Bobby Singh knew he was on to something special when he met the other members of Djan Djan, writes Rob Mellett

When Bobby Singh was aged only six years old, he was adamant what he would become as an adult.

The English-born savant recites the story of the time his uncle brought him to a gig by legendary singer of Qawawali, Pakistan’s Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

"Nusrat played in Birmingham, near where we lived," Bobby says. "Being so young, I had no real idea about Indian or Pakistani classical music, and it just opened up this whole new world to me. From then on my life would never be the same.

"I just remember looking at Nusrat’s tabla player, saying to myself ‘that’s what I want to be’."

Indeed, that gig sparked the musical journey that led musician Bobby to seek out his very own tabla guru, finding him leaving hometown Wolverhamtpon and spending much of his childhood in Mumbai, studying at Sangeet Mahabharati under the tutelage of tabla master Aneesh Pradhan.

Speaking from his hotel room in Wellington, before playing the Pacific Blue Festival Club International Arts Festival, Bobby says: "When I told my family I was going to India, they thought I would change my mind and come back, but I ended up staying for five years, and travelled backwards and forwards after that.

"Aneesh is my master and I will study with him as long as I can. I return to Mumbai because I’m still learning; a tabla apprenticeship lasts a minimum of 25 years, and that’s just to understand the very basics. There are stories of musicians who say ‘I’m a master now, there is nothing more to learn’. To say that sort of thing you would have to be absolutely mind blowing, or else face ridicule.

"With my own eyes, I watched a six-year-old playing the harmonium. He could barely reach up to play it, yet the rhythms he played would have been almost impossible for an adult player. You see, in India, the music is passed down through the generations, it’s in their blood, their sweat and their tears. They never stop learning."

When Bobby’s family moved to Sydney, he began playing alongside Australian musicians, leading him, in 2008, to forge a rapport with kora player Mamadou Diabate and Australia’s Jeff Lang on slide guitar.

The cousin of master kora player Toumani Diabate, Mamadou was born in the griot tradition of Mali. His Grammy-award winning latest release, Douga Mansa (King Vulture), perfectly illustrates the Malian’s virtuosity.

As for Lang, he probably doesn’t need too much introduction to regular readers of timeOut, earning himself critical acclaim as a guitarist and songwriter, with his dynamic blues and world styles making for electrifying live performances.

Bobby explains how they got together. "Mamadou and I shared a house and we heard each other practising, so we began jamming."

The Malian had already played with Lang at the Adelaide Guitar Festival, making a get-together between the three almost inevitable.

The boys decamped to Melbourne’s 30 Mill Studios, in 2008, to see just what results they could conjure.

It was a revelation as their conversational musical styles – blues slide guitar, Indian tabla and Malian kora – weaved seamlessly together.

Initially, Djan Djan used the tracks for an EP, but later curiosity got the better of them, finding them heading back to the studio and recording a further five tracks, this year bundling together the results of both studio sessions on the release of debut album Djan Djan, released earlier this month.

"What you can hear on Djan Djan is a conversation, one of love and respect for each other and for our different cultures," Bobby says.

"There are not one, but three of us, all equal and harmonious together. If one of us were to say ‘I’m the leader’, that would be it, it would be the end."

Bobby says their songs tell a story: "The Great Keppel was written about the time we took Mamadou to this magical, beautiful island. It was his first time in Australia and we took him snorkelling in the ocean. He was amazed by it all, and that’s how that song came about."

"Our songs are about feelings and moods. We have a really peaceful friendship without cultural prejudice or political issues, so there are no boundaries and we are free to take our music in any direction we like."

Bobby says there are moments on stage when Djan Djan enjoy their music so much that it’s hard to end the performance.
"When the songs are working out well, it’s tough conforming to time constraints."

And time certainly doesn’t pass slowly for Bobby, who’s constantly in demand, being also an integral member of acclaimed percussion trio Circle of Rhythm, as well as dance outfit The Bird, who have established a solid reputation as one of Australia’s finest live electronic acts.

Bobby also regularly plays alongside cultural icons such as Grammy award winner Vishwa Mohan, plus John Butler, Slava Grigoryan, and a whole host of others.

Touring until the end of the month, Djan Djan drop into Tanks this Saturday, for a show that is sure to be one of the most memorable of the entire year, featuring as it does the talents of three world class musicians flying high on their spiritual musical journey.

>> Djan Djan play the Tanks Arts Centre in Edge Hill on Saturday night from 7.30pm. Tickets range between $30-$35, available now from www.ticketlink.com.au or by calling 1300 855 835.

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