Lou Majaw is a very simple man. You can talk or meet him anytime and anywhere you want. He is completely made up of music, and music is everything for him.

I started my career in music in the mid 1960s. During my initial days I had to struggle a lot, and throughout my life I worked hard to be what I wanted to be. Nothing in this life is easy and one should be strong enough to achieve what they aim for. A very small number of people can achieve what they have aimed for. My philosophy is that you should do everything and should not leave any stone unturned to achieve that goal.

 

I heard his first song in 1966, the ‘Blowing in the Wind’, which did some magic and I became a Dylan disciple. On 24 May 1972 Eddie Rynjah and I inaugurated an evening of Dylan’s music in Shillong. After that it has become an annual event for the state. Nowadays we get sponsorship to celebrate his birthday. It’s great!

 

Yes, I performed with HFT at Haze Blues Fest 2006 in May. I really enjoyed the event, and it was mainly because HFT plays their original music. They do not try to copy others or play covers.

Yes, I am a member of both the bands. I play with many rock artists, as it gives me a chance to perform with a large variety of talents. Music is the reason why I am alive. I may not be related to rock, but at least I am related to music. It is because of the charm and warmth of music that I am into this industry and that I am alive.

 

I am not a businessman and The Great Society is also not meant to be a business thing. I play music because it is my love, soul and the reason why I am here speaking with you.

 

No, it is not that I am not playing any original music. It only depends upon the occasion and the event I am playing at. I do play my originals when the situation demands so. There are two demo albums released by the band in 1988, namely Breakthrough and E.Y.O.U.

 

The band could not become famous as a commercial rock band because at the time of its formation there was no source that could help us to prosper as a band. I did not have an expertise in the field of music; there was a lack of technicality in the rock industry; there was a lack of technical knowledge among us; there was a lack of musicianship; and most importantly there was a lack of finance.

 

Yes, there is a difference in the audiences as we move from places to places. You will always find a difference in the audience, because they are adjusted to the music they have been listening through the years.

 

Indian rock is the type of music played in India and by the Indian musicians. The place where the music is performed plays a big role in formulating a type of music. According to me, Indian rock involves hard rock, jazz, funk and death metal being played along with Indian instruments, like tabla and flute. I cannot play any Indian musical instrument, as it needs different type of feelings and techniques. Indian rock is trendy and fashionable.

 

Rock is sub-categorised into psychedelic, jazz, punk, rock n roll, heavy metal, alternative, blues, etc. Yes, there are different types of guitars involved in this type of music, but the most important thing that marks a distinction between rock and other types of music is the energy. You can play rock on piano or violin if you have the energy and that restlessness in you. Rock requires a sort of extraordinary energy, two or three guitars, drums and keyboards.

All types of energy are channelled through music. There has to be a reason to do whatever a person wants to do. If someone is playing music then there is definitely a reason behind that.

The band started breaking in 1980s when Arjun Sen, vocalist and guitarist of the band, moved to Delhi. All this while I was writing new songs and am currently working on a solo album. I teach Dylan’s music in the public schools in Shillong.

 

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