Music finds everyone: Tochi Raina

Sukant Deepak New Delhi, Nov 4 : For someone who has given notable hits with songs like ‘Kabira (‘Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani), ‘Iktara (‘Wake Up Sid), ‘Aali Re (‘No one killed Jessica), ‘Pardesi (‘Dev D) and ‘Madari Ka Bandar’ (‘Gulabo Sitabo), and shies away from media attention, playback singer and composer Tochi Raina feels that one does not really have to go anywhere for music as it has its own unique way of finding everyone.
“Who can dismiss the melody of water, the rhythm in breathing and the sound of air? It is within us in all moments,” says Raina, who got his break with ‘Bulleshah’ in ‘A Wednesday’ in 2008.
Hailing from a family with a strong culture of music, Raina, who has lived across the country besides Nepal, says that coming in contact with Pandit Vinod Kumar, who also taught him to visualise his breath, has been the high point for him.
“Not just music, he gave me much more — the ability to see and understand music in its entirety. In a way, it is like being granted the five elements and seven chakras. Simplified, he gave me life,” he says.
Raina, who believes that for an independent musician, it is always important to believe in the music he produces, also has a group called ‘Band of Bandagi’ which is known for its Sufi music.
“Bandagi is the voice given by Guru Nanak Dev. The key here is every individual member has a bond with himself and how all those vibrations meet at one place to create a new essence. At the end of the day, great music is all about creating a bond — with oneself and with the audience,” Raina says.