As deep as the ocean and soul

His distinct style of playing the guitar has given the folk-rock outfit Indian Ocean its unique sound. From playing seven gigs at a stretch of five years in 90s, to now over 60 gigs a year, Susmit Sen has surely seen the best and worst of the Indian independent music movement. “The journey has been amazing,” he smiles.

Measuring the Depth of the Ocean

Embarking on a new route, the musician is now all geared up with his first solo album, Depth Of the Ocean. As a part of it, he will be touring five cities, including Hyderabad and will be performing with his new setup, the Susmit Sen Chronicles, featuring Anirban Ghosh (bass guitar), Gyan Singh (tabla), Nikhil Vasudevan (percussions), Amit Sharma (vocals) and Rajeev Raja (flute).

“This idea has been formulating in my mind for almost a decade now. As, till now I have only people I had played with my fellow band members from. But something told me that I must try composing with the other musicians. And so, here it is.”

Giving more insight into what forms the album, he explains, “These compositions were not meant for the Indian Ocean format. The songs in the album are over 20 years old. I somehow never gave it much time, but I finally got a chance to record it last year.”

Featuring seven tracks, the album is a portrayal of the versatility in the Indian music scene. Renowned singers including Shubha Mudgal, Nitin Malik (lead singer of Parikrama), Assamese singer Papon and late Asheem Chakravarty have all collaborated with Susmit. Three tracks already gaining popularity among the crowds are City Lights by Shuba Mudhgal, Rejuvination with Asheem Chakravarthy and a solo guitar rendition of the national anthem. “The guitar composition is called a Six String Tribute to Rabindranath Tagore for his beautiful creation. Tagore is a universal figure and this is also probably the only cover I have ever played,” he says. 

Sharing his experiences with the other singers, he says, “It was absolutely fantastic. There are many known names and unknown names and one thing common about them, is that they are not just brilliant musicians, but also amazing human beings. Be it Shuba or Nitin. I was finding for someone who could relate to my music and they were just perfect.”

Well, cooperation from the band is what he got the most. Susmit says, “Without them being so supportive, I don’t think I would have completed this.”

Ask him to describe his own music? He explains, “I have been terrible at describing my own music. It is impossible to put it in words. It is genre-less and straight out of the heart. Like for example, City Lights is a three-year-old composition, which took shape at a friend’s place in New York and the title is that because the building where she stays in is called City Lights.”

Making waves

Susmit’s secret to his signature guitar sound is his Dehradun guitar. Probably one of the very few musicians to own an Indian-made guitar. “David Murray, originally an American set up a guitar manufacturing shop in Dehradun and trained a few people to make them. I am only one of the first few Indians to have one. He tailor-made it for me,” he shares.

Susmit Sen recently played at the very niche Guitare en Scene --- one of the world’s premiere Guitar festivals that’s held in Geneva in July every year. He is the country’s first ever guitarist to have received such an honour.

Comparing his initial days of being a musician to what it has transformed into now, Susmit opines, “When we started, there was no other band, except for Kolkata’s Mohiner Ghoraguli and a few others. But, now there are not just many bands, but also huge number of opportunities. People are enjoying this kind of music and it’s nice to be a part of it.”

On the shore of Hyderabad

Taking about his tryst with Hyderabad, Susmit says, “Hyderabad’s crowds are always amazing. We love playing here. I have played with Indian Ocean at the Hard Rock Cafe, and it is one of the best in the country.” Adding a little more on the people and culture, he shares, “People are extremely warm and the food is just amazing. Haleem and biryani are my all-time favourites. Though I am not much of a sight-seeing person, I love the Golconda Fort, Salarjung Museum, specially the statue of veiled Rebecca, Charminar and much more.”