Layer aka Chaitanya Bulusu grew up in the era of cassettes and radios that often played Bollywood songs. What changed his perspective to music was a different genre of music that got him thinking. This was Enya and Deep Forest. Soon, he completed sound engineering that helped him automate and engineer music with sense and logic, this gave birth to Layer.

Layer recently released an EP Synapses At Work with six tracks at 3 Wise Monkeys. The Layer is a synesthete who sees colours as waves, a soundscapist, a robotic humanist, an automation and electronics engineer, there are as many facets to him as there is texture in his fractal, complex music.

In a conversation with Radioandmusic Chaitanya talks about his new EP, musical journey and more. Excerpts.

Synapses at Work sounds scientific. What is it all about?

Synapses At Work is an album belonging to the Synth Minimal genre. In fact, it is acknowledged as the first-ever compilation of this kind of genre on many music platforms such as OK Listen. The theme is to present five stories in the form of five respective tracks. The provenance and conclusion of each story has something to do with what goes on in the mind of the protagonist, hence the name Synapses At Work. Synapses are the little patches in our brains; they are like islands in the mystic and deep, cobbled ocean of dendrites, providing the bridges for thoughts to leap over from one neuron to another so as to make them reach their logical destination - like a conclusion - akin to the shore of an ocean. So, the purpose is to make the listeners take on this musical voyage and experience varied milieus.

Can you explain the story behind the six tracks?

All the tracks have different stories.

State Of Ganapati: It is a euphoric celebration of the super liberated techno souls in the faction selected by Ganapati. Sans the rules of devotion, they dance their way towards eternal reverence, through the gardens donning all kinds of flowers, through the paths less followed, through all that is ephemeral.

Optical Amour: It’s a secret dwelling of paramours, who desire to commune with each other only through eyes. Just imagine what goes on inside their minds? Love and conversations travelling only via the pathways created by the vivacious fabric of optic nerves and optic chasms.

Code Of Enigma: It’s a trudge into the mind of Alan Turing - the genius mathematician. He is at work deciding the impregnable and notorious Enigma codes during World War II.

Ghost Train Of Zanetti (Part two): This track is based on a real story of a spooky, cursed, and haunted train. It never reached Zanetti but vanished in a miasma of milky mist as soon as it entered a tunnel. It is, right now, the best-selling single on OK Listen!

Icarus: Air-dashes a listener to the world of the creator of Labyrinth and his son Icarus. He is a little imbecile. With his wax wings, flying too close to the Sun means the end of the world. However, he still yearns to feel that sunny warmth.

Mirrors Of Metaphor: The Last track Mirrors of Metaphor is an intro the next EP. This song has a lot to offer and it’s coming out really nice.

How did you start off your musical journey?

I am from the era of cassettes and radios. Back then it was always pop music and Bollywood in Panipat, a small town in Haryana where I was brought up. However, thanks to my South Indian roots, I had an interface with melodies too via Illayaraja classics. Then the curious mind was hit by Enigma one night via FM Delhi Radio Show and that was it. The experience explained me the idea of clarity in music styles, productions and more importantly it opened a window to a new genre of music which was not just rock, pop or Bollywood but something else. This then led to Enya and Deep Forest. I still remember writing 15 paisa postcards to radio shows requesting them to play these artistes.

How did music for you evolve over the year?

With the advent of internet, the scenario changed and I got introduced to Thievery Corporation, Clannad, Kitaro, Loreena McKennit, Infected Mushroom and Royksopp. That’s when things started moving at a faster pace and on a different note altogether. While studying Electronics Engineering, in 2003, I got in touch with the demo trail CD Software of FL Studio. And that’s where my ideas, my melodies and my thoughts started collaborating. Although, I don’t use that Software any more but it holds a special place as it gave me that much-desired freedom. Little later, I shifted my base to Mumbai and then Krazy Electrons happened. It went through series of changes but the idea at the time of commencement is still the same. It is fusion of electronic music with the new style and logic.  I think my engineering background always pushed me to automate and engineer music with sense and logic. And that’s where the idea of LAYER joined hands with it.

Is the band Krazy Electrons active?

Yes, the band is active. It has got vocals from Anand Bhaskar who has his own project as Anand Bhaskar Collective (ABC). It is currently working on its next Album. The violins are done by Ajay Jayanthi. Both are well-known names in the Indie circuit. I wanted some time for LAYER as this was always there in my mind.  Of course, Krazy Electrons (KE) meets and jam but we don’t have plans, as of now, to release new albums.

Tell us more about it.

Krazy Electrons (KE) was India’s first and only Live Ethno DNB band. It released two albums and had a successful string of gigs at almost all sought-after venues across the country over a span of 10 years resulting into a niche following. Leading KE helped me a lot to push my limits as an electronica artist and to develop an appetite for collaborating with various artists from different musical backgrounds. The band may not make new albums in near future but this doesn’t mean that it’s a farewell. It is merely a decision to move on with the times in an industry where the album format is set to become increasingly out lying.

How do you describe your music?

It’s a mix of emotions, contrasts, moods and science. Well, technically one will find a lot of elements like techno, synth, electro and loads of melodies in my portfolio; it is like a mix of everything. However, essentially, I don’t really like to put my music in any genre. I guess everything is electronic music. But when specifically asked, for example, this EP, I mention it as Synth Minimal. The mix of elements I use is quite unique and synth-driven and hence Synth Minimal. LAYER’s music intends to make the audience groove, make them dance and make them experience a meaningful trance by introducing them to ecstatic and special stories – something which the electro enthusiasts yearn for. All my tracks have this innate harmony between melody and groove. The forte spans across Minimal Tech, Deep House, Electro Clash and Ethnic Psychedelic to name a few.

What are the instruments that come along in Layer Music Project?

Talking about my contraptions and my musical companions, I use Korg Volca FM, Zaquencer, Spark Altruia Drum machine and customized MIDI controller in live gigs and my influences run deep and vast as Infected Mushroom, Prodigy, KSHMR, Royksopp, Enigma, Deep Forest and Illayaraja. Also, I would like to highlight here that LAYER wishes to break the perception that music has to be accompanied with drugs to experience ecstasy; it believes there are many more ways to represent underground music and celebrate.

Who all are your major inspirations in this journey?

My major inspirations are my journeys, my experiences and the people I meet. Besides, a very close friend, Ankurz deserves most of the credit for inspiring me in everything I do in LAYER.  

How did you start off with LAYER Music Project? What does the name signify?

LAYER is a pathway to a boundless repository of music in its purest fractal form transcending genres and styles. Curated in the summer of 2016, its conception is based on a simple idea - creation and promotion of quality music. Talking about the decisive moment to create it, I think somewhere we all like to think we have years to try things out. But then comes the subdued moment when you realize that none of the things you tried made you happy. Once you know what your happiness is attached to, all it takes is to make the decision.

Coming from a DnB and Psychedelic trance background, I try to include a generous and innate dose of live sampling, layering and an overall vibe in all my creations that could be truly and easily defined as eclectic. Hence, it is called as LAYER. The oeuvre has myriad compositions experimenting with swing, melody, vibe, emotions and atmosphere. In the live gigs of LAYER, one will always hear high Octane energy dance Music.

Tell us something about your upcoming gigs?

The EP’s promotional tour is on and so many more gigs are in the offing, both at national and international level, at Mumbai, Pune, Goa and United States. The last two gigs, held at Mumbai at Covert Café and 3 Wise Monkeys respectively, received an amazing response and I look forward to this next batch in-store.