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Far in the middle of the Indian Ocean and only 4 degrees from the equator amongst 115 tropical islands of the Seychelles is where my musical journey found its roots amongst the company of elders skilled in various musical practices. Music wasn't just a pastime; it was an influential entity, a way of life and a cornerstone of Seychellois heritage. From the disciplined practices of learning an instrument to the cultural practices that wove through our daily life. "In many societies music is not an independent art form to be enjoyed for its own sake, but is an integral part of the culture" (Hargreaves & North, 997,p. 123).

 

To my family music was more than notes and melodies; it was the heartbeat of our lifestyle.

In the midst of this symphony, I too became a musician in the grand scheme of musicians in the family. From my father, a master of wind instruments; to my uncle, a well-known Seychellois bass player; my mother and several family friends also would each lend their harmonic voices to the melodic compositions created from random jam sessions. i recall these spontaneous sessions forming where my dad would be improvising a melody and each in turn would accompany the created jam. As a fortunate observer, I absorbed these melodic nuances while going about my daily chores and would begin delving more into the various realms of musical creativity.

During these early stages of my journey, my musical understanding and skills were confined to my great technical skills and mimicry. what ever i heard or saw i was able to play by determination and repetition. Naively, I believed I knew it all just from the little skills i had possessed to impress the few. However, the true depth and impact of music revealed itself over the passage of time. only from the accumulation of knowledge and the experiences that life generously offered that I came to realise that the more I thought I'd learned, the more there was to discover.

Life's diverse experiences ranging from the sting of a first school love breakup to the exhilaration of moments eternally cherished had a profound influence on my emotions and consequently my relationship with music. These shifts prompted a deeper connection with my performance influencing how I played instruments, infusing more expression and conscious thought into my musical endeavours.

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Era of Freedom fighters and music's influence

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My father was a powerful voice during the time of growing up in Seychelles and the country was in political unrest with many social changes, this played a pivotal role in shaping my early understanding of the influential force that music could be. Despite my young age, I vividly recall the atmosphere of political rallies and social events that filled our island home. I had learnt music was the driving force behind societal empowerment during these turbulent times.

My father had became a threat to the existing order at that time which he has now been pardoned for but as a result at that time he was wrongfully exiled to the UK, marking a profound turning point in our lives. I vividly remember moments of reflection that my father and his group of friends would have. The mood of the music and the situations of the time would merge well. 

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This sudden shift brought me to London, a city teaming with diversity and starkly different from the landscapes of Seychelles. Here societal unrest also manifested itself but yet once again, music emerged as the unifying force in the midst of chaos joining many voices of many colour and race into one,  echoing the rhythm of societal change and progression. i had also began to find myself collaborating with other musicians and audiophiles sharing the same music taste and interests which had helped me settle well and make new friends in my new life in London.

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"Music relates to social identity, as Larson (1995, p. 548) suggests, 'music provides the security of identification with other like-minded peers. The teenager who deeply identifies with Guns-N-Roses gains the solidarity of being soul mates with millions of other. Identification with M. C. Hammer connects you to a different group of peers' (Hargreaves & North, 1997, p. 73)."

 

In this new and diverse world, my musical influences expanded beyond Seychellois heritage, blending with the eclectic sounds of London's streets also with the coming of the internet age. This was also  when TV and radio was at its peak and popular music charts such as Top of the Pops, MTV, VHS1 and The Box music channels were bringing a wide range of new music and cultures to the world. My interests in music had also shifted to learning many new genres and styles of performing on an instrument. More importantly, as I matured in life, my music style evolved, mirroring the dynamic changes around me. After settling in the UK, my life took unexpected turns. I found myself excelling in multiple roles serving as a master technician for Honda UK, a Lead Roadside Patrol in the AA, Carrying out freelance work for famous footballers and lastly Head Technician and a Lecturer in Motor vehicles and Engineering at Ealing, Hammersmith, and West London College. Despite my success in these diverse fields, they were pursued out of necessity due to poverty following the passing of my mother.

Amidst the hustle of daily life, music remained my constant companion. I was still progressing in music ensuring i learnt as much possible with any free time i would have. At this stage i had transferred onto working within DAW's (digital audio workstations) and familiarised myself working with MIDI Language, controllers and the many skills associated with music technology.

The transition into this new domain was challenging and my time to study its functions was limited.

 

In my early 20's The pace of life in London took its toll and I had felt a growing disconnection from the lifestyle and music that once defined my existence.

it came to a point i had felt i was in a vicious circle as music was not a part of my life as it once was..

Its absence became a poignant reminder of my unfulfilled passion. The change from the unhurried pace and life of Seychelles to the fast paced life here in the city impacted me deeply, prompting me to make a life changing decision by placing everything on pause. The call to pursue my true passion and career calling in the music industry became irresistible.

A bonus to add to my journey in making my work life music based was that i had great transferrable skills to add and combine. Having Been a master technician fully trained from Honda meant my electrical principles, theoretical and practical knowledge on electronics was at a high level and knowledge such as coding and scripting was usable and transferrable in to the music industry. This pivotal moment marked the resurgence of my dedication to music. I embarked on a journey to revive what i believed was the essence of my existence. although challenging to begin with, i managed to find my feet and established myself as a freelance engineer/producer with a unique rare set of skills not commonly found. I have also managed to make great connections with audio companies and influential individuals in specific fields of the music industry. Helping me shape my future with invaluable information on the industry. 

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I now find myself on the road of progression from completing a Diploma course for music production this year and currently enrolled on a Diploma of higher education course. 

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One thing life has taught me is that it can be scary when we do not know what lies ahead so we usually stay in our comfort zone. But we only live once and at times we will never know what lies over the horizon unless we gain the courage to leave our comfort zone in pursuit of making our dreams and ambitions a reality. By reflecting back on my life journey, where I was to where i am today music has consistently been my compass and as I look ahead i am filled with a sense of anticipation and belief that I am destined to contribute great things within the music industry. So, I invite you to watch this space!!!