Not just about the 'sax'

While music runs in Bengaluru boy Swithin Hartman’s family, the saxophonist-cum-guitarist-cum-vocalist attributes sheer serendipity to him pursuing it as a profession. A bumpy road laden with challenges and accolades; this 25-year old musician has come a long way – from moonlighting as a wedding musician cum saxophonist to having collaborated with popular DJ Miki Love and making it to the quarter finals of the India’s Got Talent season 7. In a freewheeling chat, Swithin tells us more, just as a he prepares for a duo acoustic act with Bengaluru singer Megha Shankar...

Going down the memory lane, Swithin reminisces, “I never looked at music as a profession, despite having parents who were musically inclined dad was a band manager and mum used to sing. But, It was a set of events that led me to being an artiste. Hailing from a middle-class family, we pretty much had a conventional way of being. But , they never said no to learning, despite not having the financial backing to help us out. In the year 2007-08, my dad suffered multiple disk slips. The financial crunch pushed me to a lot of things including selling paper and milk, playing gigs for a dad’s friend. I started out as a wedding musician/saxophonist at Mangaluru catholic clubs.  I used to get paid Rs 300 per gig. One thing led to another, and a band spotted me and offered me to play as a vocalist and saxophonist. I auditioned got selected and became a part of a band called Casablanca. This was my first experience as a full-fledged musician.” But that was then. The B’luru boy has been a part of two professional bands ever since, Speaking about his upcoming gig, he adds, “Bengaluru has opened so many doors for me when it comes to music. On August 5, Megha and I will be sharing the stage. It’s an acoustic act packed in surprises in between. She’ll be singing and I’ll be singling alongside her and also be playing the guitar and sax. I moved to the city for work purposes, but I end up doing more music than my work itself, and somehow try and manage to strike a balance between the both. By what I’ve seen and experienced of the music scene in Bengaluru, I’m sure this place will bring out the best of music from me. But, I don’t wish to restrict myself to just being a saxophonist or vocalist. I’d rather get versatile and be dynamic.”

The mechanical engineering graduate from St. Josephs Engineering College, Mangalore had to struggle it out, but believes it has  been worth it. “In November, I did my first international gig in a collaboration act with a romanian artiste, DJ MikiLove. She is one of the top 20 female DJs in the world. This was part of a great mela festival, which has artistes like Amit Trivedi, Raghu Dixit, Vidya Vox, Shanker Tucker, Thaikuddam Bridge, Avial and many other musicians and bands perform. I’m convinced that hard work and true passion take you places,” signs off the music maverick, with a glimmer in his eyes.

Swithin will perform live  on August 5 at the BFlat Bar, Indiranagar.