My First: Ayaan And Amaan Ali Bangash On Their First Ever Performance and How They Celebrate Their Firsts

Firsts are always special, and marking Robb Report India’s first anniversary, we spoke to sarod maestros Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash, the seventh-generation scions of the legendary Senia Bangash gharana. As sons of the legendary Grand Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, the brothers have carved their own niche. While purists praise their virtuosity and technical mastery over the instrument, Amaan is known for his percussive, bold strokes, while Ayaan is celebrated for his atmospheric, lyrical precision.

From performances across the globe, the duo won a Grammy Award for their musical contributions to the album Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in the Best Audio Book Narration and Storytelling category. Not ones to restrict their repertoire, they have also successfully crossed genres, collaborating with pop and alternative artists including British band Gorillaz and British pop-punk artist Yungblud.

As they celebrate four decades of excellence, their first performance is a memory they hold particularly dear — and, indeed, a fitting first.

"We had two performances the same year which were a first for us. The first was in Gwalior, which was the Centre for Music, and it had our maternal grandmother in attendance, so that made it all the more special. Then the second performance was for UNICEF’s 40th anniversary in New Delhi in 1986. We were six and eight at that time, so the memories were very thrilling. It felt great to be on stage, little by little. Little did we know what we were playing or doing, but I think kids that age look cute, so we used that as a weapon. It’s only as you grow older that you realise the deeper sense of responsibility, hard work, and the oceanic journey of music," the two revisit their first performance.

That sense of perspective has clearly stayed with the brothers. Even after four decades of performing on some of the world’s biggest stages, they approach every concert with the same sense of humility and renewal. So, what happens after the applause dies down, and how do two musicians who have spent a lifetime performing together unwind after a concert?

"Usually, when a concert gets done, you get together with all the artists on stage and perhaps have a post-concert celebration, or you just get back to your hotel room because you have a very early flight the next day. Or, if your family is together and you’re performing altogether, we usually grab a meal together. However, every concert is like the first concert of your life, so once a concert is done, you are literally starting over. So we don’t believe in over-celebrating as well. The bucket list includes many more collaborations and many more interesting artistic partnerships, which can be a message of peace and harmony, much needed in the world we live in," they conclude.