I have been playing on junk: Ben Walsh

Famous for his 90s’ act ‘The Bird’ that focused on live sounds of drums and bass, Australian percussionist and performer Ben Walsh is here in India. Known for his restless, curious and self-evolving approach towards music, he is visiting the country with fresh concepts and promising collaborations. He speaks to us about his live solo set called ‘Remix Experiment’ that incorporates modern technology, and the musician’s deep inspiration — jazz, and more.

‘Remix Experiment’ is a multimedia wall of sound and vision with infusion of amazing modern technology, explains Ben, adding, “It’s a live experiment of new technologies created and manipulated by me, and many of my different influences and musical styles remixed together in a very ‘dance floor-friendly’ art performance.”

This high-energy musician, who is popular for his frantic drumming style, started creating music at a young age. “I started playing drums on the kitchen utensils at my home when I was just two years old. I am not sure what fascinated me but I have been lucky to have great parents and patient neighbours who allowed me to practice, which eventually shaped up my future and what I do,” the musician recalls.

Ben uses turntables and vocals to trigger and manipulate various instruments, keeping tempo as his primary focus to make/spin music. In the recent past, the musician has also been using his new invention the ‘Gravity Scratch,’ a unique device that allows him to scratch as fast as he can drum with incredible sensitivity, and video mixing to create an abstract visual narrative for his performances.

Talking about his style, Ben says, “I grew up listening to jazz, hip-hop, electronic sampling, synths, funk fusion... so I put it all together (in my music), and as technology moves faster than our brains can comprehend, I like to make a unique platform for myself so I can have the ultimate creative freedom. ‘Remix experiment’ defines a unique genre as it is an expression of human-technology integration.”

The artist is also an inventor. Besides the ‘Gravity Scratch’, he has also created an instrument called ‘Drum of Wheels’ that feature eight drums on a giant wheel using scarp materials. “I love recycling items and making legitimate objects out of discarded commodities, and I believe it is a necessary endeavour in today’s world. But on a personal level, I have been playing on junk from an early age in search of new sounds, as I was always short on money.”

Ben’s quest to understand different instruments and cultural aspects takes him to different part of the world collaborating with folk artists. On his seventh visit to the country, Walsh shares that his main aim would be to hear folk and classical music, and also to perform. During his current visit to the country, he will be collaborating with a group of folk musicians at the Rajasthan International Folk Festival 2016, Jodhpur. “I think, it will be a unique experience, as I will be collaborating with traditionally and culturally rich artists. And I am honoured for the fact that they are accepting me for who I am and are taking me for my musical worth without judging me. Music is all about humans from different corners of the world standing together and making music, and respecting one another,” Ben explains.

Quizzed about his future collaborations with Indian artists, the music reveals, “I have been trying to find time and money to continue my musical friendship with two of my favourite people in the world — Shubha Mudgal and Aneesh Pradhan. We have collaborated and played at several places but have never got enough chances in the recent past, as we are all busy. But I definitely will be aiming to bring our worlds together again, soon. They are an inspiration.”