Steven Wilson plans to surprise Indian fans with B'wood video

Steven Wilson, the founding singer-songwriter-guitarist of English rock band Porcupine Tree, is set to treat his Indian fans with a Bollywood-themed music video.
The 49-year-old musician has, over the years, built a steady fanbase that extends across the world, including India, where he recently performed at the Nh7 Weekender and he now plans to shoot his next music video here.
Expressing his affection for Indian films and songs, Wilson told PTI in an interview, "I have watched many Bollywood films but I can't name them. I love Bollywood dancing. In fact, we are thinking of making a video with some Bollywood touch for my next record. I'm thinking of doing it in India with Bollywood dancing.

"There's one song I have got, which is actually quite joyful and we tried running some Bollywood clips that we found on internet with that song and it worked well. So, we are looking forward to it. It would be an experimental thing for me to do and very surprising for the fans."
Wilson is keen to visit India once again as he wants to explore the country apart from his scheduled gigs.
"I'm really looking forward to visit India again in December. I would love one day just to come there and spend some time. And, I'm hoping to shoot this video for the next album there.

"There's so much joy about the way Indian people embrace life, music, culture and their tourists. It just puts a smile on your face and you don't get that everywhere."

Wilson may have come to the country for the first time for an official concert but the singer was not surprised by his fan following in India.
"It was an extraordinary reaction, so much respect, love and passion for my music. We had a great time. I already had an idea about my fans in India because I have seen lots of traffic on my Facebook from Indian fans. So, I was kind of sure that it was going to be a passionate audience, who has a great knowledge about music."

Like many other veteran musicians, including Roger McGuinn, David Crosby and The Beatles star George Harrison, Wilson is also a fan of Pandit Ravi Shankar's music.
"Many people in Europe listen to Ravi Shankar and even I have some of his records. I will really love it if somebody would educate me about the Indian culture and music. I will be more than happy to explore it."
A winner of London Progressive Music Awards thrice, Wilson is often called "the God of Progressive Rock" by his fans. The rocker says while the moniker is "flattering", it does not influence the kind of music he makes.

"It's flattering but I make music because I'm passionate about it. It is never a consideration for me to be a star or people might worship or look up to me as a pop icon or rock icon. I don't think in the world of rock music, word like genius or god is used too much. I just do my job."
For Wilson, labels like 'progressive rock' are meaningless as he believes they pigeonhole his music.
"I don't like the idea that my music is generic or it is progressive. For me, it's just music. I write songs closer to pop, electronic and acoustic. So, the idea that my music is somehow classifiable as progressive rock, isn't right. And, the word I hate the most is 'Prog', which is a meaningless word. I kind of resist that kind of categorisation."

Wilson, who has collaborated with many international artistes such as Anathema, Opeth, XTC, King Crimson and even Israeli rock musician Aviv Geffen, has also had commercial success as a solo artist.
'Hand Cannot Erase' is his fourth and arguably the best album so far, which includes hits like "Routine", "Hand Cannot Erase", "Perfect Life" and "Happy Returns". His other popular tracks are "Harmony Korine", "Drive Home", "The Watchmaker", " "Index" and "Deform to Form a Star".
Talking about what inspires him to make music so frequently, he said, "You have to only look around the world and there's so much stuff going on. Those things are enough to make you angry, sad, or nostalgic and that ultimately becomes inspirational because music sometimes for me, is a convoluted process or excess of anger and loss.

"When people listen to my music they think his music is very dark and sad so he must be like that. But I'm not like that, I'm a happy person.