History
At the tender age of seven, a flame ignited in the heart of a young boy. Each time he'd hear his dad perform, his hands yearned to feel the beats of the instrument - his first love. As a result, Vishen Kemraj is now one of South Africa's most renowned musicians.
Audiences watched in awe when a 10-year-old Vishen would raise his sticks and put everything into the music he was playing on the nagara - a traditional folk instrument. But his yearning for learning the skills of a tabla only grew. A few years later, having received more inspiration from his father, the late Raj Kemraj, Vishen was setting the stage ablaze with his hair-raising performances alongside veterans of the South African Indian music scene.
His dream of going to India and learning more was finally fulfilled and he not only gained more knowledge from the pilgrimage, but admiration and respect for Indian music, too. After returning from the renowned Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, where he studied under Ustad Basheer Ahmed Khan, Vishen decided to pass on his knowledge to enthusiastic lovers of Indian classical music under the banner of the Taal School Of Music.
His class is run every day of the week in Pietermaritzburg, Chatsworth, Phoenix, Clairwood, Tongaat, and Empangeni. He also offers private tuition to those who prefer a more personal approach to learning. His talents have taken him to many countries, performing across Africa and in America, Mauritius, and Germany.
Vishen's musical journey has seen him share the stage with Lu Damini, Madala Kunene, and Mabuso, who are all well-known African Jazz musicians. Some of the Indian artists he performed with include; Dr. Arindam Mukuphadya, Sufi singer Ashwini Basoya, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sukhwinder Singh, Dinesh Kumar Dube, and Kumar Sanu. The thing that separates Vishen from other percussionists is the fact that he's the only one who performs every genre of Indian music, be it traditional and light classical, Ghazal, or traditional Bhojpuri music, Kathak, Bhangra, and Bollywood.
Performing alongside the legendary Sabri Brothers is another highlight of his career to date, while Vishen has recorded many audio tracks and background scores for local blockbuster movies. Vishen's sons are now carrying their father's torch with pride. Twelve-year-old Vashir is an actor, comedian, radio presenter, and singer, whilst Vihan, six, is already entertaining audiences with his talents.
Passion
Ask Vishen how he feels about his music and one would assume he's referring to his wife when he says: "I still feel the same passion, the excitement, the same goosebumps as the day I knew that Tabla and I were a bond made in heaven. Music is who I am, it's my religion, my love, and has filled my life with the most wonderful moments. Let's play Music."