The Playlist.
Some claim the era of great rock bands have gone. Being a fan yourself, what is your opinion on this?
I actually don't know what they are complaining about. The sound of rock might have evolved and changed but there are still many brilliant bands out there. Some may cynically say that the golden era of rock music is over but fans like us can still find plenty of acts to enjoy. The metal scene is still raging on and the indie rock scene, in particular, has been spectacular. With all the social networking sites as well, it's so much easier to gain access to their work. I frequently listen to the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Florence and the Machine, and Kings of Leon.
Do you dabble in other genres as well?
Oh absolutely. I listen to almost everything. Dance, trance, mainstream music, nothing is off limits. I believe it's the way it should be. It's good to venture out of your genre of music and get acquainted with others. I often find a lot of inspiration from them. For instance, the Hindi songs, if you listen carefully you will realize that they have some of the best baselines. Same goes for Katy Perry's numbers. Her tracks have wicked effects as well. As a musician, you can get ideas from that and put your own spin to it while making your own music.
It sounds like you really enjoy the technical aspects of making a song?
Over the years, I have realized that one has to really know their craft. Knowledge alone is not enough and it's the same with music as well. It's fascinating to learn how all the instruments and sounds come together to make a song. I had some basic courses in these technical aspects in school itself but I'm largely self taught. You hear things then pull it apart, study it and learn from it. It's definitely very interesting.
Going back to the genres, do you believe people ought to cut pop music some slack?
I don't believe mainstream music deserves the bad rep it gets. Over the years, I believe pop music has gained some quality. It's not slapstick anymore, like it was with Britney Spears. I listened to her back then and I hated it. But compared to that, pop music has comparatively more substance now with the likes of Jessie J.
Also I judge artists on their live performances. I think it's on stage when they are performing live that you can really separate the phonies from the real singers. It doesn't matter whether they are considered pop or not.
So if you could see anybody play live, what would be your pick?
Well there are two acts I'd very much wish to catch in concert. The metal band Slayers and one of my must listen recommendations Tool, top of my wish list right now.
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