20 Jan GMI Students Speak: Anmol Talwar
The student community at GMI cuts across age groups, musical backgrounds, and interests. The Student Speak Series aims to give a platform to their voices and stories, share what drew them to GMI, how they see their artistry maturing, and their path forward.
Anmol Talwar // Voice
Delhi // India
An aspiring performer and composer, Anmol’s initiation to music education began in his early childhood through the tabla. Shaped heavily by his mother’s love of old Bollywood classics by legends such as Mohammad Rafi, his budding love for music grew over the years as the scope of his music education broadened to include Hindustani vocal music through his school music program, and Western classical music at the Neemrana Music Foundation. A dedicated student from early on, in the course of our conversation Anmol recalled spending an entire year in grade seven studying, and practising the popular Sufi song ‘Gama Wala Charkha’. After having spent his college years heavily involved in the Delhi music circuit, Anmol decided to embark on the pursuit of further music education, bringing him to GMI in November, 2021 to study in the Artist Diploma program. Read on to learn more about Anmol’s journey.
When did you become interested in music?
When I was about 7-8 years old, my mother used to make me and my siblings learn bhajans and participate in bhajan singing competitions. Then, when I was in 3rd standard, she made me join Tabla classes because she thought I had a sense of rhythm. And then, when I got into 6th standard I started singing in my school. all of these things contributed to developing my interest in music.
What drew you to study at GMI?
Ever since I got to know about Berklee College of Music because of the Berklee-Indian Ensemble, I’ve dreamt of going there to study. I learned about Berklee by watching their performances in collaboration with A.R. Rahman, on YouTube. I came to know about GMI when I was researching about Berklee and got to know all about their amazing facilities and faculty and that they are a Berklee Global Partner, which drew me to study here.
A memorable experience at GMI:
It has not been long since I have joined GMI but I feel like I have already gained multiple memorable experiences here. The top one would be our first ensemble session. My ensemble is led by Anirudh Verma, and in the first session we picked up the chords of ‘Blue Bossa’ and started improvising on it. I remember just being mesmerised the whole time listening to all of the members doing their thing with so much soul.
How have you managed to stay creative during the pandemic?
Honestly, it’s been really tough for me to stay creative and motivated during the pandemic but exploring and listening to so many beautiful artists, and the thought of getting better at my art has helped me a lot.
A fun fact about yourself:
I love puns so much that sometimes you might think that I’m still in my Bach-pun
Your favourite food:
Chole Bhature and Lassi
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be?
Professional boxer, or working in my father’s company
An artist that currently inspires you:
Mel Torme
A track that currently inspires you:
Mist of Capricorn by Agam
Your musical idol:
John Mayer
Your dream collaboration:
Kaavish and Jacob Collier
How do you spend your free time?
Watching good TV series, listening to songs and thinking about food.
A quote that keeps you going / inspires you:
It’s all practice and practice and practice and practice and practice. – Jasmin Martorell
An instrument you wish you could play / want to learn:
Bass and drums
—
No Comments