Dhruv Ghanekar: On the road again

Dhruv Ghanekar's approach to creating Voyage 2 combines bursts of spontaneous inspiration with disciplined deadlines. Balancing his commercial media compositions with personal projects, he found setting deadlines crucial to completing the album. Despite the logistical hurdles of coordinating with multiple artists post-COVID, Ghanekar’s collaboration resulted in a vibrant project. Some tracks were omitted, not due to lack of quality, but because they did not align with the album’s intended celebratory and groove-centric theme.

Ghanekar emphasizes the importance of momentum and sequencing in crafting an album, driven by both personal preference and broader appeal. He aimed for a fun, accessible sound suitable for festival audiences, prioritizing groove over complexity. An unexpected yet powerful outcome of the project was featuring only female vocalists—a decision influenced by his personal life, including the strong female figures around him. This unintentional celebration of women’s voices added a meaningful dimension to the album, blending Indian folk elements with a global collaborative flair, making the work both musically rich and socially relevant.

Ghanekar reflects on his creative process, noting that music often evolves organically rather than through intentional decisions. The inclusion of prominent vocalists like Kalpana Patowary, Nandini, Srikar, and Ila Arun, each bringing unique voices, naturally shaped the album into a celebration of women and grooves. He blends Indian traditions with international influences, creating a dynamic global sound.

His music’s complexity is driven by a desire to remain engaging for himself, influenced by a mix of jazz, fusion, and Indian classical music. His compositions serve as a counterbalance to his commercial projects, honoring musical heroes while exploring intricate ideas. Ghanekar often crafts multiple arrangements for each song, driven by intuition and validation from collaborators. An example is his reimagining of the traditional Suprabhatam with a drum-and-bass beat, seeking approval from percussionist Sivamani before finalizing it.

Ghanekar stresses the importance of embracing new musical directions and trusting the process, emphasizing that if something doesn’t feel right early on, it’s worth reconsidering. While he values audience recognition, his primary focus is creating music that resonates with him. He describes his latest album as "global music," blending Indian and Western influences beyond conventional labels like fusion.

The production of the album is more complex and adventurous than his previous works, incorporating textures and techniques with a subtle electronic edge. Influences from jazz, Cuban, and Balkan music are evident, with contributions from musicians like saxophonist Archer and a trumpet player from Boston. The album was designed as a groove-oriented experience for both musicians and audiences, enhanced by Dolby Atmos technology for an immersive listening experience.

Ghanekar notes the importance of restraint with Dolby Atmos, recognizing that not all music benefits from such technology. His experience mixing in Atmos has been enlightening, with the album now vying for Grammy recognition in several categories, including Immersive Sound.

Though some might view his work as non-mainstream, Ghanekar aims for it to resonate with a broad audience without elitism. His music, deeply rooted in Indian influences and global sounds, offers intricate details for listeners seeking depth. Ghanekar’s ongoing projects include a cinematic ambient collaboration with flautist Naveen and a singer-songwriter album, showcasing his diverse artistry.

As for his legacy, Dhruv prefers not to take himself too seriously. He hopes that, in the distant future, people will listen to his music and think, Wow, this is intriguing and unique. For him, that kind of response is the ultimate reward.