Unintended though it may be, a conversation with Ehsaan Noorani sheds light on the dichotomy between making a career as a blues musician and being financially independent while at it. Never one to tackle a question lackadaisically—be it relating to his work as part of the revered Bollywood trio, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, or as an independent musician—Noorani permits bias when discussing matters relating to the genre that originated among African-Americans. “The one thing that people should know about this genre is that rock, jazz, and metal come from blues music. They are all derivatives of that. It’s a genre that’s popular across the globe. Even though there aren’t many festivals promoting it, it is still celebrated. So, why should we not promote such a beautiful genre that everyone can enjoy?” asks the ace guitarist while discussing mentoring the Big Blues Band Hunt along with Zubin Balaporia.

In encouraging aspiring musicians to chase the style that has long held his admiration, Noorani, however, will not lead them astray. Well aware of the internal negotiation a musician must be part of when deciding to venture into the industry whilst seeking financial security, Noorani may be reminded of his own personal battles when turning mentor to the next generation. “I don’t know if you can support yourself as part of a blues band,” he says matter-of-factly. “There are a couple of bands that did that, like Soulmate, which unfortunately is not together anymore. It doesn’t pay the kind of income that you would need to live properly in a big city. So, I’ve always suggested that musicians do something on the side to build their income until the time arrives when they can earn a favourable income stream from music.”