He has sold millions of records, toured the world many times, inspired generations of musicians, but Latin guitar legend Carlos Santana doesn’t seem to be slowing down. As he enthralls his fans in Bangalore (26 October) and Noida’s F1 circuit (28 October), he pauses for a quick tete-a-tete with Radioandmusic.com (RnM) to talk about music, his album and India.
Excerpts:
How has your music evolved over the years- in terms of creativity and technical aspects?
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It is the purity of innocence, the complexity of simplicity. It is important to remember that everything needs to be treated in a fresh manner. There has to be a virgin energy, which is what makes everything fresh. I stay a virgin through it all.
What is your opinion of the current state of the music industry where making singles and getting them out via the internet seems to be a better option than making albums?
The young generation today-invest more emotions in material things. It is important to be present with love and caring. Somehow I am 65, and it is not impossible to create music with Lady Gaga, or Adele, or any contemporary artiste as long as it is the right song. My mother taught me conviction- I still see my parents guiding me- be consistent/ punctual, and play with all my heart.
Can you tell us a little about your new album ‘Shape Shifter’?
‘Shape Shifter’ is primarily an instrumental album. It’s all very natural to me. I create music for people and I create music for me. This album was something I just wanted to share with people across the world.
Apart from the fact that you will be playing to your fans, what attracts to you India?
It is all about the mechanics of aspiration. The West desires while India aspires. Aspiration is when you want attraction; I have learnt this philosophy from India. This is something we greatly need in the West.
I love Indian food for its spices. I like hot music and hot food. This is officially my first visit. From 1972 to 1981 I had a spiritual guru, as well. I like to see temples and I like to see textures. I am open to everything. It does not necessarily need to be temple; it doesn’t have to be rich or lavish. It can be simple and modest but really powerful. Stay in your heart and travel in the light.
Did you know that India has a strong and sizable fan base for International rock music? What can they expect from your show- both at the F1 circuit and at Bangalore?
I am hungry for colours and sounds. My show will surely not be boring or traditional. It is a 2 and a half hour presentation which will take you through a large collection of music.
Some facts & trivia on Carlos Santana:
• Santana has sold more than 100 million records and reached more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide. To date, Santana has won 10 Grammy Awards, including a record ? tying nine for a single project, 1999’s ‘Supernatural’ (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for ‘Smooth’). In 1998, the group was ushered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
• In the 2005 album All That I Am, Santana paid tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on the song Trinity, an instrumental version of Nusrat’s ‘Tere bin nahin lagda dil mera dholna’. He was joined by Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett and pedal steel whiz Robert Randolph. Strangely many people on the Net accused Santana of lifting the song, when he has actually given songwriting credit to Nusrat.
• In the 2002 album Shaman, Santana did a cover of the song Adouma by African singer Angelique Kidjo. Some years later, Kidjo reciprocated the gesture by doing a vocal version of Santana’s instrumental Samba Pa Ti. Interestingly, Adouma was once copied by Shiamak Davar to create the song Mohabbat Kar Le. Obviously Kidjo never did anything similar in return.
• The hit song Smooth featured Santana and Rob Thomas of the band Matchbox 20. Interestingly, the first draft was written by songwriter Itaal Shur who took it to Rob for use with the band. Rob further worked on it and took it as a demo to Santana who was thinking of doing an album featuring guest artistes. Smooth thus became the obvious lead single for the album Supernatural, with Rob singing and getting joint writing credits with Itaal.
• He has also been cited by Rolling Stone as Number 20 on the magazine’s list of the ‘100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time’—“Santana’s crystalline tone and clean arcing sustain make him the rare instrumentalist who can be identified in just one note.”
• Santana’s latest album, ‘Shape Shifter’ (2012) is the first for his new label, Starfaith Records. The eagerly awaited 13 song set is an instrumental with only one song featuring vocals by Santana’s lead vocalists Andy Vargas and Tony Lindsay.
