Blues & Hindi: Aki Kumar’s Take On Music-Making and Meaning

A new sub-genre

Coffee in hand, Akarsha (Aki) Kumar ( Aki Kumar , Aki Kumar Fuses Blues With Hindi and Makes It Familiar [IC,  March 2, 2021] ), sat down with me at a local cafe to discuss collaborating in music spaces, creating a new sub-genre of the blues, music and mental health, as well as insights into his next steps.

Much-beloved in the Bay (recently nominated in Metro’s “Best Local Band” category [results are forthcoming]) as well as enjoying critical international acclaim (signing with Sony India), Kumar can be found playing his harmonica from Poor House Bistro to private birthday celebrations and winery events. Desi and pardesis alike can’t seem to get enough of his Bollywood Blues.

Collaborations and Creativity

While he regularly performs with several Bay Area musicians, Aki’s combo is often comprised of June Core on drums, bassist Randy Bermudes, and Rome Yamilov on lead guitar.  Aki speaks of these performers with great fondness. “We are the products of each others’ investment – putting something into this goal, to see what comes out. I feel like I’m playing with the best musicians anywhere and I know we’re going to put on a helluva show!  [They] inspire so much confidence in me and I can’t believe I’m so privileged, that these guys say ‘We’ll back you and your Bollywood songs.’ ”

The feelings are clearly reciprocated as Core, Bermudes, and Yamilov have been playing with Kumar for many years. And one could understand their enthusiasm   Who wouldn’t be excited to get in on the ground floor of creating a new sub-genre of music: the Bollywood blues?

In addition to his bandmates, Kumar discussed other factors that allow him to create this unique sound, one being that the blues genre itself is fertile ground for these particular innovations with others. “Collaboration starts well before the fusion effort starts -I dwell in live music spaces. I play a lead instrument (harmonica – as opposed to rhythm) and my voice is also a lead [instrument] so I need to seek out other musicians to help me do what I do, [it’s a] necessity in what I do. Creative content, in the greatest blues and jazz, all has been the result of a team and a group effort. Collaboration is not just necessary, but the foundation of what I do.”

Aki also talks about being very grateful to the folks who come out for his shows. “Collaboration live is a dance and like with any dance you have a partner and in my case a group dance. It’s human and in the moment – adjusting and balancing and trying to throw new creative things out there. Then there’s the response from the crowd. [What we create] depends on the response and energy levels in the moment – the vibe from them. ”

Additionally, he’s quick to underscore that the provenance of the blues as being in Black communities. “The legacy of blues, and jazz, is group dynamics. In [the] US, Black voices were amplified through this medium [and it’s] deeply rooted there.”

Music and Mental Health

We moved on to speaking about other roles music has played in his life.  I shared that since the age of nine, music has been essential to maintaining my mental health and Kumar said he got it. “I don’t think I’m acknowledging how much of a role it’s played since childhood. I grew up with the act of consuming music being natural to me and it took me away from mental decay, disorder, and anything tied to negative mental health. Music is an alternative and has helped me keep my shit together and helps me be more compassionate toward myself. I’m doing more of this [thinking] as I get older.” He also spoke candidly about being grateful that he’s able to play music for a living. “Coming up in India – at least in my era – my class, my circumstances – artistic stuff was viewed as frivolous – either you did it because you were  privileged and well off or so destitute and that was the only thing you had to hold on to.”

New and old fans alike will be excited to hear that an Aki album drop is imminent, with an as-yet-untitled work coming out in early 2025.  I asked him about the process and he mused that he’s stretching himself on many fronts. “My journey with the new album is to do many aspects by myself, for my own personal and creative growth.” He went on to say he’s learned so much from “working with wonderful folks in the past”, now using those learnings and “trying to be a more self-sufficient “ in many aspects of this album.

Beyond the album, I asked what the next steps look like for Kumar. He mentioned that there were many [individuals] who had generously filled in gaps for him in the past. “Maybe I can do that for others or help someone produce a blues record,” he said. As we wrapped up our chat, he was thoughtful. “If nothing comes of my so-called career, I’ll be happy to do something in blues that no one ever tried. And I’ve made it viable on the local scene to sing Bollywood Blues – it’s caused a cultural change. There will be Desi kids coming up and being able to do their thing.”  Based on his popularity, among collaborators and fans alike, music lovers are delighted that Kumar is doing his thing here, by the Bay.

The post Blues & Hindi: Aki Kumar’s Take On Music-Making and Meaning appeared first on India Currents .