Gladson Peter - Being a Self-Taught Musician Has Paved a Way for Exploration and Deep Curiosity to Learn More (Musician from India)

It is an era where artists are being discovered from nowhere and there is no better time than now. Don't be lazy, don't spend time on things that can ruin your life, make the best of what you have, practice so much, people will love you, you'll be satisfied with your own achievement, your reward will walk its way to you. Stay focused and be the beacon of happiness! Artists are precious, make one or be one!

1. Tell us more about your background and journey.

Born in Tamil Nadu, raised in Mumbai - Gladly named by my parents helps explain the happiness they had. I recognize myself as a self-taught artist who likes to go against the flow and be different from everyone else wherever I am.

Clearly helps me not only explain to everyone why I carry all the instruments and play them together, but also helps me understand my love and passion for Music. I look at it as a God-given talent, which I was able to recognize with the encouragement that my parents gave me from a really young age.

I first started playing music when I was gifted with a toy keyboard and my father taught me how to play Happy birthday. My family is well acquainted with music because of our association with the church. My father is a Priest, and my mother a Teacher by profession.

While he plays the guitar, keyboard and sings, my mom is gifted with a beautiful voice. I have two younger brothers, one of them sings, while the other has picked up a few instruments.

I've always been around people who sing and play music because of our upbringing in Church as we always heard choirs and were a part of them. My curiosity and love for music led me to pick up more and more instruments as a young lad.

Coming from a humble family, it wasn't the easiest to have music lessons, moreover - I figured that I could pick up any instrument by merely watching musicians as they play. My passion led me to pick up more instruments as I grew up.

The major turn to a One Man Band happened in 2016 - I woke up to a dream as I knew that God spoke through a dream and reminded me of a picture I drew while in school. I had a picture of a person who was surrounded by instruments, little did I know that I was gonna put them all together. I have made three versions of my own kit in these 5 years and it only gets better each time I re-make it.

2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue music and how did you start?

To all I remember, I knew I didn't want to land a desk/job and was clearly stubborn on trying to keep it away. I did try a few jobs and wanted to know how it felt. That gave me more clarity. I started performing professionally when I was about 16.

I switched over to street performances while in college, I got the opportunity to perform in public spaces with an NGO named Natural Streets for Performing Arts. I've played numerous times at all the Metro Stations, Major Railway Stations, Parks, Streets, etc.

It built my confidence and I learned a lot before I made the One Man Band in the year 2016. From then, it's always been stage shows and there's no looking back.

3. Who is your favorite artist and why?

I would usually pick a lot of names earlier, but the day I heard Jake Shimabukuro, I changed that for myself. He's a world-renowned Ukulele player. He's the reason I picked up the Ukulele and it stays dear to me.

4. Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a musician?

I think there's plenty of opportunities once we realize the potential of music. In this age of Social Media, it is only recommended to stay wise and use it to its full potential. In terms of live shows, musicians get opportunities at small house events, clubs with live music, eateries, hotels, cruise, big parks, weddings, corporate shows, music festivals, and eventually the big tickets at your own concert.

Apart from Live shows, musicians can also be session recording artists, producers, work for film scores, or only arrange music, be music director, songwriter, composer, or the other side - audio engineering, live mix engineer, sound designer, recordist, etc.

Some even can try their hands in Music Business, so if one thinks that they want to be a musician but can't get around in the live scene or with their own music, the music business is a whole other spectrum to work with labels, producers, films, etc.

These are however just a few of the many ways to look for an opportunity as a musician. As they say, talent without hard/smart work is of no use. Be an opportunist and be a learner, always.

5. Is format training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?

Here's how I look at it - Training is essential, be it formal or otherwise. However, a structured method of learning can always go a long way. I personally have no formal training in music but I educated myself once I realized that I could maximize my potential by learning from a method that has already been set by another artist.

Training kids at a young age is something we've seen for years, some prefer to use formal methods, some as hobbies. As subjective as it is - one needs to figure out which way might work. In conclusion, in my experience, being a self-taught musician has paved a way for exploration and deep curiosity to learn more.

I still have no formal training, but I don't stop educating myself when I have the opportunity. The basics of music - Music Theory, has no shortcut however and it is always recommended to take formal training.

6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?

Unlike what I've heard all through my young days that - Music doesn't have a future. I choose to encourage one in the art they prefer taking up. If you want to enter the music industry, you gotta work a lot harder than a traditional and known degree for a job.

If we're told to work 8 hours at a desk job, well spend 8 hours practising and using social media tools to market our skills. It is an era where artists are being discovered from nowhere and there is no better time than now.

Don't be lazy, don't spend time on things that can ruin your life, make the best of what you have, practice so much, people will love you, you'll be satisfied with your own achievement, your reward will walk its way to you. Stay focused and be the beacon of happiness! Artists are precious, make one or be one!

7. Which is your favourite book and why?

The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music by Victor Wooten. This book has changed my perspective on music. It is very hard to put in a few words as to why it is my favourite book, but if you're a musician or not, you HAVE TO read this book, and it will change the way you look at music.

I think a short pick from the book would be how he explains how music is a language. Well, we speak the language so well, coz when we were young we spoke with our parents and others who have been speaking the same for years.

Think of it as, a newbie jamming with an expert - every day. In the case of music, if you're just learning, well - jam with the others, you learn so much and it is fun! Well, read the book and you shall know!