Hod Moshonov takes a few minutes off during a sound check before the start of his second India tour. By A Paljor
Hod Moshonov wouldn’t instantly ring a bell. But fans of the EDM icon would know him as BEMET, his stage name. The Indian audience discovered him last year when he did a remix of Mumbai Dance, the popular number by our own DJ Nucleya. It immediately went on to become a net sensation. BEMET is now back after his recent success with MC Tommy, a Brazilian singer, DJ and a Samba dancer.
Moshonov says he met Tommy accidentally. “I was supposed to come to India for my first show with my drummer but he couldn’t make it at the last moment. I knew she would be there too. So I asked her to play with me and gave her the material. She even sang the song and the joint venture was a huge success. Since then we have been working on a couple of songs together, including the Brazilian project.”
For BEMET, music is synonymous with playing a keytar. “I am greatly influenced by the legend George Duke. My keytar has been custom-made for me to play like a guitar but I only work on the keys. I also learnt how to play guitar from the Israeli musical duo, the Infected Mushroom, after I learnt how to play piano. Today, my music is an amalgamation of the two,” he shares.
During his first tour in India, he played at a couple of places in Chennai — the city where his second tour is suppose to end. “It was the enthusiasm and the immediate bonding with the audience that really mesmerised me. My show has no rules, people can go crazy – even walk on the stage. And this also proved to be a positive aspect. I guess it was the free vibe that really connected with us.”
However, this wasn’t his first trip. He did visit India a few years ago with his girlfriend. Unaware of what to expect, he discovered folk beats that synchronised with his sensibilities and tied him to our roots.
Talking about his artistic journey, he says, “I was five when I started playing the piano. When I was 17, I studied jazz with maestro Herbie Hancock in New York. I was attending a wedding party when the realisation dawned on me that music is what I wanted to pursue, especially when I saw people going crazy on my jazz tunes.”
However, he didn’t have any major difficulty going after his passion. “I love what I am doing. But with the numerous gigs lined up, I rarely get to explore or soak in the places I visit.”
Performing across the world, Moshonov finds a close connect with many genres. “I work on Brazilian music and I find a close connection in terms of rhythm, tempo and vibe. Then there’s Bulgarian music which I find closer to the gypsy style I follow. Also, I am overwhelmed by the partying spirit in India.”
Thrilled about the night, he has some specific highlights, especially the ones he has been working on for a year. While the tour ends on August 26 in Chennai, we will be seeing the duo soon in the same city as their next album will be shot there.