The Software Sitarist – Sameep Kulkarni

Sameep Kulkarni , a young ,dedicated and budding name in the world of music, who started playing music at the tender age of 6 years and is now an established Sitarist, working as a Senior software engineer. He has these qualities of being equally good at music and academics in his genes. Sameep has done a number of concerts and shows and has been a part of a tough yet prestigious and glorious journey of 19 long years, which is on going and has to reach miles.

Orkutheroes, caught him on social networking site of Orkut. Here is an interesting conversation with this promising Sitarist:

Sameep, tell us about yourself, your childhood, and family background. How your journey started?

I am born in a musical family. All members in my family are devoted to academics and music. My father is a mathematicians and a violinist. My mother is a PhD, science teacher and a vocalist. My sister is a professional international artist – a vocalist. I have completed my engineering with distinction in instrumentation and control from V.I.T. College, Pune and now working as a Senior Software Engineer in Coreobjects software for last 5 years. (www.coreobjects.com)

How my journey in music started:

I started learning tabla at the age of 6 and one year later I heard the sitar by Ustad Vilayat Khan and fell in love with the instrument, so I told my parents that I want to learn sitar. So I started learning sitar at the age of 7 under Ustad Usman Khan in Pune. He nurtured the sitar skills in me for 13 years. Then I heard Ustad Shahid Parvez in a live concert and was attracted immensely by his style. So since then I am learning under him for last 6 years. I did my first concert at the age of 8, since then I have been doing concerts for last 18 years continuously. I also did learn tabla for 12 years in parallel with sitar, but now only concentrating on sitar and have left the tabla completely.

Along with a well known and successful Sitarist, you are also a senior software engineer. This is an unusual yet great combination. Wasn’t managing balance between these two entirely different streams difficult? What guidelines did you follow and managed to achieve victory in both these fields?

Yes, managing the balance between these two streams is extremely difficult. I do have to sacrifice many things to achieve my goal in life. I work in my office for the whole day in embedded software applications and then I go home and practice sitar from 9 pm to 2 am daily J and I do concerts on weekends when I have holiday from my office.

I have performed in more than 500 concerts up till now. I don’t get time for outing, seeing movies, attending family functions etc. much but I utilize the time I get in best possible way. I do devote the whole time in my life either for software field or sitar.

That’s why I have been called as “The Software Sitarist”, “The Corporate Artist” and “The Mathematical Musician” I manage this Herculean task by being very punctual and by completing everything with sincerity, concentration and devotion.

Is music simply a hobby for you, which you do in spare time for self satisfaction or it’s the central area of work in your life? Is it a passion for you?

Music is a passion for me. I don’t consider it as a profession or a hobby. It’s a life for me. Whatever time I get, I devote it to music. I get immense satisfaction in doing live concerts everywhere, meeting and working with different musicians and artists.

When did you realized, that fame is coming your way and did it affected you in any way? According to you, does it change the entire personality or only one’s living style?

Actually even though it feels nice to get the fame, it’s never the goal for me. My aim has always been to perform in the live concerts and spread the awareness of music in the world and also to enrich the lives of people with the music, the best gift to the mankind.

But to be honest, fame doesn’t change a bit of a person in me. I am always a simple guy next door living normal and simple lifestyle. I always believe in being a humble person.

Did this journey of reaching people through your music, give you tough times? If yes, what were they and how did you managed to come out of it?

Yes, always there have been tough times I have experienced in my musical career. The lives of musicians are always full of surprises and contain the maximum ups and downs. The artists always experience the maximum sorrow and maximum happiness in life. The life of artists is never very straight and smooth J I did overcome the tough times in my career by being mentally tough, being more patient and with immense hard work…

Since you started, till this date, what was your best moment, or the most memorable event, that you will like to cherish throughout your life and why?

I have performed in numerous concerts till now. But last year my concert was been organized in Ahmednagar, a city in Maharashtra. I knew previously that concert is going to be huge but when I reached the venue and went on the stage, I could see total 50,000 people were in the audience. The concert was organized on a sports ground with people sitting on the ground and in the stands and some people on trees to get to see the concert. This was the biggest concert I ever did. All people were clapping, whistling and encouraging me for the concert.

You can see the live video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6Nrru2e6Yk

I can never forget that moment in my life. Life is not about how many breaths you take but it’s all about how moments take your breath away. That was the most memorable concert.

Also, I performed in a Cancer hospital where all the people in the audience were the last stage cancer patients. They were lying on the cots and some were really critically ill, but they were enjoying the concert. I was touched to know that not a single person in the audience will be alive for my next concert there. It was very touchy and memorable experience for me.

What is your ultimate aim or goal for life?

To be a topmost and very successful ‘Software Sitarist’ / ‘Corporate Artist’ / ‘Mathematical Musician’ in the world.

In today’s time, when the face of music has changed and is eventually changing more, how do you feel about this change? Where do you see it going in the coming time?

Yes, a lotttttt of changes are happening in music now a day. It’s the era of the globalization. Different cultures are coming closer and closer and due to that different types of music are getting closer and closer. Each genre of the music in the world has the effect of the other genre of the music. Like, classical has effect of fusion music, pop music has effect of rock, fusion music has effect of pop and the cycle is continuing People are getting exposed to *all* genres of music and people are seeming to enjoy all kinds of music.

I feel that there will be a time in future that it will be a mix of genres of music. There won’t be boundaries of any genre. I mean any kind of music will be mix of all genres.

I would say to it as “GLOBALIZATION IN THE MUSIC”

Do you think, the struggling musicians, who want to become famous, earn and do something great in the field can have a real bright future? What message or tips will you like to give them?

The struggling musicians who do a lot hard work, who undergo pain but still continue their goals with the same enthusiasm and who have great patience can really have the bright future. I would like to give them the message that, ‘keep on working hard with the constant enthusiasm and high amount of patience’.

What has been the driving force and true motivation for you through out?

To be honest my driving force is the goal set by myself to achieve my dreams. Unless you set the goal and see the dreams to achieve it and work hard for it, nothing can happen!!!

Is there someone you look up to, as your role model?

Yes, The world renowned international musician and my guru Ustad Shahid Parvez

If given a chance to change any three things in the present world of music, what will you like to change?

I would like to see a dedicated 24 hours TV channel for Indian Classical Music.

I would like to see Indian government taking the steps to compulsorily have the subject of Indian music in the schools.

I would like Indian government to take special steps to help the young musicians by arranging more number of Youth festivals of Indian Classical Music to make sure that Indian culture is been transferred to the next generation

In a thanks giving ceremony, who all will get a place in your list, if any?

My parents, my gurus Ustad Shahid Parvez and Ustad Usman Khan and my sister.

Well Sameep, thank you so much for this wonderful interview and allow me to say that along with being a star in music world you are such a kind and humble human being which showed up during the entire procedure, when OrkutHeroes contacted you and you responded so warmly always with a gentle smile.

True, Fame hasn’t changed even a bit of person in him. We wish all the best for your future endeavors Sameep!

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