 |
| William D'Souza in Mapusa. |
In one of his interviews, Goan carnatic percussionist William D'Souza advises the youth of India to master Indian rhythms. This would help them earn respect abroad. It would make them fly like eagles, was how he put it.
The eagle took flight last week close to William's birthday. He was found in his flat in Ansabhat, Mapusa, Goa where he lived alone. He was 67.
Few in Goa knew him. Perhaps because he hung out mostly in Bangalore to make ends meet. A genius of his kind struggled to find acceptance among his own in Goa.
There was no announcement of his funeral in the papers. He began his cosmic journey with a few friends by his side. He left at the height of the Goan monsoon - a season he so dearly loved. The rains keep you cool, he once said in an interview with Roque Lazarus four years ago.
William (1957-2024) spent his early years in Mozambique. His dad was a violinist and his mum a dance teacher. He came down to Goa to find his roots.
He played the drums when he was 13 for his school band at St. Britto's presciently named Oblivion.
His rise was meteoric. He played drums with the hippies in Goa in the 70's. He teamed up with Bondo as well.
He trained in Europe a bit. The influence that shaped him was the German jazz band Embryo. They took him to Germany. For the most part he lived in Bangalore to make ends meet. His forte was carnatic percussion which he could syncopate just about anywhere - even on a switchboard.
Ruing the lack of support for original live musicians, in preference for pre-recorded stuff at gigs, William saw the death of music as he knew it.
In the last video of his conversation a few days before he passed on, he seems embittered with life. He was put off by the 'primitive' attitude of people. 'I don't even care. I don't need you,' he says at one point, perhaps as a fallout of rejection.
Comments