Robert Miles: I love Indian classical

Electronic composer and producer Robert Miles was recently in India to promote a line of high definition gaming consoles. A self confessed fan of India and its traditional music Robert is currently working on his next album.

Gaming and music. How do the two fit in?

I think gaming has a lot of scope for music. You can mix a variety of instruments to incorporate new sounds in games. I did some compositions for a few video games when I was in LA. In fact Playstation and some other developers have used a lot of my recorded music.

Are you an avid gamer yourself?

I do play games. But most of the time I am in front of the computer making music. So when I get free time I prefer being with my girlfriend.

Apart from games what other projects are you currently working on?

I am not doing any more games as of now. All my energies are dedicated to my new album. It will be a sort of electronic meets alternative rock with a couple of hard-core dance tracks. Artistes like Robert Rich will feature in it and we are recording it as we speak.

Have you thought of any name?

Not yet. But I am also very excited about the independent movie I am working on.

And what kind of a project is that?

We start work early next year. It's a very big film produced by the Times in USA. The plot is about all the major events that have happened in the last century. So I have a chance to work on a large scale with different sounds. I can’t reveal anything more about it at the moment.

Now is this your first visit to India.

No actually I have been here some 10 or 11 times. I love it here and have been all over the place. It’s a huge country and in each part you can discover something new.

How about Indian music? Have you been exposed to it?

Yes. Over the past couple of years I have been working on instruments such as sitar and sarangi. Don't know what draws me here. It's just amazing how these instruments can pack in so much emotion. At the same time Indian music blends very well even with digital sounds. I am comfortable working with Indian musicians and find myself doing more projects with them.

But I must confess I am not very familiar with your mainstream music.

Are you in touch with any artistes here?

I know Trilok (Robert's last album was with Triok Gurtu) and Zakir Hussain. Even the guy who plays the sitar is very good. Just can't recollect his name right now.

Are you looking at any mainstream work. Bollywood music has the biggest draw here.

Through some friends in London I have been watching many Bollywood movies. But I am not tuned in on with what's on the charts right now.

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