The Bands Mebz Nagji Mebz Nagji - Profile Interview
Mebz Nagji - Profile Interview |
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How long have you been playing Music? Fifteen years on and off. I first picked up the guitar when I was about 16. Before that I had a few lessons when I was about 9 - 10 in piano. But I never ever got into playing the piano. If you ask me musically it is probably my greatest regret. I think any musician would tell you that the piano is probably the best musical training you could get. So it was only when I got excited by Rock Music in the 80's that I picked up the guitar. A good friend in school played and I would get my first lessons on basic chords from him, thereafter I went to a teacher at the Dubai Music School, Miles Perry. After about a year of lessons I had to leave for College to the US so the lessons stopped and the creative process of my own learning began. I would play a lot in College with other musicians, so it gave me a chance to get into new areas of music, mainly blues and classic rock. How long have you been living in Dubai? All my life, 33 years, except for the time I spent in college in the US. Dubai was a great place growing up, it was essentially a small seashore town, now it has changed a lot! Musically is was ancient, I remember there were no concerts here. What do you honestly think of Dubai Lime? It is really wonderful that they have set up the open mic nights! I have been here for so long and never really had a chance to play live any music. I think that most musicians playing with Dubai Lime are those who ended up playing for friends or at home! But there is some really great talent in this group. So it is truly refreshing to sit around with other musicians, perform and learn new styles. I think that aside from the open mic nights, Dubai Lime is doing a lot on the art/social scene, not that I have had a chance to check it out. But I am sure we are going to be hearing a lot more in the main stream media about Dubai Lime. It's good stuff! Can you remember the first time you picked up a guitar? I was 16 and very frustrated with my life! So cliché. No I really was 16 and a little bit frustrated with life. What was the first song you learned to play? Oh! Don't ask me that! It is too embarrassing to tell you! But really it was a 80's glam rock piece if I remember... So really don't let me remember that! Whats your normal day job? What does it involve? I am working for myself, in a company that sells paper to printing presses in the GCC and India. We import, and stock to re distribute to locally based printers. What musical influences do you have, who is your favorite artist or band and why? Musically influences are Stevie Ray Vaughan, Springsteen, U2, classic rock stuff, and the older blues players, Buddy Guy, BB King, Albert King. I started to get influenced by the blues when I was in the US. It was the other guitar players that I had around me who introduced me to the blues, and am I happy for that. There is very little today in Rock music that is not based or that cannot find its roots in Blues... It's everyman's music... the greats like Guy and King are encyclopedias of what todays music is based on. Springsteen, because contrary to what people think about his pop stuff which is very basic, he is an extremely talented song writer. I think that writing a good song is about the hardest thing to do... you just have to have that gift.. It can be refined and developed but it is a gift.. Springsteen's acoustic stuff shows his talent as a story teller and a song writer, similar to Jackson Browne of James Taylor. U2 also write great songs, those that have a distinctive character, both in lyric, thanks to Bono and in melody... I feel it is an achievement to have a distinctive sound that does not get boring. If you were not doing your day job, and were not a pro musician what job would you do? I have never thought about that... But I think today I would probably choose to be involved in Music no matter what. It is a best thing in the world to do what you love.. Maybe I would like to get involved in the production side of music. With today's technology music in its raw form is being challenged. What is the most important lesson of your life that you can share with readers of your profile? That's it though one.. I never liked to give or take anyone's advice. There are many lessons I have learned on the way in life. Becoming a father taught me one interesting lesson. Sometimes we go too far to protect those around us. Sometimes you need to let life teach your children stuff... It's probably the hardest thing you learn, that is to let go. OK I think that's enough advice! What are the most important things in your life? My family and my music. We want to know, what is the list of music toys you have. Too many nice guitars... I love them all.. it is my plan to always treat myself with nice guitars when I can afford it... So I have.. Two fender Stratocasters, the SRV and Buddy Guy, Gibson Les Paul Gold Top '57 Reissue, Gibson Acoustic Dove, Fender acoustic cutaway, and an Ibanez RG 550 (purple... it just looked to cool to leave in the store window!) What's the best one and why? Oh! These questions get harder and harder.. see above list.. can't choose any. They all scream for me not at me! What's the best thing about living in Dubai? It really is a land of opportunity.. but you need to be smart about who you trust. Other than that you can't find the diversity and this lifestyle in any part of the world that you get here. It truly is a mix of the best of the east and the best of the west. How many languages do you speak? Three. English, Hindi, Gujrati.
I'm not at that level to just sit down and write words that will fit a song. It takes time for me to be happy with what I have written. Its hard to judge yourself, that's why Dubai Lime is so great, when you play your songs for other musicians you can get a real sense of how good or how crappy your songs are, all you need to do is just look at the people in the audience! They are your best guides for what you have written... Playing live also gives a great kick for the creative side of things... Do you have any other hidden talents? Do like to dabble in a little bit of art and sketching but its nothing to talk about.
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