Interview with Sudha Kheterpal
Woman On Fire!
She may be of small stature but Sudha Kheterpal is living proof that great things come in small packages. Ayesha Barretto catches up with this amazing lady at Goa Marriott for a candid tete a tete…
Ayesha Barretto: Sudha, you play with the legendary Sister Bliss (of Faithless). How long has that been going on for and how would you describe it?
Sudha Kheterpal: I’ve been playing alongside Sister Bliss for the past 13 years and it has been a journey with a family because we share experiences while on tour and we know one another inside out.
AB: So how did you land this dream job?
SK: Well, I’d been playing as a professional percussionist for about seven years and performed with different pop acts. After that I started playing with DJs in clubs and was lucky enough to play one gig with Sister Bliss. She liked my style a lot and I can still remember her saying, "If the percussionist who plays with me right now ever falls down dead, I’ll call you!" (Laughs) Though the percussionist didn’t die, she called but I didn’t believe it. I actually thought it was a friend of mine playing a prank on me. Only when she told me about her tour dates did I believe it was true!
AB: Talking about tour dates, where all have you been while on tour?
SK: We’ve done about five world tours so far, so we’ve pretty much been everywhere!
AB: So, coming to your tour to Goa… What are you expecting?
SK: I’m expecting and personally hoping that I will be an inspiration because there are a very few female Indian drummers and percussionists. As for the show, Sister Bliss will be DJ-ing and with the new Faithless album releasing in May, she will definitely play some of the new stuff.
AB: While Sister Bliss is a legend in herself, are there any legends that inspire you?
SK: Growing up, while I was learning to play, I was inspired by the likes of Zakir Hussain and Anuradha Pal. I also played with Talvin Singh in Brazil and loved his work.
AB: Another great individual to have done India proud. Speaking of which, does India play a part in your music?
SK: Of course it does! I am so connected to my Indian roots that I even have Indian influences in my new album, ‘Anti Freeze‘.
AB: That’s great! So take us back in time to when you first learnt percussions…
SK: Well there was a place across from my school where somebody used to give drum lessons. I could hear people going at that drum set almost every day and that rhythm got to me. But when I finally got a peek at that drum kit that’s when I said "That is what I want to do!" I went straight home and told my parents and they were kind of shocked because it is a male dominated instrument and field of music. But they went along with it and soon I was sitting behind my first drum kit learning Afro-Cuban percussion. And there was no turning back after that!
AB: But, as a woman, was it difficult getting your foot in the door?
SK: Yes it was. I have had a lot of non belief along the way but now, after all these years, the sense of accomplishment I have is a fantastic feeling and I can’t help but smile!
AB: Great! So do you have any advice for women who might want to follow in your footsteps?
SK: Yeah! Always follow your heart and believe that you can do it. That’s when you’ll go places.
