Sandu

The Man and the Musician Stepping into the presence of Sandu, international tabla player, is a beautiful experience. Sandu is immediately warm, kind and generous, and you can’t help but feel that you’re in the company of someone who cares about who you are. Sandu’s interest in the instrument with which he now travels the world began when he was just six years old. His parents, who were extraordinarily artistic, progressive and open-minded, encouraged his passion, which led to him touring with the tabla from a very young age. But there’s an unusual aspect to Sandu’s musical education. During our conversation, Sandu explained that his teachers’ first priority was always to emphasise the importance of kindness. They taught him that being a musician is a job, and like any other job, it’s possible to do it well or to do it badly. And the only way to do this particular job well is to be kind, compassionate and empathetic. It’s from that starting point that you can feel your way into the music, collaborate with other artists, and sense the needs of your audience. Having now lived that ideal for over 32 years, Sandu has gained international recognition and collaborated with renowned artists including Hans Zimmer and Bahramji. His work not only builds bridges between musical styles but also fosters deeper connections between people. For more about Sandu’s beautiful life, music and philosophy, check out his website at https://sandutabla.art, or follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sandu.tabla/ And I’d love to hear your stories too If anything in this episode inspires you to see the world a little differently or to expand your own horizons in any way, I’d love to hear from you. Please drop a note in the comments or send me a message about a story you’d like to share. Every heart-squeeze and comment makes it more likely that someone else might happen upon a conversation that could just widen their world. MUSIC: Defining Life, by Bill Conn PHOTOGRAPHY: Michelle Neeling Written and produced by Michelle Neeling Oblivious Witness is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Oblivious Witness at michelleneeling.substack.com/subscribe