'I love the struggle of being a musician'

Bruthuva Bhushan Caleb, a pianist, believes that music is a gift, a gift that chooses you. This, for him, swung the balance towards music when he was baffled with career options after he completed BCom five years ago, when many of his friends were all set to foray into the corporate world.

Bruthuva, the son of bass guitarist Caleb Alexander, trained in Carnatic music for 10 years after which he switched to learning the piano. Now, apart from arranging music for other programmes, he runs a professional choir and is part of the band ‘Vivek Santhosh Trio’.

He talks about his musical journey and what it’s like to grow up with a musician father in a chat with Chetana Divya Vasudev.

How did your musical journey begin?
When I was in UKG, my sister and I started learning Carnatic music, which we continued for 10 years. We’ve also completed our junior exam. When my sister was in class 10, she dropped out because she had to focus on studies and I didn’t want to continue on my own, so I stopped learning too. But it has helped lay the foundation for my musical journey.

So how did you pick up the piano?
I started learning to play the piano a year later, when I was in class 9. I wanted to play the bass as well, since my father is a bass guitarist, but I pursued the piano on his advice. However, I play bass for the experimental jazz band ‘Vivek Santhosh Trio’.

What sort of music does the band play?
The band plays Vivek Santhosh’s compositions. He’s also a trained Carnatic vocalist and plays the piano. We met four years ago and I felt I had a lot to learn from working with him. We formed the band — with drummer Rijin Dharman — three years ago.

Tell us a bit about ‘Klezmers’...
The five-year-old choir started off in a church but soon expanded to becoming a professional choir. We do the voices — soprano, alto, tenor and bass — with the Gospel. We also do other projects and under the name ‘Bruthuva and Group’. We’ve sung chorus for four songs for the Kannada film ‘RangiTaranga’.

How is it having a musician for a father?
My father has been in this field for about 38 years and played with many well-known names. Currently, he’s touring with S P Balasubrahmanyam. He started out as a rhythm guitarist and later went on to adapt to the bass. So, as his son, I’m under quite a bit of pressure because I have his reputation to consider. I can’t mess up. This has helped me focus and go well-prepared for all performances or recordings. Also, it’s nice that whenever we listen to anything new or creative, we come and share it with one another.

What is music to you?
Music, I believe, is a gift. You don’t choose it; it chooses you. I’m not saying it has chosen me, but I have been trying to prove that it has.

Your inspirations...
The musical journeys of greats like Ranjit Barot and Ilayaraja inspire me. Likewise, the journey of any artist, for that matter, who has persevered against several odds. For me, I love the struggle being a musician, of trying to achieve something. It makes the whole experience worthwhile. When my father could come up and raise a family back then when the world was far less communication, I believe I can too in these times.

Do you play any other instruments, beside the piano and bass?
I want to keep learning. I’ve been learning to play the mridangam for a year now and jazz piano for six months.

A quick look

Bruthuva Bhushan Caleb, a city-based pianist, started leaning Carnatic music as a child. He pursued this for 10 years after which, following a year’s break, trained in playing piano. His father Caleb Alexander being a well-known bassist, he also picked up the instrument. He is a BCom graduate and has completed post grade 8 from the Trinity College of Music, London. He was part of the chorus group for four songs of the Kannada film ‘RangiTaranga’.