Remo Fernandez
July 22nd, 2007 by sparky
Something of a Goan institution, Remo Fernandez will be appearing at Eastnor this year, as a special guest of Chilled By Nature, following his appearance in Goa. He’ll also be appearing with Coldcut on Sunday night, for their Return To Goa set on The Sanctuary Stage.
Here he tales time to answer a few questions from Pete Lawrence…
You were born and bred in Goa. How were you initiated into music and what were your earliest influences?
I grew up with music all around me; at parties, at weddings, at funerals. My grandfather was a very strict doctor who did not allow my dad to be a musician, as it could ‘lead to alcoholism and penury’. When my dad saw his musical streak in me, he gave me all the encouragement he could think of. The earliest music I remember listening to and playing is Portuguese, Brazilian and Latin in general.
Western influences are very strong in your music. What artists or works made an early impression on you?
I guess that’s cause I’m from Goa, which is the state with the most western [read Latin] influence in India. After the Portuguese left Goa, we were slowly exposed to music in English – American and British. And no one influenced me as much as The Beatles did, I guess. The number of earth-moving personalities who keep steadily emerging out of this foggy little island called England, for which I have the greatest respect, is simply mind-boggling, the latest being J. K. Rowling!
Lonely Planet has a half page on you. What led to you becoming such an institution in Goa?
I’m sure my deep humility will floor you when I say that I’m an institution of sorts not only in Goa, but in India. I guess it happened because my songs dealt with governmental corruption, religious communalism, women’s exploitation, and other burning issues highly relevant to India, which voiced what people felt but didn’t quite dare speak out; because I endorsed Pepsi and Shure microphones, represented India at music festivals from Tokyo to Dresden, won gold and platinum discs for my albums; played with people like Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin and Queen; and because earlier this year the President of India conferred the Padmashri on me – which is the equivalent of being knighted in England, I believe. I guess these things help.
A lot of people see the word trance as synonymous with Goa, which may also have put a lot of people off visiting. What is the true sound of Goa for you?
Goan music. In our language, called Konkani. It is a beautiful mixture of Indian and Portuguese. Some of it has the pathos of the ‘fado’, but faster ‘dulpods’ have a joie de vivre, an energy which can only come from living in a warm, sunny pace under coconut trees by the beach.
How has the trance scene affected things in Goa?
Trance has not touched Goa or Goan music per se – ‘Goa Trance’ is music cerated by Europeans, heard in clubs and parties frequented by Europeans on the coastal, tourist belt which is a curious overlaid layer with its own reality, another world within Goa’s world. And Goa, with its age-old reputation for accepting all things and all people, with its philosophy of live and let live, has played host to ‘strange’ [to Goans] music brought here by young Europeans, right from the hippie/psychedelic live music of the late sixties to the high-tech electronica of today. And Goans have watched with a bemused and welcoming smile, thinking “Well, we certainly hope they enjoy their music as much as we enjoy ours!”.
Tell us about your recent projects…
Although most of my music is high energy Indian folk fused with Latin/reggae/rock, the album closest to my heart is “India Beyond”. It is very chilled out, but I recorded it before I ever heard the term ‘chill-out’; it was rather inspired by the contemplative styles of Vangelis, Karl Jenkins, and so on. Unfortunately, record companies in India have not accepted that kind of music from me; however, one track from it has been signed on to Buddha Bar [George V Records], and another has been released in the Opium compilation in the USA.
What did you think of The Big Chill in Goa?
It was the best organized, highest quality festival of its kind that Goa – and perhaps India – has ever seen. I was proud to perform there, not least because of the festival motto “leave not trace”. This ecological consciousness is just what Goa [and the whole world] needs very badly, today more than ever.
Have you played in the UK much before? Are you looking forward to your trip?
A couple of times, once at a ‘Save The Children’ event in a castle, where Princess Diana was patron and people all arrived in their lovely Rolls Royce with gloved chauffeurs; and once at an Indian fashion show in a 5-star hotel in London, where the audience glittered and shone more than the models themselves. I’m looking forward to this trip very eagerly indeed.
