Delhi based multi-instrumentalist and producer Abhiruk Patowary is the mastermind behind the fusion project Baba & Co.
Baba & Co takes musical influences from different genres across the globe. And with his debut single release ‘Colorhead’ there is a melodic, colourful, and world music vibe to it. The production features guitars, drums, bass, percussions, string section, brass section, organ, oud, kemence, qanun, and vocals.
With this release, ‘Colorhead’ was like drawing an image. Making a rough sketch of melodic ideas and then slowly arranging them into a song. Once he had a decent structure, he began to layer making it harmonically richer and other elements introducing rhythms and textures.
We sat down with Baba & Co to discuss his music and much more. Here is what he had to say: Hey Baba & Co, welcome to FLEX! How are you? Hello, I’m doing pretty well, currently at my hometown in Guwahati.
Congratulations on your brand-new track ‘Colorhead’ - what inspired this particular track?
Back in college I started to learn a bunch of music theory and started to have an urge to write complex music which gave birth to the idea of colorhead which was first known as agony and later changed to colorhead.
And do you have to be in a certain mood to write?
No not at all, just gotta be super relaxed and free, that’s all.
How was the recording and writing process?
It took 2-3 sittings to finish, the arrangement I wrote back when I was in Berklee which took around eight hours but then I never worked more on it and just let it be, last year when I decided to make a record that’s when I brought this demo back to existence and polished it which took two more sessions. Before writing ‘Colorhead’ I had a few things I wanted in a song. I wanted a Phrygian Dominant chorus, a guitar solo with Guthrie Govan influences, a metal outro, and also a section with the brass section. And then it was just filling in the gaps and adding different colours to taste.
This is the first episode of an audio-novel - tell us more about this project?
I started this project so I could just make music without having a framework, boundless and limitless creations is what’s the goal. The intention is to make Art and that’s the biggest priority.
For viewers that don’t know Baba & Co, how would you describe your sound?
The debut album is mostly world jazz fusion is what I’d say.
And what are some of those activities that you engage yourself in when you aren't writing or recording in the studio?
I like to just live a chill life, play some chess, meditate and have a good time with my little circle of friends and family.