Leslie Lewis going solo

Performing as an individual can be a great musical adventure. In the West, we have seen that happen often, the latest case being that of Slash of Velvet Revolver (formerly of Guns and Roses and Snakepit), who is coming out with a solo album very soon.
Almost every major musician has been on solo trips, right from the late John Lennon to Sting and the evergreen Eric Clapton.
Indian musicians venture towards solo forays. Musician Leslie Lewis has seen both sides, having been a guitarist for a band and a solo musician as well. And, he feels that going solo is simply a matter of musical evolution. “I was part of a band called Blue Diamond Orchestra in my youth.
As I grew as a musician, I got stuck when I was in a band. I found that I worked better as an individual.” A musician and producer, Lewis has worked with a number of artistes including KK, Asha Bhosle, Band of Boys and Suneeta Rao, to name a few.
“I’m a creator before a performer. It feels great to have the freedom where you can guide the direction in which the project is headed.” Lesle, who now works with singer Hariharan as Colonial Cousins, adds that it is only when artistes can understand and celebrate each other’s musical qualities can a group be successful.
Musician Gary Lawyer says the amount of freedom that one receives as a solo musician is immense. “You’re not really restricted by the repertoire of a band. When you perform as a solo musician, you get to establish an identity that the audience can connect with.” Lawyer says his solo shows have strengthened him as a performer. “I really get to expand my horizon in terms of performances. With more and more shows coming up, my repertoire of music and command of the show has increased tremendously.”
When it comes to saying goodbyes, it is all about understanding and keeping the music alive and going. Koko, guitarist of Hindi rock band Agnee shares his experiences. “The guitarist of my current group, Arijit, went solo as his thought process towards music was different. As English rock band Agni, we were together for 12 years. After which, we decided to retire the band. We still keep in touch and we are good friends.”
To hear that a musician is going solo may not be surprising these days. For the musicians, it is all about making great music.
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