"Three things I have never wasted my energy on, Religion, Politics & Other worldly crapola which divides people from one another. All I know is music makes us all swing and people must realize and respect this fact first."

Bunny Henry: The Bridge Of Worlds

John ‘Bunny’ Henry is a singer, harmonica player and guitarist from India. He's a dose of both worlds. Born and brought up in Delhi, and with a professional advertising career down south, Bunny finally decided to break free from the shackles of client briefs deadlines and bitchy bosses with his harp, baritone and bad bad ass. Starting out in his early days, Bunny idolizes Steven Tyler, Mick Jagger, Bobby McFerrin and Darren Hayes. He's also been a part of the original Big Bang Blues Band line-up and has been one of the founding members for a Delhi-based Blues act Jive Can - out to bring the house down with its unique style and energy. The members have come together from various walks of life, each having played with a rebound band at one time or the other.

The motive of the five is to write good ol’blues tracks with a dollop of their own style. Jive Can, together, is influenced by artists such as Duane Allman, BB King, Hendrix, Clapton, Mick Jagger, Bobby McFerrin, JJ Cale, Muddy Waters, John Paul Jones and The Beatles. Look out for a show near to you and drop by for a dose of good melodies, funky gyrations and groovy rhythms. Their full length album will be released in June 2016. Starting, sustaining and ending his day with music, Bunny says his current music-teaching career and writing original music satisfy him more than love, sex or luxuries whatsoever. Also adds, he'll be telling his stories and sharing his perspective, through the songs that he's been working on, with the world around him with all that unfiltered honesty till the last breath.

Interview by Michael Limnios

What do you learn about yourself from the blues & rock n roll culture and what does the blues mean to you?

Blues from my head down to my shoes! Blues made me connect to the grass-roots of all great musical genres (like rock, rock n’ roll, jazz, etc.) made me rethink everything about life in music and reach a higher ground of understanding that best tunes come out when you live and feel the tunes you play.

What were the reasons that you started the Blues/Rock researches? How do you describe your music philosophy?

My first guitarist inspired me to pick up the blues and blues-harp 12 years back. Since then, I haven't found a reasons not to keep exploring in and around the genre. After years of in and out & ups and downs with music, I have come to a state where I want to share my experiences through my own songs. My philosophy is straight, It's time for me to put all of the stories/perspectives together into the studio, and by next year I'll be coming out with my full-length album which I'm currently working on.

"Blues made me connect to the grass-roots of all great musical genres (like rock, rock n’ roll, jazz, etc.) made me rethink everything about life in music and reach a higher ground of understanding that best tunes come out when you live and feel the tunes you play."

Are there any memories from gigs, jams, festivals and studio sessions which youd like to share with us?

Sure, I don't know where to begin but yes every gig/jam/festival/session has been memorable for me. Specially, sharing stage with my childhood-punk-phase-heroes "Hoobastank".

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

Music is simply like fashion-trends or history, they repeat themselves and so does music. The good ol' analog/raw feel 70s-80s kind good music is gonna come back after a decade or two, where the song-writing styles were meaningful and way more deep. Right now majority of our global music audience aren't ready for it.

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

Ah! that's a tough one. Change is a continuous process, if only everybody started welcoming every kind of music, open-heartedly, things are gonna be more meaningful in music.

Make an account of the case of blues in India. Which is the most interesting period in local blues scene?

There are definitely so many upcoming blues-artists from around here, some getting recognition, and some still working on it. I would say right-now is the most interesting period in the local blues-scene because, things are changing quite progressively.

"Music is simply like fashion-trends or history, they repeat themselves and so does music. The good ol' analog/raw feel 70s-80s kind good music is gonna come back after a decade or two, where the song-writing styles were meaningful and way more deep. Right now majority of our global music audience aren't ready for it."

What are the lines that connect the legacy of Blues from United States and Europe to Asia and especial in India?

Just two things: 1) Common Expression of Music 2) Sophisticated Listeners.

What has made you laugh lately and what touched (emotionally) you from the local music circuits?

Sometimes, it's plain funny how an Indian bands try to mime a fucking popular tune by some other artist. What people fail to understand is Beatles were Beatles, Stones were Stones, Zeppelin were Zeppelin, and so on... but you are you, true musicians offer their own stories/style and not hijack from the graves of history, there will always be a difference between re-incarnation and bullshit.

Are there any similarities between the blues and the genres of local folk music and traditional forms?

Directly or indirectly all music has similarities. Else why would John McLaughlin form Shakti and/or Mick Jagger visit India every years. Late Great Jack Bruce got quite a few bass-techniques from the Indian Instrument 'veena'... I can go about this for hours.

What is the impact of Blues music and culture to the racial, political and socio-cultural implications?

Three things I have never wasted my energy on, Religion, Politics & Other worldly crapola which divides people from one another. All I know is music makes us all swing and people must realize and respect this fact first.

"There are definitely so many upcoming blues-artists from around here, some getting recognition, and some still working on it. I would say right-now is the most interesting period in the local blues-scene because, things are changing quite progressively."

Let’s take a trip with a time machine; where and why would you really want to go for a whole day?

That one day when Hendrix played the first ever Woodstock festival, so that I can jump and go crazy on the honest and super-amazing songs of his LIVE!