Renowned for his transformative impression on Hindustani classical and devotional music, San Francisco-based vocalist Mahesh Kale has firmly established himself as probably the most influential figures in Indian classical music at this time. A National Award-winning artist, Kale just lately wrapped up his extremely acclaimed Abhangwari live performance tour throughout India, adopted by a triumphant return to the stage in Australia after a seven-year break. With stops in Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne, Kale mesmerized audiences along with his wealthy mix of classical, semi-classical, devotional, and movie songs, alongside along with his personal charming compositions.
Trained below the legendary Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, Kale’s mastery of Indian music spans throughout Natya Sangeet, bhajans, and abhangs, incomes him worldwide popularity of his capacity to merge custom with up to date enchantment. Beyond his highly effective performances, Kale’s dedication to preserving and spreading the great thing about Indian classical music is clear in his Mahesh Kale School of Music in San Francisco, which educates college students from over 15 international locations, making his affect actually international.
In an unique interview with News18 Showsha, Mahesh Kale mirrored on his journey post-pandemic, the challenges of reconnecting with dwell audiences, and his mission to modernize and globalize Indian classical music. He additionally delved into his philosophy on instructing, composing, and the fragile stability between preserving custom whereas embracing innovation on the world stage.
Here are the excerpts:
Q: Your latest Abhangwari live performance tour after a seven-year break was broadly acclaimed and well-received. How was the expertise of reconnecting along with your international viewers post-pandemic, and what stood out to you through the tour?
Mahesh Kale: Reconnecting with the viewers after the pandemic was a phenomenal expertise. The hiatus had created a shared sense of longing, as all of us went via related struggles worldwide. The feeling was mutual—I used to be desperate to sing once more, and the viewers was simply as desperate to hear. The Abhangwari program is especially pricey to my coronary heart as a result of I grew up singing abhangs, that are an important a part of Maharashtrian tradition. It was transferring to see such a heat reception for a standard Maharashtrian artwork type, even in locations just like the Bay Area, South India (Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bangalore), and naturally, Maharashtra itself.
At the center of it, bhakti (devotion) is common. Regardless of 1’s perception system, there’s a frequent thread that connects us to our supply of religion when these devotional songs are sung. This facet of worship, which transcends cultural boundaries, is what made the tour so particular for me.
Q: You have composed a number of bandishes and abhangs your self. How do you method composing inside the framework of Hindustani classical music whereas making certain it stays related and accessible to fashionable listeners?
Mahesh Kale: Composing music for me is just not merely a deliberate train in design; it’s a way of life. My coaching within the Indian classical music custom is ongoing, and I proceed to be taught day-after-day, no matter the place I’m. At the identical time, I make it some extent to immerse myself within the current. For occasion, if I’m touring out of the country like Indonesia, I make sure that to expertise the native tradition, markets, and every day life. It’s about understanding the rhythm of life elsewhere.
This mix of ongoing coaching in conventional music and experiencing fashionable life permits my compositions to emerge naturally. I adapt to the tastes and sensibilities of various audiences whereas staying true to my roots. For instance, throughout a latest workshop in Santa Cruz, California, we had been surrounded by the great thing about nature. The setting impressed a composition in Vrindavani Sarang that felt conventional however was influenced by the Sierra bushes round us. This is how I incorporate my environment into my music—by being current and open to inspiration.
Q: Your concert events characteristic a variety of genres, from classical to semi-classical, devotional, and even Hindi movie songs. How do you strike a stability between conventional Hindustani classical music and extra well-liked varieties?
Mahesh Kale: At my core, I’m a classical musician, however I additionally take pleasure in performing semi-classical varieties. When I sing movie songs, I typically use them as a bridge to attach folks with classical music. For occasion, if I carry out a composition in Khamaj, I would embody a line from “O Rangrez” to attract parallels. This helps the viewers see the commonality throughout genres and understand that classical music is just not far faraway from what they already take pleasure in.
It’s like our relationship with meals—Indian delicacies is our consolation meals, however we additionally bask in Chinese or Italian dishes every so often. Similarly, Indian classical music is my soul meals, and I sometimes discover lighter genres to create a various musical expertise for my viewers.
Q: With the Mahesh Kale School of Music, you purpose to advertise and protect Indian classical music worldwide. What challenges do you face in instructing classical music in a world setting, and the way do you tailor your strategies for worldwide college students?
Mahesh Kale: The largest distinction between how I realized in a standard gurukul setting and the way I train now could be within the expectations. When I used to be finding out below my Guruji, Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, the main focus was on pursuing music as a severe ardour. Many of my present college students, nonetheless, are rediscovering a love for music that they couldn’t pursue whereas rising up on account of educational or profession commitments. Some are full-time musicians, and I’m thrilled to see that, however the majority method music as a cherished interest.
My objective is to harness the vitality and enthusiasm I really feel whereas touring and performing and produce it into my instructing. For occasion, I just lately held a scholar recital at my home to mark my mom’s Punyatithi. Seeing round 70-80 college students occupying totally different areas in my house, every group rehearsing varied compositions, stuffed me with immense pleasure. Teaching these “musical kids,” who vary from younger youngsters to people over 60, appears like serving to somebody take their first steps or journey a motorcycle. The pleasure is mutual and infectious.
Q: You have given lectures and demonstrations at prestigious establishments like Stanford and Harvard. How is Indian classical music obtained by youthful international audiences?
Mahesh Kale: It is obtained fairly effectively. Indian classical music is deeply related as a result of it’s essentially aligned with the core features of human life. While we dwell in a world structured round work and obligations, the fundamentals—meals, shelter, and clothes—stay common requirements. Classical music operates equally; its framework, consisting of raga and tala, supplies construction, however inside that construction, there’s infinite room for creativity.
To make this idea relatable to college students who could have by no means encountered Indian classical music, I take advantage of analogies. For occasion, I clarify the thought of making infinite potentialities inside finite boundaries by drawing a circle and inscribing triangles with various factors. This typically leaves college students amazed, as they understand the depth and adaptability of classical music. It’s an effective way to spark curiosity and instill respect for the artwork.
Q: Your mom, Smt. Minal Kale, performed a big position in your early coaching. How did her steerage form your musical basis?
Mahesh Kale: My mom was my first instructor, and I owe a lot of my musical inclination to her. I typically say {that a} mom’s heartbeat is the primary sound a toddler hears, and that rhythm stays with you for all times. My mom’s love for music was evident whilst she balanced her duties as a homemaker. She would all the time discover time to sing and follow, setting an instance for me.
Long earlier than the idea of gamification grew to become well-liked, my mom used it to show me music. She would flip musical workouts into video games, difficult me to establish the raga of a tune or sing a bandish in a distinct tala. At that point, I didn’t even perceive the phrases like raga or tala; for me, it was all a enjoyable problem. This method instilled in me a pure sense of spontaneity and creativity, or upaj, which stays central to my music at this time.
Q: You have been influenced by each the Agra and Jaipur gharanas, but you don’t adhere strictly to anyone type. How do you stability these conventional influences with a contemporary method to Indian classical music?
Mahesh Kale: My Guruji as soon as gave an enlightening clarification about gharanas to a bunch of scholars. He described them as kinds that developed in several areas below the patronage of native kings, every with its distinctive traits. In the previous, geographical limitations led to the expansion of distinct kinds. Today, nonetheless, expertise has given us entry to each type on the click on of a button. Why not reap the benefits of this and incorporate components from varied gharanas to create one thing lovely?
I consider in respecting the self-discipline that every gharana brings, however I additionally really feel that there’s an excessive amount of magnificence on this planet to restrict oneself to at least one custom. My method is to make classical music mirror the present occasions whereas staying true to its roots. If I’m dwelling within the twenty first century, my music ought to characterize that period whereas embodying the centuries-old custom of Indian classical music.
Q: You excel in each dwell performances and playback singing. How do these experiences differ for you, each creatively and emotionally?
Mahesh Kale: Live performances and playback singing are worlds aside. A dwell live performance is sort of a cricket match—you step onto the sector with a rating of zero, and exterior situations like climate and viewers vitality have an effect on the result. Each live performance is exclusive; in Indonesia, I handled warmth and humidity, whereas in New Zealand, it was fairly chilly. You need to adapt and improvise primarily based on the surroundings.
In distinction, playback singing is akin to portray a nice art work. You can work on it little by little, taking breaks and making changes till you’re happy. Only when the piece is full do you current it to the world. In dwell music, spontaneity performs a key position, whereas recorded music permits for meticulous craftsmanship.
Q: Katyar Kaljat Ghusli has been an integral a part of your profession. What was essentially the most rewarding facet of being concerned on this iconic musical, and the way did it impression your creative journey?
Mahesh Kale: Katyar Kaljat Ghusli holds a particular place in my life, not simply due to its widespread success but additionally as a result of it allowed me to honor my Guruji, Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, who composed the unique songs for the musical. Singing items like ‘Surat Piya Ki,’ ‘Aruna Kirani,’ and others was my means of paying homage to the musical legacy he created. It was a rare expertise to characterize the essence of Indian classical music whereas additionally bringing in up to date musical components, because of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s contributions.
The most rewarding facet was mixing the previous and the brand new seamlessly. While my Guruji’s compositions represented the timeless fantastic thing about classical music, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music added a contemporary layer, making it accessible to a broader viewers. Winning the National Award for a track composed by Shankarji, which was steeped in classical traditions, validated the ability of Indian classical music on a nationwide platform. It proved that this historical artwork type can resonate with at this time’s listeners when introduced thoughtfully.
Q: Hindi and regional cinema sometimes incorporate Hindustani classical music. What are your ideas on the position of movie music in selling this custom, and what’s your perspective on the present fusion traits mixing classical music with different genres?
Mahesh Kale: The main position of movie music is to assist the narrative and feelings of a narrative somewhat than promote a selected style like Indian classical music. However, administrators and composers who’ve a powerful basis in classical music typically embody it, which naturally helps in selling the artwork type. Composers like Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Pritam, and Amit Trivedi, who’ve some coaching in classical music, combine it fantastically into their scores. Even A.R. Rahman’s music for movies like Roja includes a classical undercurrent that elevates the cinematic expertise.
As for fusion, I consider it has all the time been a part of the musical panorama, even when we don’t all the time label it as such. When we mix two notes to create a melody, that’s fusion; once we mix a bandish with a tala, that’s additionally fusion. The secret’s the intention behind it. If the fusion is finished with respect for each traditions and a transparent goal, it could create one thing actually magical. When I carry out at occasions like Stanford Jazz, I typically current Indian classical music alongside saxophones, drums, and guitars. The acquainted sounds act as a gateway, encouraging folks to understand the distinctive qualities of Indian music.
Q: You have collaborated with maestros like Zakir Hussain, George Brooks, and Trilok Gurtu. How do you method these collaborations, and what have you ever realized from working with these legends?
Mahesh Kale: Collaborating with such maestros is a studying expertise, not simply musically but additionally in life. When you share the stage with somebody like Zakirji, who has been on this journey for a lot longer and has carried out worldwide, you understand that you just’re there to look at and take in as a lot as you may. Zakirji, for example, has taught me quite a few features of stagecraft—starting from selecting the best microphone to making sure respectful illustration of Indian music, even through the pandemic once we needed to carry out on-line.
Similarly, Trilokji’s numerous experiences, having labored within the Western world earlier than I used to be even born, have been a supply of immense studying. We carried out collectively just lately in Bangalore, and the time we spent collectively touring, consuming, and enjoying music was as enlightening because the precise efficiency. I like to consider these collaborations as ongoing education; you be taught from these nice musicians and, within the course of, uncover new features of your self.
Q: Social media has considerably elevated your attain, particularly amongst youthful audiences. How do you utilize these platforms to foster a love for Hindustani classical music?
Mahesh Kale: Social media has been a wonderful device for interacting with folks past geographical boundaries. I maintain a grasp’s diploma in expertise, so I perceive the significance of utilizing these platforms successfully. I typically share snippets from lovely locations the place I really feel impressed to sing. For instance, if I’m in a picturesque location like Santa Cruz, I would file an impromptu session and add it.
I additionally attempt to create interactive content material. Sometimes I add reels the place I get folks to repeat musical phrases, turning it right into a type of gamified lesson. This not solely makes the content material partaking but additionally presents a little bit of musical schooling. The course of itself is fulfilling as a result of, whereas the ultimate product is shared on-line, the actual pleasure lies in spending time with the music.
Q: What’s subsequent for you when it comes to musical tasks and new avenues you’d prefer to discover?
Mahesh Kale: There is a rising youth following for my music, and I wish to make sure that my journey continues to interact them. I’m at present experimenting with dwell music ideas. One such mission is named “Infusion,” the place I begin a chunk in a standard type, after which the music morphs right into a fusion on the fly, with totally different sounds step by step being added.
I’m additionally engaged on reinterpreting conventional bandishes in ways in which don’t label them as classical compositions however somewhat as interesting songs. The concept is to current these compositions in a format that draws folks no matter their familiarity with classical music. I stay up for experimenting with each dwell and recorded codecs to discover new methods of presenting Indian classical music.
Q: For these desirous about studying from you, how can they enroll within the Mahesh Kale School of Music?
Mahesh Kale: Enrolling is simple. Just Google “Mahesh Kale School of Music” or go to our web site. I began the college through the pandemic when a lot of our recognized joys had been inaccessible. Music, nonetheless, is one thing you may carry with you wherever, and I needed to supply my college students a constant supply of pleasure. The college’s core mantra is “Anybody can sing.” If you come to my concert events, you’ll see that I make everybody sing, and so they all maintain the sur fairly effectively.
The expertise of singing isn’t about reaching perfection; it’s about having fun with the companionship of music and embracing the method. Whether in a live performance setting or throughout a lesson, this philosophy varieties the inspiration of the Mahesh Kale School of Music.
Q: Can you share a bit about your upcoming performances and what audiences can anticipate?
Mahesh Kale: I’ll be performing in India throughout Diwali, with concert events scheduled in Kolkata, Dehradun, Baroda, Mumbai, Pune, Thane, and Nashik. I stay up for reconnecting with Indian audiences and sharing new musical experiences. For those that could make it, I’d like to see you there, and for those who’re attending a live performance for the primary time, be ready to sing alongside. It’s all about making a collective musical journey.
