The Raghu Dixit Project are back in Australia this month, playing four shows around the country for the Confluence Festival of India. Running from August to November, Confluence is a multi-city celebration of Indian arts and culture, which has the potential to introduce Indian arts and culture to a whole new audience. Dixit says it’s a grand honour to be selected as a representative of contemporary Indian culture.
“I’m really thrilled to be coming back to Australia after a long break and this time for a more extensive tour. I think this is a very important festival because it is showcasing a much wider spectrum of Indian arts and music than is traditionally seen outside of India. India has a lot of contemporary art and culture that is not usually seen around the world and any festival that showcases this is a step in the right direction.”
The Raghu Dixit Project are no strangers to high profile performances. Along with playing massive shows in India, the group’s travelled all around the world, playing at such major festivals as Glastonbury and making multiple appearances on UK television. It’s the sort of career trajectory that many musicians can only dream about, but Dixit hasn’t grown content just yet.
“I still think I have a long, long way to go in my musical career,” he says. “And from the first time I have been on stage, I have always treated each performance as the most important one I’ve ever done. My wish is to ensure that whether I’m performing for a 100 people or 10,000, each member of the audience goes back having a great time.”
Despite such wide exposure, Dixit isn’t worried about getting carried away with fame. As for his distinct stylistic fusion, he says it just came naturally to him.
“I never thought of it as merging elements or fusing styles. From all the band’s travels and the various types of music I’ve heard over the years, a lot of styles and influences are now just part of how I think when I write a song.”
Dixit had a traditional upbringing in southern India, and his songs feature a variety of languages including his native Kannada, as well as Hindi, Tamil and English. Tying it all together is his aim to make music that’s depictive of modern India.
“I do take ancient folk poetry and set that to music as well, so it is a combination of both these efforts. Rekindle the love and interest in our culture by presenting it in a contemporary form as well as write about modern India.”
India has a monumentally varied and diverse cultural history, which continues to develop and expand. The country itself proves to be an unstinting source of inspiration for Dixit’s music.
“India’s culture and heritage and the land itself are the biggest influence on my music. The melodies I sing and create are Indian folk songs at the core, and that is what comes naturally to me.”
