With roots in Calcutta, India, and current studio in Bombay, multi-instrumentalist, composer, songwriter and producer Tajdar Junaid’s debut album, What Colour Is Your Raindrop was a personal inspiration of the images and sounds that shaped his art. A lover of all honest expressions of art, Tajdar’s work was named as one of the Top Albums of 2013 by Rolling Stone, RSJ and his composition ‘dastaan’ was heard in the legendary Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf's new film "The President”, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, 2014.
With his notes travelling all over; Hollywood film "Sold" produced by Academy Award winner Emma Thompson (2013), to Bollywood and Tollywood with collaborations with Anurag Kashyap Productions, Aparna Sen and Rituparno Ghosh. To the indie circuit, with one that earned him a Filmfare nomination for Best background score for “Mukti Bhawan” (2018), his documentary trail represented at Sundance and IDFA and a nomination for Best Documentary at the 94th Academy Awards by “Writing With Fire” (2021), a composition for Coke Studio Bharat (2023), Tajdar’s is a global voice, courageous and relentless in offering his unique sensibilities towards the stories of human condition.
Having gained experience in teaching music for almost 15 years, Tajdar has regularly offered himself to workshops and dialogues for young musicians and artists alike. A vivid member of the local music scene from urban and suburban parts of India, Tajdar has also collaborated with other artists in the form of theatre, dance, interactive media displays, stadium concerts; thereby extending, sharing and transforming the idea of his space and practice. His collaborators include the guitar maestro Amyt Datta; Blackstratblues, NZ songwriter Greg Johnson, Karsh Kale, folk singer Moushumi Bhowmik, Fred White from Acoustic Alchemy, Anusheh Anadil, Swanand Kirkire.
Due to Tajdar’s regular practice of keeping his art accessible and open, his style has been termed inimitable and highly adaptable. He religiously believes in the tradition of combining Western and Indian elements through various instruments like the South American Charango, the Steel guitar and even the Sarangi, however one of his trademarks remain the reticent quality and quiet gaps that fill the notes in his pieces. Tajdar reserves this quality of quiet and reflective music that have always set his compositions apart; clear, graceful and distinct.
photo by Ronny Sen
Rolling Stone : If there is one way of describing "What Colour Is Your Raindrop" it has to be a rare simplicity that, for the musician, taps on the spiritual. Taj sticks to the straight and the narrow of sheer musicality — his compositions part meditative, part celebratory and maybe even anachronistic in the age of the overproduced studio albums. It has a sound that can leave lasting melodies and imagery in patient listeners.
BBC : Poignant and soulful
Gibson guitars : It’s a rare musician who’s willing to take a step back from a flourishing career to introspect and change direction. It takes an artist devoted to his craft to dedicate himself to exploring the new and uncharted territories of sound. Kolkata-based guitar player, composer and instructor Tajdar Junaid is that sort of artist.
Paul 'Salty' Brincat, Sound Engineer for StarWars, Superman Returns, MI 2, Thin Red Line:
Having had the privilege of meeting and working with Tajdar Junaid, for the feature film ''The Waiting City'' I was totally impressed by Taj's enthusiasm for music and the love for his guitar that he played with so much passion.Within that observation, there was no doubt, if Taj in the future would put together an album of songs, that such an album would stand alone, out in the music world. Well here it is ''What Colour Is Your Raindrop'' and the album is breathtaking. I'm totally thrilled in what i have heard. He has put together such a beautiful mix of Indian essence, with a blend of western influence. If this is Taj's first album, i'll be looking forward to his next.
Amyt Datta, Guitar Maestro : I've known Taj for many years. He has always been a delicate, sensitive and tasteful musician, whether he is playing, singing or producing. I hear his work as "beautiful music".