Infivictims :: Suraj Mani - MOTHERJANE

By Vineeth

MotherJane is, quite simply, one of the best rock bands in Asia. There’s no other way to put it really. Infinity Music correspondent Vineeth caught up with frontman Suraj Mani, for an exclusive interview about MotherJane, their music, and much more.

What is MotherJane currently upto?

We are working on our new album targeted for a late 2004 release. It is still untitled, has five songs lyrically complete, and 70% of the music fleshed out for three songs. The songs are “No Contest”, “Field Of Sound”, “Nietzsche’s Calling”, “Crossing”, and “The Gatekeeper and The Door”.

MotherJane was formed in 1996. Did you ever think that it would become as influential as it is today in the Indian music scene?

I am sure all of us had that kind of confidence in the band. We are happy that the Indian audience has given us this opportunity to express our creativity and do what we love. We want to say ‘thanks a lot’ to all the many friends of the band for letting us into your lives.

Please tell us about yourself as a child… what drew you to rock music? Was music prevalent in your home?

I wasn’t into music as a child. I lived with my uncle from 7 to 13 years of age and had lots of cousins. We were all boys and were always fighting or playing. I got into music only when I entered the 8th standard. I guess that’s pretty late. Started singing in engineering college when I got ragged. I don’t know what drew me to rock. Rock is the kind of music that attracts idealists and revolutionaries. I leave it to you to categorize me.

Tell us something about your life before the formation of MotherJane. About the other bands you were in, etc.

I would say that MotherJane was our first actual band in the sense that we are actually doing the things that a band should do. Everything before that does not count, at least for me.

Talk us through the following MotherJane songs…

“Mindstreet”: Mindstreet is about accessing the powers of your subconscious mind. It is a call to interest people in meditation / prayer / art / hypnosis / visualisation or whatever it is that gets them to realise their fullest potential as human beings. As the song says in the end, “feels better everytime, to know that we are all divine.”

“Disillusioned”: I subscribe a lot to the eastern philosophy of perception affecting reality. All is Maya, and all that crap. We all live in different worlds because of the way we perceive it. This song was initially about how we all had different views on how MotherJane’s music should sound. I later rewrote it to generalize how people relate to each other when they disagree.

“Questions”: A song about pain and yet a song about hope. If you have gone through a tough situation and have not been able to leave it behind, it is my opinion that you haven’t really left it in the past. It is still very much your present. That’s why, the song says, “Is time not an illusion / Why does that sound so insane? / I’ve seen my life just turn to moments / Snapshots in pain.”

“Walk On”: What’s there to say about “Walk On”... it is a super positive song that calls our attention to what we really are — free spirits roaming this earth, capable of anything, even in the face of extreme adversity. “I’m the immortal / Baptised in fire / Unable to die / Unless I desire / I’m the light piercing the darkest dawn / I’m the human spirit walking on.”

“Soul Corporations”: This song laments about how the greater meaning and purpose of religion has been ignored in the madness to exploit its money-spinning ability. Every religious corporate does it. It is a shame, because the youth is turning away from spirituality when they turn away from this despicable trend. “And of the various hues of desecration / This makes them the hardest to beat / The unsure cant endure the liberation / The pious don’t discern the need.”

“An Ode To Life”: I’m dedicating this song to my mother who I lost when I was 13. I also know that I am sharing a universal experience with millions of others whom I haven’t met. The song is intentionally structured on the lines of a haiku, though I couldn’t hold the exact structure. Doesn’t matter. What matters is that it expresses all that I wanted it to say. “Death continues to stalk us / Sometimes gently, mostly not / I’m at the age when loved ones die / And as I live I understand why.”

How different is the approach of the band while recording in the studio from performing live?

We were a live band that ran into a studio and out of it due to a lack of huge budgets. I guess the thing that comes to my mind is that there are no rooms for mistakes in a studio and no places to hide when you make one. You have to be on the top of your trade if you don’t have the luxury of unlimited studio time.

Can you share any interesting memories of touring the following places — Bangalore, Chennai, Calcutta, Delhi, Mumbai...

Let me club all these places and say that we have some great friends in all the places. No matter how different we seem in terms of culture, language, etc., if we scratch the surface all of us are very similar people.

Please tell us the difficulties you face while juggling a full time job and your musical career?

Both are very demanding professions. Right now I am in the middle of work and rushing through this interview. I am fortunate that I love my job and I love music. Both are very demanding professions. When one gets frustrating, I turn to the other. It really is a very full life and any full life is full of challenges.

What kind of vocal training have you had, if any?

Nothing. I don’t drink or smoke. I guess that helps.

Is there any decision that you have taken in your musical career that makes you look back and think, “Damn, what the hell was I thinking?”

Not really. I am where I am right now because of all the things that have happened to me. And I am quite happy with where I am.

What is your take on the following musicians / bands?

Ronnie James Dio: Phenomenal vocalist.

Rob Halford: Again another of the vocalists that I rate extremely high.

Joe Elliot: Better as a studio artist than live.

Blaze Bayley: Always suffers because of comparisons to Bruce Dickinson. Unfortunate in that sense.

Linkin Park: Not my style of music and therefore seems very repetitive to me.

Bruce Lee Mani: Nice vocalist, great guitarist and an amazing human being.

Sebastian Bach: For pure vocal prowess — wow!

W. Axl Rose: Intelligence, showmanship and talent come together. Wish they had kept on with it. GN’R had true star power / charisma or whatever you call it.

Millenium: Saw a couple of their live shows. Brilliant looking band with a brilliant vocalist and a brilliant drummer. One of the best Indian bands ever as a team. Wish they were around in this age of internet and accessability.

How beneficial has the internet been in promoting your music?

Quite. We met our manager Rahul online and he has been instrumental in promoting us. None of us are into full time browsing, blogging, etc. The difference that the net makes nowadays is invaluable. I wish you had asked Rahul this question.

What currently inspires you to write lyrics/songs?

Life. Always life.

Any final comments?

Bye for now and thanks a lot. Keep rockin’!