Hailing from the tribal region of Arunachal Pradesh, India, Takar Nabam has managed to forge an identity firmly in the vanguard of innovative artists while respecting and building on the deep roots of his culture. Nominated as one of the India’s “Top 5 Guitar Players” by Guitar Player Magazine in 2020, he utilizes his firm command of both voice and instrument to convey deeply personal narratives of introspection.

Takar developed his signature sound in the fertile independent music scene of New Delhi, incorporating multiple aspects of the sounds and culture he was exposed to. His resulting body of work shows a young artist eager to learn from his heroes like John Mayer, Derek Trucks, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Steven Wilson, while building his own musical legacy which he says “always original, always musical’. 

Takar’s 2016 debut album ‘Same Sky’ is filled with a very simple approach, but he surprises with some unconventional melodic changes, some juicy harmonies and eccentric progressions.

His 2018 album ‘This Home, That Home’ was released to rave reviews, and was featured extensively on multiple playlists, including “Top Ten Indian Releases” on Apple Music. Highlighting it on its “Top 10 Summer Songs” playlist, Rolling Stone India called it, “adrenaline-fed rock… The Jazz influence is very much ever-present, as is playful guitar, but he shines best when he amps up.”

Nabam’s music has taken him throughout Asia to perform, including major festivals in India such as NH7 Weekender, Ziro Festival of Music and in neighboring countries of Bhutan, Singapore, and Myanmar. Takar has expanded his scope of touring, including appearances at New York City’s Rockwood Music Hall and SoFar Sounds.

The young singer surely has a promising future in front of him.

Born on February 20, 1991, in Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh, at the age of 11, after having shifted his base to New Delhi to pursue his schooling and college, Takar was gifted his first guitar, on the condition that he could not let his academics take a back seat. So began his love story of fretting around regularly, something he religiously follows to this day.

When we first conversed with Takar Nabam for this post, he was quite taken up with The Revolver Club selling vinyl records. “Maybe I could bring out one of my albums on vinyl” he excitedly told me, adding that he was quite amused on how the format has been received over the years and making a comeback once again. He is quite bent on bringing out an album on vinyl not only to showcase the century old format, but to give it to his fans as a memento of his body of work.

Let’s go back in time. Tell us how you took up music and your early days of being a guitarist and vocalist?

It was back in 2011-12, and I was about to graduate from college. Most of my batch mates were busy preparing for job interviews, and somehow the prospect of sitting in an office working 9-5 didn’t seem like something I’d be interested in. By this time, I had a bit of an experience playing in the Delhi independent music scene and I felt like continuing onwards with that. Shortly after my time at a music school, I spent a few years playing sessions, teaching at various music schools in Delhi, whilst writing my own music. 

People in the music scene knew me, primarily, as a guitar player for the band Guillotine, and it was kind of shocking for them to hear me sing. I remember how conscious this made me. I was even told not to sing or have someone sing over my music, and there’s nothing wrong in having people share such strong views, I guess. They just wanted to be brutally honest and that’s ok. I knew I wasn’t a great singer, but I worked on it and over time, I got comfortable with myself and focussed more on writing and singing about things that mattered to me. 

What was it playing in a metal band? 

To be in a band and to be on the road with some of the most fun and quirky people, it was quite something. I really enjoyed being in that band. It taught me a great deal about being realistic when it came to living the life of a non commercial artist, understanding the groups chemistry and adjusting to it. There were some tough times, especially when everyone didn’t have the same vision for it or if we had to play some of the gigs for free just for the sake of getting some ‘exposure’. We played a lot of shitty venues, but then we also got to open for Metallica in Bengaluru in 2011. So that was it. We could Rest in Peace, I guess. 

So while in Delhi, did you take part in school and college gigs?

Had it not been for the Inter-School and Inter-College competitions, I probably wouldn’t have been where I am today. One of the main motivations to practice was to take part in these competitions and make a mark. This is where I got to meet a lot of people, getting my name out there to the people in the music scene. Some of the one’s I played and remember quite well, Interact Thunder (DPS Noida), BITS Pilani, Blitzkrieg (IIT Delhi), M-Extasy (Modern School), Brother Bergins (Mt. Saint Mary’s School), Kingfisher Pub Rock Fest (RSJ). 

As a guitarist, how did you learn the instrument? Did you attend any school to learn the instrument?

The first 10 years of playing the guitar, I was fully self taught. Here’s something I’d like to share about the time when I first picked it up. I didn’t know how to tune the instrument. I used to go to the music store to get it tuned, each time or called up a senior friend and made him listen to my guitar and ask him if the guitar was in tune. I bunked a few tests, classes just to make sure I had learnt the guitar solos of songs by Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Eric Johnson, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Guns n Roses, note to note. I spent a lot of time on guitar tabs, YouTube tutorials and a lot of transcribing. I’m so glad I did it, because it made me technically very free and flexible. In 2012, straight out of college, I gave myself a year and spent 2 semesters at a music school. This was the first time I got to learn Music, formally. This opened me up to the world of composition and arranging, songwriting, singing, jazz, improvisation, and it completely changed the way I looked at guitar playing and music in general. It became a way of life. An essential part of my life journey. 

What does your music sound like after you left the metal band?

Mellow, minimal, chill, subtle, I guess. A total contrast to the hard hitting riffs and the lightning speed guitar licks. I guess I found joy in writing songs that weren’t particularly guitar centric. Now it's more about what the song needs. 

You also write some beautiful songs, where did the inspiration to be a songwriter stem from? How do you approach your songwriting process? 

Thank you so much for saying that. I like to share stories about love and my life through my songs. I try to be as honest as I can. When it comes to writing them, there is no set formula. Sometimes it’s the lyrics or just random scribbling on my notepad, sometimes it's the groove or the chord progression. Most of my song ideas have come to me naturally. But lately, I have allotted a specific day and time to write songs. It could just be a short melody, lyric or maybe a few chords for a new idea. The idea is to keep coming up with ideas and refining my craft. But a creative window has its own mysterious timings. I may be practicing the guitar or humming something in the bathroom, and that becomes my starting point. 

While in Delhi you used to teach underprivileged kids? Can you share something on this?

I was part of Music Basti in 2014-15, along with several other Artists who were also a part of it. I taught the underprivileged kids at one of their centres in a remote corner. To even imagine myself fitting into the shoes of those kids was an eye opener for me. They were an extremely fun, loving and bright bunch of kids, who were very enthusiastic about Music. It was a very moving experience for me. I learnt a valuable life lesson - the pure joy of giving something to someone else to make them happy, without having any expectations. 

To see them smile at each lesson was a very rewarding feeling. I would love to go back to that time and do another lesson. 

What made you leave the band and embark on a solo career?

I think that Metallica gig was the end for us. Few of our members had other plans in life, and I had also left Delhi to attend Music School. By the time I was back, the situation had changed quite a bit and I found myself getting pulled more towards writing and releasing my own songs. 

Can you share your first gig experience?

It was back in 2003, I think. I was in Class VII and I played the bass on an electric guitar. The other band members were in Class XII and I was the shortest. (laughs). We played tehs ong Master of Puppets (Metallica), Alive (Pearl Jam) and an original song. People came up to me and said I was great, but I think they only said so in order to encourage me. We didn’t win anything, but this was a pretty cool experience. I was pretty blown away by The Superfuzz (St. Columbus School Band), Fr Agnels School Band. 

Do you have a band you play with regularly or do you play as a session musician?

For the last 4-5 years, ever since I’ve been going around playing my music, I have had a fixed rhythm section with Aveleon Vaz (drums), Steve Peter (bass). The fact that I connect with these musicians on a deeper level helps me bring out the best during our performances. But with the new set of songs, which have more synth/keys and other textures, I will need an additional member for the live shows. 

Describe your experience as an independent musician?

It has its boon and bane. The boon being the liberty to do whatever I want in my music. The bane being the uncertainty that comes along with it. But at the end of the day, if even one person thanks me for the music, it is the most rewarding and humbling feeling, and that propels me to keep doing what I do. 

Many Indian bands start off with playing covers and then move to doing original music. What inspired you to make original music?

I think everyone has their own stories to share, and I have always enjoyed sharing my own stories through my own compositions. Although I mostly do my original compositions, I do like to throw in a cover or two just to keep the mix fun and interesting. 

You have also released two albums? Can you tell us something about each album and how each is different from the other?

My first album was ‘Same Sky’, which came out in 2016. It was inspired by my times in school and college, mostly revolving around the theme of love and hope. Sonically this was a more mellow, minimal sounding album. Prior to recording the album, I was heavily into singer songwriters like Paul Simon, Damien Rice, John Mayer, Nick Drake to name a few. Songs Hello, Table for Two, Same Sky, Move on were my personal favorites from it. 

In contrast to it, my second album ‘This Home That Home’ had the sound of a band, primarily because I had written the songs with Aveleon and Steve while jamming with them or trying them out during our shows. I had revisited my early rock influences, which kind of fused with my more recent Jazz, Soul/RnB influences, I think. For instance, Receding had a more edgy alt rock sound, whereas Melodrama had a more Soul/RnB kind of sound.  

What do your songs talk about? What topics do you take on in your songs? Can you give us a few songs of yours that you feel are a ‘must hear’?

My songs mostly revolve around the themes of love, my personal life stories. But ever since I moved back to my hometown, Itanagar, I have also developed an interest in our ‘Nyishi/Nwsw’ Tribal culture and our tribal society. I wrote two songs in our local dialect Sang Be Yu Rey (Shall I live?) which talks about the ills of our tribal society. Nyokum Sokhi To (Lets Celebrate Nyokum which talks about the Nyokum festival of the Nyishi Tribe. 

You also have some cool music videos too. Do you have a team working with you or do you create everything on your own for such videos. 

I wish I was that talented. (laughs). I had to hire people to work on the videos.

What’s your new song ‘Quiet A Story’ about?

Having spent most of my life in the city, away from the small town I was born in, I missed out majorly in learning about my culture, my roots and my native people who held me dearest in their hearts... and it all hit me much later, once I was home again. I couldn't speak my dialect, let alone tell a story. I tried to weave my "staying quiet in conversations' ' phase into a song to tell you all a story. Quiet’ a Story, isn't it ? It’s an emotion that a lot of people, who leave their homes to pursue their dreams, go through, I guess. 

Besides being a solo artist, what are the other projects you have indulged into?

I have been working with ‘David Angu & The Tribe’ which is a Galo Folk Rock Act from Arunachal Pradesh.  I have performed and toured with Sanjeeta Bhattacharya in the past. I recently did a collaboration with a Delhi based producer, who goes by the moniker ‘ZENCLEF’. I played some guitar over his song Too Deep In. I have played some guitar over Taba Chake’s Morning Sun.  There are more plans for collaborations in the coming time. 

Besides music, what other hobbies do you pursue?

I like making short videos, travel vlogs, once in a while. I enjoy Muay Thai, working out, but lately I’ve gotten a bit lazy. I also really like swimming, badminton. 

Who are your other favorite Indian and International guitarists?

Indian Guitarists (in no particular order) would be Pritesh Walia, Siddharth Gautam, Arjun Desai, Arenlong Longkumer, Warren Mendonsa, Ehsaan Noorani, Bryden Lewis, Mhaseve Tetseo, Rudy Wallang, Srinjay Banerjee and many others. As for the International toppers it would be Derek Trucks, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Julian Lage, John Mayer, Tom Misch, Bruno Major to name a few.  

Since the pandemic, have you released any new music? 

During 2020, I was working on my new EP ‘Red & Yellow’. I’m glad I did that, because I’ve been able to release them as singles in 2021. As of now, I’ve released 3 singles this year, A Crime, Ashes, Quiet’ a story. 

Is a third album on the horizon?

As I’m releasing these singles, I have also started working on a new set of songs, which I started doing since early this year. I’d love to do a full album release, but I don’t know yet. Let’s see. 

What has been the biggest challenge since the pandemic happened?

The excessive dependence on social media to push out the music. I think it’s cool that one can release and promote the music in any part of the world, while sitting at home, but nothing beats the fun of playing live, meeting people in person and pushing out the music. I miss it quite a lot.  I also think that it’s been extremely challenging to keep oneself sane and positive during these times. I meditate, spend time with my family and try to focus on positive things. 

What next have you decided to work on?

I guess I’m going to spend time working on the next set of songs, while releasing the remaining 2 songs from the EP. 

What advice would you give to upcoming guitarists?

Work on the basics. Be sincere, be patient, don’t rush through the process, learn the tunes by heart, and let the magic happen.  

What is your musical dream?

Have a niche of my own, connecting hearts all over the world through my music. I’d love to play Tiny Desk NPR.  

Coming from the state of Arunachal Pradesh, how have you contributed to music in the state?

I, with the help of other fellow independent artists from the State have started AIMF (Arunachal Independent Music Forum), with the aim to build and promote the Independent Artists and the Independent Music Scene of Arunachal Pradesh. Through my music, I have released 2 songs in my dialect, which, due to the lack of a script, fades as I write this. I look forward to doing this more, in order to help preserve and showcase the rich cultural diversity of our State to the rest of the world. 

Interviewed by Verus Ferreira