Boney Alex Dias

A Soulful Guitarist

Boney Alex Dias is a living example of how music runs through the Goan spirit

Boney Alex Dias does not come from a particularly musical family, vcialis 40mg but that hasn’t stopped him from earning a reputation as one of the most passionate guitarists in Goa.  This 31-year-old resident of Santa Cruz won the ‘best guitarist’ award at the annual Battle of the Bands a few years back and two years ago released his first album, viagra 100mg Tuzo Uggdas (Remembering You), medical a Konkani compilation that was “a tribute to my dad and all the lovely people of Goa.” Alex, as people call him, has been in a number of bands and has performed at quite a few venues and concerts, in addition to being a very sought-after guitar teacher. Aside from playing both the guitar and the flute, he’s an accomplished cricket and badminton player. At various times, he can be both shy and talkative, introverted and bold. Here are excerpts from my interview with this splendid Goan musician who, despite his initials, ain’t bad at all!

AF: When and why did you start playing the Guitar?

BAD: I started playing the guitar at the age of 13. The reason behind me starting to play was a nice teacher called Agnelo Dias who was sent by God and who literally pulled me out of my house and taught me the guitar!

AF: What were the first tunes you learned?

BAD: ‘God’s love‘ and the hymns we sing in church.

AF: Which famous musicians do you admire? Why?

BAD: It’s a big list. From Goa I admire Remo Fernandes for the contributions he has made in the music field and for taking Goa to the rest of the world through his innovative singing style and compositions. Among others my favorites are Johan Sebastian Bach, Ravi Shankar, Vishwa Mohan Bhat, Steve Morse, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson, to name a few.

AF: Which are your favorite groups?

BAD: Groups I like are Deep purple, Scorpions, Beatles, Eagles, Dream Theatre, Animals as Leaders and many more.

AF: Tell me about your competitions and prizes.

BAD: I have got the ‘best guitarist’ award at the annual ‘Battle of the Bands’ rock competition among the top 15 bands held in august 2007 at Alva-Mar, Parra, Goa. I have won the acoustic guitar competition, organized by the ‘Café Coffee Day’ at Miramar, Panjim-Goa in September 2008. I have also been awarded the exhibition award by the Trinity College of Music- London for securing the highest marks (94%) in India at the grade 5 classical guitar examination. For the contributions made in music locally I had been felicitated by the ‘Youth of Santa Cruz ‘ on 19^th Dec 2011.

AF: Do you perform publicly?

BAD: Yes I often get invited to give guitar recitals for music students and others. I like doing it as it feels nice to give a good performance and inspire the younger musicians of Goa, who are the future. I also play in the church choir, have done lots of concerts and occasions as I have been part of many bands, including the gospel band KIGS, Band Hidden Track, Band India,  to name a few, and a few rock bands, namely  Bad Apple and Prolife. Where for radio and television I had been interviewed on Radio Mirchi, HCN and Goa 365, with live guitar performances. Presently am doing fusion music collaboration with S. Harikumar, a carnatic violin player from Kerala.

AF: Do you teach music?

BAD: Yes I teach guitar privately at home and I feel proud to say that some of my students are doing very well.

AF: What are your favourite genres of music?

BAD: Rock, classical, Indian classical, Carnatic music.

AF: If you had to give up music – what would you do to be creative?

BAD: I would have loved to do fine arts as I was good at drawing in school. I would also have loved to be a cricketer.

AF: Strangest venue or gig you’ve ever played?

BAD: To mention a strange venue I remember some time back we played on a makeshift stage at a private party where I had mangoes hanging beside me! The drummer was almost in the bushes and the keyboard player was in the roots of the mango tree.

AF: What advice would you give to beginners?

BAD: Dear friends we are not a gift to music! Music is a gift to us from the Almighty. Learn it and master it and in this way show your love for music.

AF: Do you have any other projects in mind? Like an album release or some concert or something?

BAD: I already released my first album in the year 2011. I chose it to be in Konkani as a tribute to my dad and all the lovely people of Goa and the album is called ‘TUZO UGGDAS’ and it is in stores. I have just arranged music for a Hindi album which will hit the stores soon and am also looking forward to arranging music for an English album of one of the most promising singers of Goa! I’m also looking forward to working on something in the Carnatic music area.