SEAN DAVIDSON - Journalist, Writer, Reporter, Restaurant owner.
 
 
 
" I AM A MUSIC BUFF."
From a reporter, writer, journalist to a restaurant owner and a strong supporter of music, a firm believer of cultural upbringing and a helping figure for the upcoming artists and music wannabe's, Mr.SEAN DAVIDSON shares his thoughts about music, culture, ' SOUL' ( his restaurant ) and his life, with DRUMMINGWORLD as SATYAVRAT JADEJA reaches into his mind to dive into his heart and ' SOUL'.
 
• When did you start writing ?
SD :- I started writing when I was in class 8th, at 13. I used to write for JUNIOR HERALD. Wrote about school functions and things.
• A brief career history of yours..

SD :- Started off when I was 13, wrote for school newsletter called 'JUNIOR HERALD' for a year. Wrote for ' CITY BEAT ' after my 10th standard. Joined MID-DAY, Pune in 11th standard. When I turned 18, I was into TIMES OF INDIA, Pune. Worked for HT for a short while.As Journalism was my passion so, I went for a Distance learning course with Pune University in Journalism for 3 years. Was quite known then so got an offer in TATA Company in Bombay as a web content developer. Worked there for about a short period of 4 months. Then I joined an IT company called BRAINVISA as an instructional designer was into their brand management.Then I went and traveled all over India.Went into Times of India,Bombay,was a chief reporter there. Came back to Pune in 1990 because was fed-up with Bombay.Felt that Journalism is going through a downward spiral so I opted out of it and wanted to start a media company of mine , then I started a restaurant here in Pune called SOUL.
• How was your experience with the TATA's ?
SD :- I wasn't there for a long time as I said I was with the TATA's for just 4 months as a web content developer so it was a nice experience.
• Tell me about your days as a journalist ?
SD :- As I had started from a very early age, I was getting more experience and I used to reach deep into the root of any story and another thing that helped me make a name for myself was that I used very simple language .I did not use any high-fi heavy words.My stories were in very simple words I always know more than all that I have written.
• Would you like to give some tips for the young and aspiring journalists ?
SD :- Just try to get to the root of any story .Nowadays,these news channels and these media people they just cover the story from this angle and that angle and that's all, to be a good journalist you have to reach to the core of everything you are writing find out the reason.And use simple words.Its just a wrong thinking that if you write heavy words then you are a good writer.no,I mean,there are lakhs of people who are going to read your article,including middle class and lower class.so use a language which a common man can easily understand .A good writer should always know more than what he writes. Today only 1-2 journalists go deep into a story rest are just there there are no responsible journalists.
• Were you into music from the beginning ?
SD :- I am a complete music Buff. I am not in to music as such but I have a great passion for music. I enjoy music. Music is like my destresso. That's a wonderful thing like there's music for every mood. It conveys some message sometimes, It has a sense of purpose, it may be thought provoking. Music is just fabulous.
• Do you play any instruments ?
SD :- I used to play a guitar in school. But that was a long time before. Its been 15 years I haven't touched the guitar. I want to play it someday again, lets see.
• Your restaurant 'SOUL' how did that idea come to your mind ?
SD :- Actually after coming back to Pune, I wanted to start a media company but then eventually I also wanted to have a place where our culture should grow. There was no home for jazz in India, so wanted to make a place that'll become the SOUL of culture and music that's why SOUL emerged. We live in a society where people laugh out on others but they are not ready to laugh on themselves. You go to other countries the blacks make fun of others and themselves too. Here if you make fun of someone he'll bash you up, people are not ready to laugh at themselves. In SOUL, we are people full of life, we enjoy having fun with music. See, we are in a society that will explode one day. When the society will explode, only the people who are with soul are going to survive.
• With 'SOUL' many artists got an opportunity to perform..How did that happen ?
SD :- Yes, at soul we give a platform to those artists who did not get any chance of performing. We have many bands coming to perform here and get a good platform. People come to know the new artists. I want to promote our culture.
• What music do you have at SOUL ?
SD :- I have rock, jazz,blues, I also allow Classical sometimes.
• Friday nite live and Open mic nite-what is the concept ?
SD :- On every friday night we have live bands performing and new bands that want to perform come here and do their performance so their band is known by the people. Eventually, they'll benefit from it. On sunday nights we have an open mic nite where anyone can come over stage and sing or if they know any instrument, they can just go on the stage and give a performance, that will give a platform to new artists and make them known, their talent will not go waste. From these events we have got 2 very good bands in Pune. It is very helpful to new emerging talents.
• What do you feel about the bands in Pune ?
SD :- The bands in Pune are not quite original. You know they just play the same old english covers, nobody is original, they don't come up with their own new stuff. Another reason they're not doing good is that they don't know the value of their band. There is nothing static in bands, many bands break-up or they have a problem with a member and he gets out of the band and some other player comes in and then things don't go that easy. They need to understand the importance of each and every member of the band .everyone has an equal importance in a band.
• What about the music in India ?
SD :- In India there is a need for bands to come together. There are no rock bands in India. They need to come together.
• What is your say about the competition in music from the neighboring countries coming in India ?
SD :- The reason of pakistani and other bands being successful in India is that they come up with their own stuff. They are simple. What does guys like Atif Aslam do thets just the same stuff but they present in a different way.
• Do you participate in the events that happen in 'SOUL' ?
SD :- I don't play music but I sing every sunday night with the bands here and I enjoy it. Let me tell you I am a terrible singer.
• Not only do you encourage music at SOUL but you also encourage other talents ?
SD :- I encourage culture. Anything that will reflect our culture will be at soul. We have rock shows, live bands,theatre, one-act plays, two-act plays, poetry recitals, film festivals, art exhibitions, painting exhibitions, etc.
• You don't charge anything for the events on SOUL,its all free of cost..why is it so ?
SD :- We don't charge anything to the artists. The reason is that there are many galleries that can help these artists emerge but they will charge them heavily for that and they will not get satisfaction. I want them to do their work without any money. That will help them. I have my business, business is my food, bands at soul is just ancillary, its an additional input, its just for entertainment. Running a business alone doesn't give me satisfaction, bands and events are like a sense of purpose.
• Are you into reading music ?
SD :- NO I don't read music whatever people say something about music I just go and buy it out. And I buy only originals, I am totally against Piracy. I read other books, I have about 1500 books in my library and I have read about 300 of them the rest are like if I like the book, I buy it, I don't get much time to read.
• Tell me about events that are in queue at SOUL ?
SD :- We have a long list of events that are going to take place here at SOUL. This sunday having a band performing at noon. Next week there are 2 play readings happening. They are from Bombay. Band is coming to perform for HIV awareness organized by Wake up Pune organization on Sunday.

On 16th aug, its Elvis Presley's death anniversary so have a guy coming from Bombay who dresses like Elvis and sings pretty well.
17th there is BLUE MIST performing, 18th again its an Elvis tribute, 25th is a Shamiana Film festival organized by Open Space
31st There's a Jazz gig happening by SILVERCHOPS. 7th sept. Amit Heri group is coming they are the Rock Street Journal.
15th sept. North east Indian band called SOULMATE is performing. We're booked already till the 10th of December.Many film festivals and theatres are happening now.
• What is your favorite music ?
SD :- I like all kinds of music .I am a music buff. I love jazz, rock, everything. I have a huge collection at my house. Have about 30GB of music in my Ipod, my car also is only music. Apart from heavy metal, noise, techno, synthesized, I like everything.
• Owning and Managing a restaurant-how is that as an experience ?
SD :- Owning and managing a restaurant is a nightmare. It is tough to run a restaurant. I am completely involved in SOUL, I am not like other managers who sit round in a corner and give orders, I actually sometimes go into the kitchen, sit over the reception, on the bar, even serve to tables. It is an enjoyable nightmare. Man, it is really very difficult to satisfy and feed 200 people everyday without anything going wrong.
• Tell me about any bad experiences that you went through in your life ?
SD :- Ya there have been many bad experiences. I was always a rebel and left my home when I was 15, stayed with my friend. Had just 10 bucks wish me. There were times when I had to borrow money from friends during the time I was unemployed. Struggling for a job. I belonged to a very poor family. There were many hardships .I grew up without a father so no one gave me like fatherly advice,manly advice. There were times when my good friends had deserted me. People bitch about business. Working everyday is a struggle. Another weakness or you may call it a strength is that I just can't stop thinking, and when I cant stop thinking, I am just up to something.
• And the best experience...?
SD :- I think 'SOUL' is the best experience for me.The way Pune has responded is really great. People feel good coming here.It was a risk that I took .I enjoy it.You must enjoy what you are doing.
• You do not advertise or commercialize SOUL ?
SD :- No .I don't need to commercialize it people come here through word of mouth. Papers write about the events that are going to happen. Crowd is drawn towards SOUL just by word of mouth. I don't want to advertise or commercialize.
• Would you share your achievements ?
SD :- Achievement for me is o find an artist, to give him/her a platform and to make it a success is like an achievement.Not achievement actually, it would be like satisfaction. A reintroduction of the culture of Pune will be an achievement.
• Your ambition would be ?
SD :- My ambition would be a SOUL in every city.To provide a platform for the culture to grow, also I would like to own, Publish and run a magazine,newspaper which is not biased by politics and that isn't scared of the law and police and the government which does some sincere reporting. When I will have a good reach then it'll be possible.
• Have you been a visitor to www.drummingworld.com ?
SD :- Yes, I have been a visitor there.
• A Line for drummingworld.com ?
SD :- May be a line shall be."If you can laugh on yourself,half your life is done,and the other half is money."
 
 

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