Lalloo drums up a band

Ace drummer and tabla player Navin Lalloo, had his dream come true when he officially launched his new orchestra, Brantec Millennium Stars, at the Triangle Sports Bar in Rio Claro recently. Known for his magic fingers, Lalloo also arranges and directs music for the band. Through sheer determination he realised his dream after years of accumulating music equipment and instruments. Lalloo started beating the dholak (hand-drums) at the Watts Road Hindu temple and was just four-years-old when he tried out the drums. “I remember my hands could not reach the two sides of the drums but I was anxious to make a sound. Although I cannot remember those days clearly, I know I started off at an early age,” he said. Later on he played at the Spring Village Hindu School for the annual Baal Vikaas competition. He developed quickly and by six, he was already in demand and was contracted to play at many of the social and cultural events in Curepe and Chaguanas.

Lalloo became obsessed with the drums. “I would sit with the drums and try to master the various hands (beats). When I finally got a beat, it was like heaven for me. Music can really help a person to develop,” he noted. Music, he explained, also helped him to concentrate of his academic studies. He was still attending the Curepe Junior Secondary School when he saved enough money to purchase his first drum. At age 13, he walked out of the store with the drum and felt like a real hero who had accomplished a great goal. Lalloo became well-known for providing the most scintillating drumming for recording artistes such as Adesh Samaroo, Sarah Ramcallie, Vedesh “Dhal Belly” Sookoo, Drupatie and Rikki Jai. A musician with over 20 years experience, his focus is on delivering some of the hottest chutney, soca, and reggae songs for people of all walks of life. “I am concentrating on delivering many of the crossover tunes. I want those who are young at heart to really enjoy my selection of music. Also, I want to put special emphasis on soca and chutney. This is the real music of TT and this is the art I want to perfect before going to any other country with my band,” he declared.

“Music has power to mobilise people. It has the power to relax and put them in a good frame of mind for work or play. And, those who create music are deep-thinkers who go beyond the norm to create the perfect note for any setting.” While it is difficult to hold down his full time job as a distributor for Associate Products Limited, and concentrate on his music, Lalloo finds a way to manage them both because of his determination.  He thinks that anyone can achieve a goal if they want it bad enough. “I am young and I have accomplished a lot but my journey has just begun and I have a lot of ground work to do before I could accomplish any of the goals that I want for the future,” he said with conviction. Navin is married and shares a beautiful home at Bassie Street, Spring Village, Valsayn, with wife Indira who is expecting their first baby.

Among the top artistes he has contracted to perform with the band, is the award-winning composer Ramdeen “Falko” Maharaj. Falko is well known for composing some of the more popular chutney tunes including “Mother-in-law Pressure” done by Carlene Wells. His double meaning — “Ah Doing It for Q” has been popular with the live audiences throughout the country. Lalloo thanked Brantec for sponsoring the orchestra and also praised promoter Simbhoonath Kumar for giving him the opportunity to launch the band in Rio Claro which remains a special place to him.