Eric’s desi connection

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Eric Mouquet

In the beginning, there was only a vision. “To present the world with a unique style of music. Something that was never heard before from the land of France,” says Grammy award-winning musician Eric Mouquet.

And, this led to the conceptualisation of Deep Forest, which creates a new kind of world music, sometimes called ethnic electronic, mixing ethnic with electronic sounds and dance beats or chill out beats. Co-founded along with Michel Sanchez, Deep Forest has taken listeners on a musical journey across the world — from Africa to Eastern Europe and Brazil to China. And now, they come to India with their latest album, Deep India.
To understand Deep India, it helps to revisit Eric’s philosophy on travel-inspired music. According to him, “My musical experience has mainly been through meeting other musicians and working with them to develop unique sounds which are ‘my tricks’. Then, I use them on projects with global musicians like Catherine Lara, Youssou D’Nour and Josh Groban, with whom I did two albums.” Since his collaboration with singers from Solomon Islands to create the smash hit single, Sweet Lullaby, a decade ago, their unique sounds have travelled farther and deeper across the globe.
Deep India is the creative confluence of Eric’s love for electronica and exponent Rahul Sharma’s mad santoor skills. “The album consists of eight brand new tracks that “capture the rhythms of folk melodies from across the country; each track given the special ‘Deep Forest’ treatment. The tracks draw inspiration from ethnic folk numbers that are rooted within the regions of Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Northeast and South India among others,” he says.
They have previously worked on a few singles with India-inspired beats and a whole album dedicated to exploring the sounds of the subcontinent was inevitable. “I was approached by Sony Music to bring Deep India into existence. I didn’t know Rahul’s music before this collaboration but when Sony Music sent me some music I figured that we could do something together. The choice of music he sent to me was really inspiring.” And after all, that’s what keeps him on his toes. “My style of electronic music and the collaboration between continents keeps me motivated,” he says, “I have worked with good musicians without any pre-conceived notions and that’s the best way to bring music par excellence.”
Speaking of Rahul, Eric says, “I like the way he handles the santoor. And it is because of him the desi flavour was introduced with a folk connect from Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Coorg and Maharashtra. It will definitely inspire young electronica fans as well as adults for mature instrumental symphonies.”