Rohan Ganguli
Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits: I heard this song with my cousins at least 20 times a day for weeks when I was 15 or 16. My cousin made me learn the guitar lines so he could play rhythm and sing. He didn’t play the lines himself as he was left-handed so the strings were upside down. To this day, it’s one of my favourite songs. It takes me back to that time when music was an ‘actual’ world away from my regular one where my mind could run free. Even the video has a transportative quality.
Jeep on 35 by John Scofield: My uncle made me listen to this song when he taught me my first chords and said someday you have to play like this. I didnt understand a thing because I had never heard anything like that. But that album (A Go-Go) changed everything about music for me. In fact, it’s still one of my favourite albums. Needless to say, no one can play like Scofield but what an inspiration. The gift that keeps giving.
Paloma Majumder
Every Single Night by Fiona Apple: The first time I heard the song I was taken aback by the sheer lyricism of the song. It was poetry, an explosion of words and emotions in a song. It was the first time that I completely gave into the experience that is Fiona Apple’s genre-bending music. I really appreciate the simple yet complex nature of this song. It’s extremely relatable yet surreal at the same time. It has had a huge impact on me as an artiste and I’ve been and ardent Fiona lover ever since.
Vienna by Billy Joel: The first time I heard this song was at the airport as a teenager and I thought it spoke directly to me. It is such a simple song that says so many real things that it completely enamoured me the moment I heard it. As an adult, I keep going back to this song to bring me back into the moment and remind myself that the journey is more important than the destination. Whenever I hear it, it helps my busy brain ease out on myself.
Akash Rohira
I Want To Break Free by The Queen: It did help me break free and achieve what I wanted to in my musical career. I can say it inspired me to be myself.
Sadher lau: A Bengali folk song may sound strange but this track is a life-changer, which helped me win the biggest title of my career, War of DJs. I chose this odd track which I never knew would turn out to be my trump card and give me so much love... even in Mumbai.
EPR
In The End by Linkin Park and Lose Yourself by Eminem: Both these iconic songs are responsible for the drive that generated in me to pursue my career in music.
Rivu
Blackstar by David Bowie: Initially this song was just an incredible number to listen to with an amazing arrangement — but then the news arrived that David had passed away, and that this album would be his swan song. It put a lot of things into perspective about why we make music. What it means to tell our stories in meaningful, layered riddles for posterity. Art for art’s sake.
Making Of A Cyborg (Ghost In The Shell 1995 OST) by Kenji Kawai: Just the sheer thought of this song makes me want to curl up and cry. The Japanese lyrics written in the style of a folk Japanese wedding song with fantastical imagery — an all-female choir singing in cluster, harmonies in the style of a Bulgarian women’s choirs, with very minimal orchestration — all played as background to the visuals of a cyborg being created in a laboratory. Again, an exercise in layered riddles and creating meaning in the mind of a listener. Changed me forever.
Ujjaini Mukherjee
Oi je akasher gaye by Akhilbondhu Ghosh: This was the first song I performed in front of a gathering during a festival when I was just six years old. My first experience of overcoming stage fright.
Haan maine chukar dekha hai from Black: I was the first participant to have performed this song on a popular national TV reality show in 2005. Hearing it, renowned music composer, the late Aadesh Shrivastava, offered me my first Bollywood playback song , Sanjh ki pighalti dhoop in the film Alag (2006).
Vicky Metharamani
It Feels So Good by Sonique: The 1998 release used to be the biggest hit back in the day.Whenever I was low, it would be my go-to track to lift me up.
Music Sound Better With You by Stardust: Released again in 1998, this song used to be an anthem back then. It was a trump card to throw at an empty dance floor. The crowd would absolutely love it and made the job of a DJ much easier.