Harmonica virtuoso Rohan Singhal has earned the respect of serious composers and music lovers the world over with his solo performances all over the world from playing at Mumbai’s Mahindra Blues Festival 2018, Ziro Festival of Music, Arunachal Pradesh (2019) and performances at various Jazz festivals in Goa. Those who attended the Mahindra Blues Special 2022 in Mumbai, would’ve surely seen his knockout performance playing with Soulmate.

In February he was part of Padma Shri winner Usha Uthup’s new Blues single ‘Wokay’ where he played a blues solo.

Rohan has participated and won at the various harmonica competitions like National Harmonica league Bristol, UK and The World Harmonica festival, Germany in 2017 and Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival 2018, Beijing China. He has been awarded the prestigious Preservation and Advancement of Harmonica (SPAH), USA Youth Scholarship for 2020 and 2021. It is America’s biggest Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica which brings the best Harmonica players in the world together for musical exchange and learning. He also won The 4th Blues Acoustic Blues contest in India in the year 2020.

The Indore based bespectacled 16 year old who recently completed his 10^th board CBSE with 96.6% marks, has been playing the harmonica (also known as the mouth organ) for the last 12 years in almost all genres from Blues, Jazz, Funk, Rock and Fusion of Western and Indian classical music.

Like any kid his age he loves sports like Football, Boxing, Swimming, Table Tennis and during the lockdown, he took to learning other instruments like guitar, ukulele and saxophone.

Rohan is keen to promote Indian classical music on the western Blues instrument Diatonic Harmonica and is taking formal training for Indian Classical Music, since the last 8 years under the guidance of his teacher Shri Madan Kumarji. Rohan will be appearing for his fifth year exam from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidhyala. It is this training in Indian Classical Music that has really helped him to perform Raag on the Diatonic harmonica.

Rohan was once again offered a scholarship by SPAH to visit Tulsa, Oklahoma, but due to visa issues, he had to join it online. On International Blues Music day (6^th August) he was in Shillong to take part in a workshop on Diatonic harmonica and also performed at a blues event there.

Verus Ferreira spoke with Rohan who was excited to share his story:

So let’s go back to how your musical journey actually began?

My musical journey began at the age of four when my grandfather Dillep Naik gifted me a 10 hole diatonic harmonica. My grandfather living in Goa, is a self taught musician and likes to play harmonica, flute and tenor saxophone as a hobby. I used to listen to him play blues and other songs. He taught me the basics of playing harp and encouraged me to play complete songs so that I get a chance to perform with bands. But this was only during my holidays when I was visiting them in Goa. So back home in Indore my parents decided to introduce me to Indian Classical singing with my guru Shri Madan Kumar. Since then I have been taking singing training which has really helped me in understanding notes and scales. Also to promote my harp playing and increase my inner stamina my father Vivek Singhal introduced me to swimming. So for 6 years I used to go to school around 5.30 am in the morning for advanced swimming lessons which really helped my lung capacity. 

What music did you grow up listening to and what songs would you play on the harmonica?

I grew up listening to Blues and Jazz from the 1930s to the most recent. I also listen to rock, reggae, pop, country and Bollywood songs. I love to play blues, jazz, rock, pop, fusion of Indian and western classical music. 

It was your presence at a workshop by renowned diatonic harmonica player Ben Hewlett in Pune in 2014 that really started the ball rolling for you to take up the harmonica,. Can you share some memories?   

Yes this was a turning point in my career at a tender age of 9. My grandfather flew from Goa to Indore to pick me up and take me to attend this workshop in Pune by renowned UK teacher and player Ben Hewlett. After the workshop and listening to my play Helwett was very happy. Since we were staying in the same hotel, the next day Hewett came to our room and told my grandfather that he wants to share and teach me more techniques. I was fast asleep and they decided to wake me up. So we sat on the bed facing each other and started playing. After some time he told my grandfather that he can achieve these milestones if I continue with the practice with world renowned teacher and 2 time Grammy award winner Mr Howard Levy. And since then I pursued my training in a video exchange program and attended the world Harmonica Festival in Germany and National harmonica league as proposed by Ben Helwett where I won in the senior category in 2017.

How did you get off to playing at music shows and music festivals like the Indian Mouthorgan Meet in Indore, 2015, the International Jazz Festival in 2016 and the National Harmonica League, Bristol (UK)2017, Ziro music Festival Arunachal Pradesh,

In India every State has a group of Chromatic Harmonica players and they organise meets every year in each State to promote the instrument. Since I was the youngest Diatonic harmonica player they used to invite me to perform blues. Also in Goa, I used to play with the Jazz Goa Band by Collin D’Cruz at every International Jazz Day celebration. In Bristol 2017, I gave my first solo performance to the international audience. I opened a sold out show that evening where I played Indian Classical Raag Bihag for them which was highly appreciated as these notes were new to the international audience. There were artist from 5 countries USA, Japan, Chile, UK and myself from India who were invited to showcase their traditional music.

You had a solo performance at the 2018 Mahindra Blues Festival in Mumbai where there were International Blues harmonica players like Brandon Santini, Charlie Musselwhite. How was your experience ? Who were your musical influences who were part in making you take up the harmonica?

I used to follow the great harmonica artists on Facebook. When I came to know about Asia’s biggest blues festival in Mumbai it was a great opportunity for me to hear Charlie Musselwhite and Brandon Santini from the USA live in Mumbai. There was no entry for kids under 18 so I sent a request as they were searching for local bands. Thankfully the festival organisers decided to showcase me as the youngest Indian Diatonic Blues Harp player and gave me an opportunity to perform on both the days at the Garden stage at the Mehboob studio, Mumbai 2018. My sincere thanks to Anand Mahindra for giving me another opportunity to perform at the Mahindra Blues Special 2022 along with Soulmate and Friends.

You also released an album Blues @13. Can you tell us something about it.

At the age of 10 when I was going to participate in the competition in the UK and World Harmonica Festival in Germany where there were 703 contestants from different countries in the open age category, we decided to record my CD. This helped me to practice also. First time at the recording studio working with Keshav Pandya was very interesting.  The CD has 13 blues songs and hence the name. Some of them were composed by me which I performed there for the competitions especially Bluesy Hanuman Chalissa named as The power of Hanuman and Raag Multani which made me one the youngest winners at the WHF.

At a young age you started singing Indian classical music and simultaneously also learnt the harmonica. Can you tell us how they complimented each other?

I enjoy playing this small instrument as it is closest to singing and I can express my inner feelings while playing it. As I learned Hindustani music with more practice I was very thorough with notes which helped me to play harp by ear. Also Indian music is based on melody or single notes played in a specific order whereas Western music is based on standardised written notation which means you have to play exactly as it is written. So I could understand both styles of music. 

You are also probably the only Diatonic harmonica player around who plays Indian ragas on harmonica. Can you tell us how this came about?

I have keen interest in promoting our Indian classical music on this western Blues instrument the Diatonic Harmonica. When I won the WHF 2017 in open age Jazz category I played Raag Multani which was a shock to other players who played western jazz standards. This unique combination when showcased on the international stage was highly appreciated. 

Are you aware that the harmonica can be used as a medicinal tool for patients for breathing exercise? Your comments. 

Yes, firstly playing the harmonica is much like pursed lip breathing due to the resistance to airflow (keeping positive pressure in the airways). Harmonica is a low-impact exercise that maintains good oxygen levels.  Secondly, playing the harmonica well does not require a lot of airflow, though when using diaphragmatic breathing, it is very evident that more air is available to you for playing.  Playing the harmonica is a great exercise for this essential breathing technique. Lastly, as your playing gets better, your lungs (diaphragm and costal muscles) become stronger and more flexible. I realised it especially when I contracted COVID 19 during the second wave. My recovery was much faster as I kept doing breathing exercises. 

Are there any other harmonica players in India and are you in touch with them ?

Yes there are a few Diatonic Harmonica players in India and I am in touch with them.

During the lockdown, you also dabbled in playing other instruments like guitar, ukulele and saxophone.

I started with Ukulele as I liked the sound and then guitar. During lockdown I participated in international an Blues acoustic festival competition where I played guitar and harmonica together which resulted in winning this all India competition. So I got my prize -a brand new Gibson Guitar from Ehsaan Noorani who was one of the judges. It was really exciting to receive this during lockdown.

You also play the keyboards. Did playing the keyboard help you in playing the harmonica better  in terms of chord progression and scales.

Yes it was a great help to understand western music because while playing harp you don’t see anything and all the chords are in your mind. So keyboard playing really helped understand many techniques.

You also endorse the Hohner Harmonica. 

The contract is over right now and we’re working to get renewal done soon. I was the youngest Hohner endorser in the world. Thanks to Furtados India for making me a Horner endorser in India.

How do you manage a globetrotting life and also academics?

My school has been very supportive in promoting my talent. I just finished my 10^th CBSE too. But regular study sports and music is my best combination every day to keep up to any musical events which may come up on short notice. I have travelled to more than 10 countries and performed on the streets also.

Unlike other instruments, is learning the harmonica an expensive affair.

No it cheap. The smallest harp can be put in a string around your neck and can be played anywhere. No electricity required so very handy.

For someone who wants to learn harmonica, what are the different harmonicas available and are there enough teachers to teach the instrument?

Yes there are many online courses and teachers available. 

Do you plan on bridging out some original music and singles or an album in the near future?

Sure, keep it a secret.

Interviewed by Verus Ferreira