For world-class percussionist Pete Lockett, an advertisement for drum lessons was “epiphany enough” to pick up the art of percussion as a teen in the UK. Since then, he has gone on to explore sounds and rhythms from far corners of the world. If you want to put a number to it, Lockett can play 20 instruments, including the tabla, kanjira, bongos, Japanese taiko and Arabic darabouka.
“I picked up the instruments very slowly. But my main focus was Indian percussion and it took me a massive amount of time to study,” says Lockett, who began learning Indian percussion in London. He trained in tabla from Yusuf Ali Khan and learned Carnatic music through Mridangam from Karaikudi R. Krishnamurthy.
The “mutli-intrumentalist” refuses to pin down a favourite instrument, just like he refuses to pick his best collaborations. “Each one of them was magic,” says the man, who has played with icons like Bjork, Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, The Verve, Sinead O Connor; while having worked with Zakir Husain, A.R. Rahman, among others here in India.
“Music systems are obviously different,” he says. “There are sessions’ where you do what someone wants you to . Then there are collaborations and solo works. When I played with Bjork and Plant, I was playing as an accompanist. In India, they were mostly collaborations and solos. So it is more personal in direction,” he adds.
THE INDO-PHILE
Lockett, who has travelled the length and breadth of India, also refuses to put all of India under one umbrella. “We can’t even say ‘Indian’ (music) is one thing. Last month, I was working with the folk musicians of Chhattisgargh, and the process is completely different, than let’s say, when I am playing with Selva Ganesh. Selva and I can sit for an hour or so and figure out a 40-minute performance, but with the folk musicians I would need a lot more time and involvement,” he explains. Lockett played with Selva Ganesh this weekend as part of Durga Jasraj’s Jalsa tour. He was also awarded the ‘Pandit Jasraj’ Award by the Rotary Club of Hyderabad.
THE JOURNEY INWARD
Thirty years in music have taken Lockett across the globe. But his outward travels manifested into an inward journey. While on flights and hectic tours or even while unwinding on the banks of the Ganges, Lockett wrote a book that was to be released under the title, Survivors; Guide to Eternity in 2014. The narrative enquires into the significance of human life and possibilities of afterlife. “I am more of a scientist, than a believer,” he says talking about his approach or school of thought to the book, that generated good reviews among the bibliophiles.
And as Lockett concluded the interview and moved on to set things up for his show, he leaves these heavy words for us to ponder on: “It (book) is about looking at yourself and understanding where you stand in the world. We have to understand our complete insignificance to fully comprehend our empowerment. The danger is that children today feel omnipotent, all powerful. But they must grow out of this and realise (the insignificance). Otherwise, life would just be an egotistical journey.”
