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Indian Express

French-Caribbean musician David Walters performed from his latest album, ‘Soul Tropical' on his debut India Tour

Braving the precariousness of the stage is the litmus test every singer must take to transition into a performer. And, David Walters passes with flying colours. The French-Caribbean musician, who concluded his first India tour last week, displayed an impressive hold on a full house at Delhi's The Piano Man. Navigating a tightly packed, vertically dense venue, which already had the audience tapping their feet, he went on to take the engagement with his music several notches higher. Walters was performing from his latest album 'Soul Tropical', a masterclass in how seemingly different genres can come together to create music that is both soulful and yet peppy enough to shake a leg to. 'It is music to heal and my most danceable music yet,' says Walters in an email conversation. 'Dance helps us heal, it cares for us and uplifts us, just like music. They are not opposed but complementary,' says the musician, known for creating genre-blending sounds — from Broken Beat to Nu-Jazz and Lounge – in his electro-jazz collective Zimpala that he founded in the 2000s. The nearly lyrics-free composition, bolstered with the keyboards and guitar riffs, and the beats of the drums and congos seamlessly merged to erupt in a composition celebrating Caribbean culture. 'Life in all its forms' is the musician's muse. 'What inspires me is what I experience and my deep inspirations come from my emotions. They are numerous and infinite,' he says. As a dancing Walters swayed, his audience vindicated the universality of music with a sky illuminated with phone lights. 'I like to leave as much space for music as for words. But not everything is said with words alone. We must also be able to share silence and choruses,' he says. Walters began his career as a DJ, something that not only gave him a deep understanding of the sounds of different kinds of music but also the confidence of a performer. He then went on to become a hip-hop beatmaker, followed by training in percussion, singing, and finally, the guitar – all aimed towards achieving what he calls a 'harmonic understanding'. A lover of 'traditional music in its purest form', understanding the DNA of classical music is crucial to him. Revisiting classical music, he believes, keeps it relevant for the youth but he also believes that remixes are a reflection of an era, 'a bit like an archive'. 'We can't avoid remixes because they allow the new generation to discover a colour that fades over time. Certain remixes have introduced me to traditional artists, and I've discovered superb producers thanks to traditional music,' he says. Walters is also an advocate of collaborations between musicians. He feels they facilitate accessibility to different musical traditions and cultures. His most popular collaborations are with Nigerian artistes Seun Kuti and Keziah Jones, Brazilian singer Flavia Coelho, and French pianist Arthur H among others. A few years ago, he also teamed up with the Indian folk band, Rajasthani Roots. 'We have similar rhythmic keys. The ideas came naturally and flowed like a river. It remains one of my most beautiful live music collaborations,' he says. No wonder Walters is back in India, this time, on a full-fledged tour. Besides performing across cities, he worked on new collaborations with local musicians in Bengaluru, Kolkata and Jaipur. 'We revisited part of my repertoire with the Indian traditional flavour. I have deep respect for the meaning, depth and learning of Indian classical music,' he adds.