The bass guitarist plays a very important role in an orchestra or a band. He brings a certain charm and form to the music.

Bass guitarist Sheldon D’Silva speaks to Monarose Sheila Pereira about his musical journey

What genre of music do you specialize in?

I am a bass player, composer, music producer. I perform live performance as a Solo and freelance session artist, Studio Recording, Solo Performance, Ensemble Performance, Music Production, Music and Song Composition, Music Programming and Arranging. My job is mainly being a session Bass guitarist. That means, I get called in to perform with different artists, write, compose, record and perform with them. I need to be versatile, musically educated, practiced and proficient in my skills. As a music producer, I need to be well informed and up to date with modern styles and techniques and how to execute them through my instrument or additional software. Good communication and people skills are a boon in the music industry, as people always enjoy working with those they are comfortable with. You can lose work, by just having a bad attitude, in spite of being an amazing musician. Finally, being well groomed is also an essential part of this profile.

What inspired you to become a bass guitarist?

Music is my greatest inspiration. I never dreamt it would one day be a career, as I always thought I would be a Pilot or something nerdier. I was an A+ student in St. Stanislaus High School Bandra and then moved on to do Science at St. Andrews College and eventually pursued to study Applied Art at B.D. Somani School of Art and Fashion Technology and throughout all of this, Music was my only constant, my liberation from the world. It etched at me and showed me a world far greater that the one forced upon children these days. I knew I could become anything I wanted and even though I was warned it would be a very difficult life and not very lucrative, music was the only path that set me free. When I learned that it was possible to make a living with Music, I think I simply surrendered to its force, leaving my life in the hands of an Almighty decision.

Did you have to invest a lot of money to learn the bass guitar?

I was very fortunate that my father never hesitated to invest in me, by providing equipment and knowledge that helped me reach my goal faster. My parents were so supportive that it made the process comfortable and encouraging, so to make sure I never let them down, I had to invest my time, energy, effort in first completing my education, then honing my skills as a musician and eventually giving back to them everything they invested in me. You have to invest yourself whole heartedly with love and passion, time is your best friend and greatest enemy, so respect it and make the best of it. I don’t stress on thoughts of worldly possessions, and instead put my focus towards being the best version of myself no matter what it takes and trust that worldly gains would follow on their own. In the words of Sting Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot.

Tell us about how you trained to become a bass guitarist.

Music practice is something that shouldn’t stop. Discipline is mandatory if one wants to become a professional. I believe I never stop practicing. I’m constantly thinking, breathing music. One should spend time with the instrument of choice, learning it from the ground up. Don’t rush and be impatient, learn the nuances, learn its history and let it play through you. Do it as much as possible, and look into a practice regime by finding constant inspiration. Listen constantly to artists and watch them and copy them before you can find your own voice. Increase your vocabulary at the instrument, so you don’t stammer on your instrument. Ear training is a must. Thinking fast is harder than playing fast. As a professional, see that you do your homework before you reach the workplace. Broaden your mind to all kinds of music without judgment, it will benefit you. Be present at all possible music events, watch and meet musicians and learn from their experiences. Play till your hands drop! Once in a while, shut yourself off and do something entirely different other than music and then restart. Very importantly when applying the above methods, make sure you are always happy doing them.

How does your music inspire your life?

Like I mentioned earlier, I surrendered to its power. I realized that I never chose it, it chose me and all I had to do was stop resisting. My parents were my greatest source of inspiration and encouragement for me to follow my dreams. I learnt the guitar from my father Trevor, who supported me constantly with pride, teaching me all the fundamentals, one being of how to ‘rock out’ without any fear. My mother Rekha is a true beacon of patience and perseverance and she nurtured these qualities within me. They taught me how to fish and then be humble when you succeed or how to never give up when you fail, these qualities are prime in any career choice, not just music. The music industry is an insecure and unstable one, you have to stay balanced and strong and the rest will follow. For those wondering about how lucrative it is, let me tell you, there is a lot of money up for grabs in the music business, just make sure not to lose yourself, do what’s true and the rewards will follow. God takes care of artists, so don’t be afraid.

What is the scope for bass guitarists?

Honestly in my opinion, I find it difficult to enjoy music without bass. Bass for me is the ultimate element in the architecture that bridges and binds the rhythm and melody in a harmonious foundation that cements the structure of the music. Bass guitarists are the core factor in any ensemble no matter what style or genre, so bearing this in mind, I think there is a lot of scope for bassists to put funk and soul into the music, provided music composers have the expertise to incorporate them correctly. Infact bass guitarists add a certain groove, swing, tone and texture that cannot be substituted by keyboard programming.

Is education important?

Having an education, is crucial, as one needs to develop an all round personality. You develop good character and communication skills; learn to be a team player, work with compassion and more. Broadening the mind with information that stretches beyond what you are comfortable or good at, helps one learn new skills, in turn making you more innovative as you can easily assimilate more into whatever you are doing. As you can see I went from studying science to graphic design, which in the bigger picture is all art, is beautiful and is all connected. Music eventually becomes a voice of everything that you are molded from, so the more knowledge and experiences you fill yourself up with, the more profound your music will be.

Which artists have you worked with lately?

I have produced an entire album for my band Violet Chords, along with Reenie Mansata, Tubby, Gino Banks and Ravi Chary, which it is available on all major platforms for download and streaming. Performed with the legendary Guitarist John McLaughlin, Performed at the Cape town Jazz Festival 2018 with the Louiz Banks Matrixx band, Lead my band Ravi Chary Crossing along with sitarist Ravi Chary at the ACC World Music Festival 2018 and 19th Ulsan Jazz Festival in Gwangju South Korea where we worked with the Culture Centre children, teaching them an Indian melody and performing with them at the festival. Also included collaboration with the band ‘The Tune’ from South Korea. 2018 included performances with legends like Ustad Zakir Hussain, Avishai Cohen, Trilok Gurtu, John McLaughlin, Louiz Banks and many more.

What do you like about your career?

When you choose to make a living doing something you love and that makes you happy, it doesn’t feel like work, and in turn you put more effort, heart and passion into it. That eventually serves a much higher purpose, you become a better person, you innovate and become a role model for future generations. Materialistic gains can only take you a certain distance, but the respect and satisfaction you get after doing what you love, is priceless, as you get to change the world and make a difference with innate qualities that you have been uniquely designed with. It’s a superpower, don’t ignore it, implement it.

What is the remuneration for a fresher?

It’s hard or rather unrealistic to answer that question, as it’s all relative. It will all vary and depend on the artist, their qualities, effort and experience. So let’s assume, one needs to simply pay their own phone bill and have a lifestyle of being able to go out with friends, that’s very doable for a fresher. Like I said, there is a lot of money up for grabs, but it depends on the artist’s investments, their desires and goals, and their eventual effort. All this and more can be achieved depending on the direction an artist takes ethically, so for instance one can earn as much as supporting a family, to owning a theme park with a mansion, it’s all possible.

How long does one take to get established?

Just remember you have to be good enough, that someone will want to pay you, for what you do. The more the payment, the more you need to be able to deliver. Professionals are capable of producing art that’s packaged well, is money’s worth, is innovative, serves the requirement in a timely manner and have the morals and ethics essential for a work environment. However long it takes you to achieve this, is how long you will take to be a professional.

Is it a paying field?

For me, thanks to the grace of God, I have been able to sustain my lifestyle and family by earning purely through music, whether it is life performances, recordings or as an educator. Let me tell you, it is not easy at all. As mentioned earlier, multiple factors contribute to this. An ever growing competitive industry, that has its flaws, can be demoralizing. Today the use of technology has put tons of musicians out of work; it’s a growth and understanding that we need to evolve from to realize what is more important. We need to challenge these obstacles constantly in order to be at the top of the game. We as a community need to help one another, otherwise it’s a whirlpool that will eventually pull everyone down, including the ones who think they are in power. Artists are supported by their audiences and audiences are regaled by these artists, it’s a give and take, if either side stops, it will all end. Music is not a hobby; it’s a part of human growth and sustenance, so we should fund music and other art forms. Musicians and artists are the closest form of magic, perfection, and connection to God that stir the audience’s soul and guess what, they have bills too.

How much can an established professional earn?

Depending on their proficiency, and their perseverance, they could earn either 100 Rupees or 100 Million dollars.

Name some of the perks in your field?

The advantages are countless, you get to travel the world, stay in the fanciest of hotels, see places in the world you would have never dreamt of going on your own, meet people of all sects and societies, rich and poor, celebrities to heroes, enjoy plenty of luxuries, but more importantly make a difference to society and the world. You can have a voice than can change history, have the ability to help people and create awareness. Your name could be immortalized through your contribution, becoming an inspiration and guide to the youth and future. You can be the miracle and crux of evolution.

Have you encountered any difficulties in your career?

Sustenance I guess. The music business is a very insecure one like I mentioned earlier. The highs and lows are contrasting and you need to ride the tide. One moment you can be on top of your game and at the very next moment at the bottom. You can never be the best or ‘think so’. Financially you will have to learn the trade as musicians isn’t very good with their business skills. It’s a task keeping up musically with growing trends, as kids nowadays are on a very different wavelength and have also grown accustomed to being fed music on a platter that is easy to chew. So they have a shorter attention span, a know it all attitude, impatient, or the need to judge before even absorbing the information first. Scrolling through has become a norm amongst youngsters, so even though there is a lot of choice out there, they connect with nothing. Technology has isolated individuals, in turn making them more unsocial, which destroys building communities, leave alone making music together. Upcoming artists want a quick fix, not wanting to go through the grind, and the constant pressure to make it big quick, leads to the creation of short term wonders with a short shelf life. Young artists are also constantly suppressed under the shadow of senior artists, with the media not bringing these artists to the fore front or organizers not giving them a headlining stage. The fusion of our musical heritage and modern implementation are always at war, which could block out more youth. Audiences not showing up to live events, paying and funding music, has lead to a menacing reality of this art form.

What are your plans for the future?

Honestly I’m not much of a planning type of guy. I go with the flow. If anything, I keep a few bullet points in mind. So some of them are working on my solo album, finishing up with projects that are pending, ventures with new artists, honing my skills as a bass player and producer and probably looking to do more production work in Ad jingles and movies scores. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle too is vital. My attention is towards really honing my skills, working on jazz concepts, for more fluidity and expression. Harder practice regimes for better motor skills. I’m currently working towards my own solo album, besides recording on multiple band projects like Merkaba, Funk Tub, The Mekaal Hasan Band and Nexus. I’m also producing Ad jingles and recording on Bollywood movie soundtracks. Furthermore, I enjoy performing live with diverse acts across the globe.

What advice do you have for young musicians?

Be sincere! Follow your heart and listen to your mind. Learn your craft to the best of your ability from the ground up. Learn the roots of your instrument and music, before you adapt it with other styles. Don’t rush, and be impatient to be famous, successful and rich. There are no shortcuts, the quicker you go up, the quicker you will come down. Do not bring others down, when moving up, build your community and help each other. Respect, respect and respect, your seniors, colleagues, juniors and your audience members and remember there is always something new for you to learn and grow from. Share with those that are less fortunate. Music is bigger than all of us, we will only see the full picture if all the pieces are placed correctly. Don’t forget those that have supported and helped you, you can do the same for the next generation. Music comes from a sacred place; it will feed your body and soul, so treat it with love and respect.

Interviewed by Monarose Sheila Pereira

Monarose Sheila Pereira is an author, journalist and media lecturer. She has published several books and has written for all the major newspapers and magazines. She has worked for All India Radio and Doordarshan. She also conducts self improvement workshops.