It’s hard to think of Gary Lawyer and not have 'Nights on Fire' playing in your head. But everyone knows that the bass-baritone has a command over different genres of music, besides rock. There’s pop, jazz, country, folk, and for those who remember, even tunes like ‘Road Ke Har Mod Pe’ from the Bollywood movie, Road.
Beyond Bollywood
He has been in India for over 20 years now and Lawyer admits that music here is Bollywood driven. “When it comes to Western music, there is no platform and no encouragement. Even the English speaking music channels have gone to Bollywood,” notes Lawyer.
The singer, in his fifties, finds the emergence of new rock bands and electronic dance music in the country promising but hopes for better visibility. “It is great that the number of rock bands have increased but how many perform every month? How regular are the music festivals? These bands need to get more prominent,” he says, adding that he works with four youngsters from Pune at his concerts.
What really matters
The singer-instrumentalist is techsavy. “I use a digital audio workstation like Logic Pro and Macbook Pro to record my songs. When there are budget constraints, this software is very handy. I am working on an album and am recording all my songs using Macbook Pro,” says Lawyer. Down to earth and a natural on stage, this Mumbaikar believes in being himself.
‘‘One need not turn into a mad man on stage, though it is a different story in the US because millions of dollars are involved and it is all about show business. I think the rockstar attitude is more applicable there,” he says. Not once regretting his return to India to do things at his pace, he says he is happy. ‘‘Amidst all this chaos here, I still have my family and friends and that is what matters,” he says.
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