Meet Sayan Ghosh | Musician, Composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sayan Ghosh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sayan, why did you pursue a creative career?
I kept music as my part time career for 10 years long. I was teaching students, performed in so many concerts. Then I make it full time for last 2 years. I thought music, even any artform is a thing, where you need to dedicate yourself completely. Then something speacial will happen in it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an expert Sitar & Surbahar Player of Hindustani Classical Music having perfected the Gayaki Anga( Vocative Style) of playing these String instruments. I belong to the Imdadkhani Lineange ( called Gharana in India) which has given great stalwarts like Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez and Pandit Budhaditya Mukherjee. While maintaining the tradition, I have created my own space and style by creating my own Melodies in various popular as well as rare Ragas. The journey has been especially rough, since I am a first Generation Musician in my family of modest means from a small town near Kolkata. Getting Opportunities to perform and record comes come comparitively easily in families where tradition goes back a few Generations. I had to survive solely based on my talent and creativity. I am proud, that I not only survived but excelled. I created a totally new genre of ‘Tagore on Sitar’. Tagore Songs are extremely difficult to render on a fretted instrument like Sitar. I am able to recreate several of Tagore Melodies true to origianl sung versions- a first and difficult to emulate. I was invited to USA on Outstanding Artist Visa and made a successful maiden tour last Spring which was very well received. I have a rich repertoire of recorded original Music and have also collaborated on several projects with other renowned Musicians. I run my own Sitar Academy with two Branches in Kolkata area and have students worldwide. I also design and sell Sitars under my own SG Brand

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Kolkata area. It is a Heritage City with a rich History and Culture. So I would take them to the Heritage sites. My favoties are The Tagore Home which is well preserved, Belur Math and Dakshinswar Temple where Swami Vivekanada and his Guru Rama Krishna Paramahamsa spent time. I would show the rich Indian Museum and Kali Temple. Kolkata has a rich Cultural scene- So some wonderful events on Music, Dance, Theater or Cinema are always on. We would go to experience such Live events. There are beutiful idyllic Ganges Banks where one could enjoy Boat rides or just the scenary and serene evenings or mornings. Apart from the traditional stuff, Kolkata also boasts of a fun modern place. Park Street has great night life with bands, Music and dance. Some great restaurants are also in the area offering many varieties of cuisine. I would definitley take my friend to traditional rich Bengali Meal at Bally 6 or Kolkata Rajbari.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My own Music Academy name is “Sayan Ghosh Academy”, Its an academy where I taech Indian Instrumental classical music. It is my organization. I want to shoutout my Academy’s name.

Website: https://www.sayanghosh.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sayanghoshsitar/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sayanghoshsitar

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SayanGhoshSitar/videos

Image Credits
Sanjay Jain