Today's guest is Harish Sivaramakrishnan of Agam. Agam are an intriguing fusion of Prog Rock and South Indian Classical Music. Beth asks Harish how this came about and he reveals his western influences including Dream Theater and Tool.
Beth and Harish also discuss the balance between viability and creativity when working on your music and how Harish has maintained a second career throughout his musical journey, working as an engineer.
“My creativity is heavily dependent on my state of mind, being secure, feeling stable and at peace with my mind”
Podcast Episode Highlights:
01.28 - What is Harish’s worst-ever job and at what point in his life was that?
02.52 - How did Harish’s interest in music start?
04.15 - Beth asks Harish what happens within an Indian singing lesson
07.00 - Harish explains how he combines South Indian Classical Music with Prog Rock with his band Agam
10.37 - How has Harish found having another career being an engineer?
12.52 - Has Harish pursued engineering out of choice or necessity?
14.31 - The importance of multi-tasking
16.54 - Has Harish found a cross-over in skills required for engineering and being a musician?
19.46 - Quickfire Round
20.48 - Fun fact
22.00 - Does Harish believe more in fate or choice?
23.57 - What has been Harish’s biggest challenge?
26.18 - How do you achieve a balance between being confident in what you’re producing artistically and making sure the art you produce is viable
30.19 - What does Harish consider his greatest accomplishment?
32.29 - If he could choose, what quality or ability would Harish wake up with tomorrow?
33.18 - How important has introspection been to Harish’s music and also his overall life?
34.57 - Advice for people wanting to enter the music industry
Key Points:
Understand the music industry is driven by profit and loss and you must find the balance between viability and the art you want to create
If your art is not connecting with others, you must look within rather than assuming they are wrong
People give up their time to connect with your work which is just as valuable as their money
Stay true to your art and create the circumstances that allow you to do so, in Harish’s case, choosing to support his life with another income in the form of engineering, so he doesn’t rely on his music
Introspection is important but ensures you’re also able to have vision and look ahead
Persistence is key, keep on creating your art and eventually you will find your break-through.
Quotes:
“If you try really hard you can make one in ten (songs) really work”
Harish Sivaramakrishnan
“A lot of people don’t know that I am not a full-time musician, I still work… truth be said it’s a little bit steep to think you can build a career being an independent musician in India”
Harish Sivaramakrishnan
“Through the years I have learned that if my mind is not in the right place I find it really hard to make music”
Harish Sivaramakrishnan
“The ability to say no is a huge privilege for an artist”
Harish Sivaramakrishnan
“I think every living person has more than one ability, sometimes more than two, sometimes more than five”
Harish Sivaramakrishnan
“More than luck it’s about applying your mind, understanding what your strengths and weaknesses are and where does your art fit in?”
Harish Sivaramakrishnan
“I am a believer in sticking around, hanging in there and making sure you’re doing the right set of things, not egotistically doing things that you think are right”
Harish Sivaramakrishnan
“Self doubt pushes you significantly behind”
Harish Sivaramakrishnan
“It does happen to some people, they just come in and become the next big thing. But 9 out of 10 people, it takes a lot longer. Having that patience built into me that I have to stick around, keep pushing, keep trying until you get that one chance… it has been a learning”
Harish Sivaramakrishnan
“If what you’re doing isn’t resonating then probably you need to look inwards, you can’t always say that “everyone around me is stupid and I’m doing everything right”’
Harish Sivaramakrishnan
“They also have to like the artist, not just the art, especially in live music… The people have got to like you as an individual and what do you stand for? What do you come across as? How do you conduct yourself? … Who you are matters”
Harish Sivaramakrishnan
“You have to understand the pulse of who you are presenting your art to”
Harish Sivaramakrishnan
“More than the money, people give you time. That is really valuable”
Harish Sivaramakrishnan
“The biggest joy I have is that I am a rank outsider in the South Indian music industry”
Harish Sivaramakrishnan
“Stay patient, stay focussed. It may happen today, it may happen in five years but if you’re going to stick around and try, it’s going to happen at some point”
Harish Sivaramakrishnan
“Be honest to your art. Just because there is a commercial intent behind it, don’t become like a factory… then you stop becoming an artist”
Harish Sivaramakrishnan
Resources Mentioned:
Beth Roars: Website YouTube Instagram Twitter Facebook Patreon
T Praveen Kumar, Swamy Seetharaman (members of Agam mentioned)
Harish’s Inspirations - Dream Theater, Rush, Iron Maiden, Snarky Puppy, Opeth, Tool
Polyrhythm, Mixed Meter (see Time Signature), Pitch & Modal Shifts (see mode)
