Sanjay Maroo on winning 'Song of the Year'

Noted drummer and percussionist Sanjay Maroo is on a high after winning ‘Song of the Year’ in India’s first-ever digital music awards for independent Indian music, finds Reagan Gavin Rasquinha
Tell me, how did this award come about?
Over 130 top quality artistes came together and showcased their music and hundreds of thousands netizens came to hear what they wouldn’t have accessed otherwise.They voted for 45 days via the net, IVR, SMS, social networking and from over a few thousand tracks, they selected my song ‘Heat in the Moment’ as ‘Song of the Year’ in the first ever digital music awards for Independent Indian music.
How did you approach its conceptualizing and recording?
‘Heat in the moment of love’ is a sensuous, chic and sophisticated dance floor track circumferenced in elements of trance and house. It was vocally challenging as it suited more high-pass husk and falsetto, the chorus section though is sung full on. I recorded it in darkness to reflect the intimate mood. It’s concieved from a solo headspace and all the elements your hear on the track, are just different facets of my mind, there’s no one else involved.
What next? do you feel confident enough to release a full length album on this new and untested format in india?
I’m very content serving out gourmet singles. In a CD format the artiste had to record many more tracks to compile an album. With on-line, my listener feels my vibe and hears what I have to say in a matter of hours. That’s awesome. CDs are passe. The digital format is where it’s at. There can be no argumements about the reach and convenience.
Who would you like to collaborate with internationally?
Wow that’s a good question, Reagan. I’ve always harboured a wish to share some quality time with some of my favorite jazz legends like McLaughlin, Corea, Hancock, or contemporary guys like Sting and Dave Mathews. Even an interaction with someone tangented like Björk would be incredible. It’s no simple task, but I do hope that someday it translates.
Any plans to learn another instrument?
If you’re talking about taking up a new instrument seriously at 46, no way mate! A single lifetime isn’t enough to master even one instrument. For me, it’s better to be king of one than mediocre in many!
Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
I’ve already moved away from Hindi-pop. Ajeeb was my last Hindi project. It’s truly amazing. Fountain of Love (my first project) was in English and though it was acclaimed by those who understood the music, it ended being a nightmare. But I held on and now 20 years later, after five solo albums and seven videos, life has come a full circle and I get awarded ‘Song of the year’ for an English track.
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