We were lucky to catch up with Gourisankar recently and have shared our conversation below.
Gourisankar, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I have been a full time musician for almost 30 years now and depend on it full time as well. I started with playing concerts all around the world- USA, Europe, India etc. I established my name in the percussion industry, Finally I started teaching and established my school in 2008. It has been a long road, with lots of ups and downs. I am from a small town in India and started from scratch. It has been a long journey since then. Moving all around the world, interacting with people from different backgrounds, cultures was exciting but also challenging at times. But music is a universal language and that connected me with everyone. If I recall milestones in my career, playing/performing with big stalwart musicians like Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pandit Yasraj, Steve Smith, Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji are some of them. What I definitely wish existed in the 80s and 90s is social media. For performers like us, social media really helps us reach a lot of people who can listen to us,
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
I come from a family of musicians where my grandfather was a singer and my father was a tabla player (percussionist). So I was born to do something with music. I started learning tabla (Indian drums) from my father at the tender age of three and haven’t stopped learning yet. I pursued the art and technique of tabla seriously and soon developed superb control over the instrument. Since 1979, I have been under the tutelage of the Tabla Maestro Pandit Sankha Chatterjee, who is the only living Maestro who has studied with three legendary tabla Maestros in strict Parampara tradition. These legendary Masters are: Ustad Maseet Khan, Ustad Keramatullah Khan, and Ustad Allarakha Khan. My playing styles reflect a unique combination of the Farukhabad, Punjab and Delhi schools of tabla playing.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Society needs to help artists of all kids in the best way they can because the world would be so boring without their creativity.
: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
For me, my music does not have any end. Its a true journey. I believe practice is the only way. There are no shortcuts. Hardwork is the key.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gourisankar.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gourisankarkarmakar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gourisankar.karmakar
- Youtube: Pandit Gourisankar
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6K24V4ZEdo6nLovjpLJV3x