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Name – Jaipal Singh Channa Twitter: @jaipalchanna |
Bio - Jaipal Channa is a freelance composer and musician from London, UK. He studied Music at the University of Southampton achieving a BA in Music and a Masters with Distinction. Here he focused heavily on composition and has gone on to write music for West End theatre, films, games and audiobooks.
Jaipal Channa recently spoke to SikhNet. We bring you excerpts from the conversation.
What is your relationship with music?
Growing up in my family, no one was a musician by trade or hobby – in fact I was the first. Melody has always been the most pleasing aspect of music for me and looking back, I realise how often it was present in our house. Between popular music and shabad, bollywood and Disney, there were always catchy refrains in the air. My father used to sing to me all the time, and my grandfather sat and listened to his old tapes for hours a day.
When I was about seven years old I got the opportunity to play the trumpet at school. For reasons still unknown to me my parents allowed me to continue and began paying (a lot of money) for my lessons, and this was my first real interaction with an instrument. What I immediately found most fascinating was the act of breathing into my instrument - it became an act of creation. Very early on I realised this and put that ethic into my music.
At high school I had the fortune of extremely inspirational music teachers. It’s amazing how much passion somebody can instill in you if they themselves share it. I was exposed to the nuances of jazz and blues, the genius of classical and the satisfaction of being with like-minded people. My friends and I would spend every spare moment in the music department while other kids were outside playing football. Growing as a musician I realized how much satisfaction I got from composing; An artist has a blank page as a canvas whereas the composer has silence, and every tonal colour in the world at their disposal – and that thought is intoxicating. At 17 I had been pouring my hours into writing a string quartet which was also the first time I had gotten other musicians to play my work, after that experience I knew what I wanted to be.
Who are your heroes/what inspired you?
One of my biggest musical heroes is Louis Armstrong. He put joy and happiness into every thing he touched and you can hear it in his music – I try to replicate that in what I do every day.
Aside from him, the biggest musical inspirations in my life were definitely achieved through experiencing video games and films. I fell in love with the iconic music and the worlds and universes that went with them – in particular Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda. It’s nice to be able to get lost, and having one of those stellar soundtracks just aides in the transition away from reality.
What are your favorite hobbies?
One of my favorite things to do is cook. When music is your job, having a hobby that doesn’t involve it can be relieving. For me, cooking is a therapeutic and ritualistic way to relax. Oddly, when composing I like visualizing my music in terms of flavour, the process can be very similar to making a meal. It’s all about the balance and texture of your ingredients.
Is there any story behind this particular track?
The idea for the track formed when I heard Resco, the vocalist, on stage at the Orange Rooms in Southampton one night. I was chatting away when my ears caught him freestyling the words to what is now the chorus of ‘Shine Bright’, I knew there was something special there both in the way he spoke and within the message. At the end of the night I went and spoke to him and before you knew it we were working together in the studio.
We drafted lyrics and discussed the vibe for the song – and I was reminded of Guruka’s video ‘Why do you Worry?’ Whereas Resco’s original intention was for his words to be directed at youth, I knew we could bring out a deeper meaning. In the back of my mind the two things had to be brought together, the messages were a perfect fit.
This really changed the way I thought about the music; it became a message to those going through their troubles. Accentuating Guruka’s words as well as Resco’s lines in just the right way was challenging. I wrote in jazz chords, strings, myself on the trumpet and spent hours creating the beat - the end result is something I am very proud of.
It’s been mentioned that on a deeper level the lyrics reflect some traits of Sikhism, and I think in a non-conscious way that that occurred organically. It just goes to show how central the tenet of oneness is within us all. The track has been made available to download from my Soundcloud page, so I implore you all, especially those who need a boost today, to listen
Click to hear the audio: Shine Bright feat. 'Resco'
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| Here’s a quick video of me talking to rapper Resco, who features on my track ‘Shine Bright’. |
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Transcription
Excuse me, can I get a flat four?
To express my thoughts, my feelings and my actions
It’s all right though, fine though, you applaud
We can vibe together in tight unison
Stopping through a period in life like menopause
They call it destiny, a real episode
So we move like wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing,
Soul weeps, heart bleeds and my mind throbbing
Is there another way? I see a brighter day
I see the beauty in life and the higher way
At such a young age, you carry all the weight
You feel the pain and the pressure then you suffocate
So I keep my body warm through the winter days
And in the spring and the summer, I levitate
To a higher form of conscious energy
The melody, rising steadily over heavy beats
It’s all good ‘cos I know we all beautiful
Call me optimistic; I see the light in you
So shame on you if you’re spreading that rumour
It’s soul food so we’re feeding the movement
Each one teach one so we live fine
Each line defined as we travel time
Inclined to learn more and be defined
So spread love like the stars and shine bright.
And write rhymes like you’re breathing your last breath,
Reach for the stars, yeah I’m keeping it so fresh
So keep on shining like the light in your torch
And spread love, more love, so I’m huggin’ you bro
But uh, more space for my arms and elbows
Let me meditate through the motions, and let my soul grow
Are we listening? Do you conversate?
Or do you wait for your turn then you argument
I guess we all love to express opinions
So subjective by nature in all sense
And the dream that is sold through your TV screen
Definition of an awe hunting human being
Your words are weapons; so careful with the words you speak
For your actions will define you, and will teach
So I sit back and yearn for my soul to speak
Through the eyes of my forefather’s memories
It’s all good ‘cos I know we all beautiful
Call me optimistic; I see the light in you
So shame on you if you’re spreading that rumour
It’s soul food so we’re feeding the movement
Each one teach one so we live fine
Each line defined as we travel time
Inclined to learn more and be defined
So spread love like the stars and shine bright.
I resurrect from the hibernation of my lost soul
I rose from the abyss, to fight for the cause
I’m bound by protocol to expose your flaws
The system stinks of fight, stand for what’s yours
Through this yearning of life in search of wisdom
Can you feel it? Open up your conscience, reveal it?
The diction in my context, affects your sprit and keeps burning
Word to the wise, we keep learning
Analyzed by my optics, to fortify the inner core
Notify the four and prepare for brawl.
War? Is that the question? What’s the answer?
My inner child speaks and screams, system cancer
Striving in the street trying to paint a better picture
Music spectrum, let your scroll recite the scripture
Code of honour, wrapped in tradition like ancient scrolls
Dilate the mind state and educate