In conversation with Gilbert Pounia...

With a flowing mane that gives him an enigmatic halo when he performs and a comforting charisma that is becoming of a man who tells stories through his music, Gilbert Pounia can take pride in great many things.
Founder/ member of one of Reunion Island’s most popular bands, Ziskakan, the musician was in Chennai for a concert recently and he spoke to TOI about life, work and India...
“Ziskakan was the first band in Reunion Island to use Indian instruments,” starts off the front man, with a twinkle, “We play the tabla, harmonium, mridangam and many more — I respect traditional Carnatic and Hindustani music. All my influences and roots lie here.” “I try to come here at least once a year for holidays or for tours and enjoy. What I love most is to rent a car and hit the road, visiting small villages and stopping to sample delicious new flavours. Reunion Island is full of influences from India — in fact, our cook uses a lot of ingredients and recipes from here,” he smiles.
The band, whose name translates to ‘until when’, was christened Ziskakan when, during the 80s, the artists were working with other musicians, poets, writers and storytellers. “We were discussing the difficulties faced by the Reunionese society and the name Ziskakan seemed to fit our ideology. We wanted to pose the question ‘for how long will political and powerful people abuse the population?’ through our work.” Only naturally, the band’s music is a potent combination of social debate and powerful instrumentals (with African, Indian, European and Creole touches). Ask Gilbert what his inspirations are, and he explains, “I listen to different kinds of music, right from old blues and jazz to rock and world music. However, my main influence remains Jimi Hendrix!” As for how their themes have evolved, he muses, “They have changed in keeping with moving times. We are now in another society, not the same as 30 years ago when we started the band! I’ve travelled a lot, met a lot of people — I talk about all this in my songs.”

For a self-proclaimed traveller, Gilbert is a tad sad that he wasn’t able to explore Chennai. “I would’ve loved to see more of this big city. However, we’ve planned to record our next album (in 2012) in Chennai,” he pipes, “We met musicians Kartick and Gotam and would love to work with them — what they do is similar to what we do, in spirit. Their treatment of sound and their vision of music are absolutely fantastic and contemporary.”

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