He has donned many hats (quite literally) a drummer, a song writer and now a vocalist, he’s the man who brought us The Taxi Song,here’s the frontman of Tough on Tobacco : SIDD COUTTO in conversation with Aniket Dasgupta.
S: Tough on Tobacco (ToT) started off as 2 guys wanting to make music the way we wanted to, with no genre constrictions or commercial considerations. The band as it is now was initially my buddies from Helga’s and Zero coming in to play the early material live and then evolving into a whole new act.
S: I don’t most of the time, frankly. I absolutely love making my own music so I’m not complaining. But when I’m not doing my own thing, I compose and produce music and/or sing for films, jingles, TV etc. That’s great fun too. And it pays pretty well.
S: I loved it. It was basically the original ToT duo that worked on that film. Ankur wrote the songs, gave me a brief and then left me to do my thing. Most of the album was jazz, a genre I have very little affiliation with, so to speak, so it was a blast for me. I got all my jazz rocks off.
A: You are insanely awesome when you are on stage , but what happens off stage….?
S: Why, thank you, off stage I’m awesomely insane.
S: Yeah, I did stop listening to music. I haven’t really gotten back into the habit, either. My head is an overflowing cauldron of melody, rhythm and orchestration, so I don’t feel the need for external sources of music. I learn something new every day which adds to, subtracts from, modifies and amalgamates into my song writing. I try to keep those influences non musical.
S: I am acting again. It’s a film called Soundtrack starring Rajeev Khandelwal and Soha Ali Khan.
NH7 was a fucking treat. I loved every minute of it and can’t wait to be back there. Awesome vibe, great acts, full on party.
S: At this point in my life, I’d say I like all my roles equally. Each band has been important in shaping who I am today. And I can get up on stage with any of these bands and have a great time.
S: Zero are like family to me. So these reunions are always going to be fun/nostalgic/food-filled/
Blackstratblues is Warren’s music. I just enjoy the journey. It’s not the kind of music I write or listen to, but I love it. He’s a great player and I’ve been lucky to have been in his bands.
S: A writer. But I’m kind of doing that on the side, now. I’m writing a novel. And I’ve got some screenplay ideas I’ve promised myself I’ll put down.
S: Pentagram. Contains two of my favourite musicians of all time, Vishal Dadlani and Randolph Correia. That band is also part of the reason I’m a musician at all. I was 16 when they blew me away and inspired me to get up and do what I do. And to this day, they continue to completely thrill the fuck out of me. I love most of the music either of them make in and out of pentagram.
A:When will we see the next Tough On Tobacco album?
S: This year. It’s a 22 song double album. It’s material we wrote over the course of early 2009 to early 2010. Some awesome stuff, I think.
S: Rock music is not a career. So get a job.
S: Freddie Mercury, though I’m sure I could think of more.
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