The Fernandes Fusion Project is like a modern day version of the Von Trapp family. Goans settled in Bengaluru, the seven siblings, accompanied by a close family friend and with their father Ozie Fernandes in the lead, have been playing under this name for the past decade or so.
For John and Stephanie Fernandes, who performed recently at Sotally Tober as part of Soto Live, music was their education. It was their culture, their lifestyle. Their parents encouraged the siblings to pursue music as seriously as anything else, and sometimes slightly even more so. “Not that we were happy about having to practise every day!” says John with a laugh, talking about how their parents would see to it that they practised daily.
Since it requires the alignment of all their dates to perform as a whole band, the siblings perform solos, in pairs, as a trio or even as a four-piece band. This performance, where only a part of the Fernandes Fusion Project sings is called the Fernandes Music. They mostly sing covers of the latest pop and rock hits.
“We don’t live together, we live near each other and the jam room where we practise, that’s at my place,” Stephanie explains when asked about their practise venue. John jokes as to how the reason they still love each other is probably because they don’t live together.
Talking about the difference in the music scene abroad and in India, John says that the one abroad is more developed. There are more record labels, but at the same time it hard to make a mark for yourself since there are so many, he claims. He says in India the market is more for regional music. “There’s a lot of talent in India. We have the numbers, just not the market.”
John and Stephanie’s individual journeys through all their band combinations is similar but also different in a lot of ways. Similar in how the band grew as a family, since Ozie, the older siblings and a few of their friends had a band called Live Wire. “We were too young to join the band, back then.” Stephanie says, looking at her brother who nods in agreement.
As to how it was different, they grew as individuals. They developed different styles in their music. Now they know who gives out what vibe, and hence when you book one of the singers for a party, they know who to send. “We are not painted by the same brush, we’re a montage of colours,” John adds. And the goal is grow in both ways. To write more of their own music rather than just covers. To do an all India tour and take their music through the borders of the nation, to the world outside.
“Music isn’t secure,” John says. And hence, the family tries to diversify, so that they have something to fall back on. One of them is a stock trader, another a content editor, John himself is into corporate training.
To upcoming musical talents, he says the key is to remain patient and humble. “It’s a privilege to do what we do. To be remembered for something - be it making people happy, or giving them music to unwind - it makes our day!”
