The Undeniably Talented Roy Dsa

A land which is known for sun, sand and its excellent taste in music. I am of course talking about Goa, everyone’s favourite destination in India. For years musicians have entertained the Goan community with their ballads and covers, from Konkani and Portuguese songs to Western covers. If one does know the Goan music community really well, there is a strong inclination towards country and rock n roll classics. 

Although Goa’s local music scene has been shadowed by Big EDM Festivals such as Sunburn and Supersonic, if one does carefully search, you will find places where raw music is still very much alive. There is a strong music community in Goa that prefers the old school vibes and many bands as well as vocalists keep those genres current with their performances at various pubs, restaurants and hotels. 

One such musician is Roy Dsa. He may be a well known artiste in Goa, but he hustles just like we all do and is pretty much good at it. With countless years of experience in music, theatre and education, Roy has become a favourite among the Goan community. There is nothing this man can’t do, if given the opportunity. Along with being one of the faces of Crimson Tide, a well renowned band in Goa, he has also started his singer-songwriter project called ‘Tammy and Roy’. They recently released their first single ‘Silver Linings’. He has been part of numerous theatre productions in Goa and is well known as ‘The Man who played the role of Jesus’.

Being a multi-instrumentalist with a melodious voice, it is hard to miss him when he performs. At Goan Insider we had an exclusive interview with Roy Dsa to get a little more up close and personal with him. The excerpts of our conversation are below. 

What got you into music? Did you undergo any training?

My father introduced me to music actually, just like any other parent would like their child to pick up an instrument. I don’t exactly remember how that conversation went, or whether we even had a conversation about it, but I ended up learning to play the Keyboard. I formally learned to play the keyboard for about a year, when I was in the 9th std. I learned to read and write then, but eventually ended up trusting my ears more than my eyes.

When was the exact first moment you realised that you wanted to make a career  in music? How many years have you been doing this?

I joined Crimson Tide about 20 years ago and I always treated music as my career. Although I did join Jet Airways right about the same time. I always considered it my part time job though, while Crimson Tide was full time. It was after our Duo, Tammy and Roy was formed a few years ago that I realised I never wanted another 9 to 5 job ever again.

Who have been your greatest inspirations in music?

I honestly can’t say there is any one person or band that has inspired me personally. I look up to the band A26 for their professionalism and sheer dedication to their brand and music.  

When did you join your current band ‘Crimson Tide’? How has the journey been so far?

I joined Crimson Tide in the year 2000. My journey has been nothing short of amazing. Being one of the oldest members of the band, I’ve been through shifts in the music scene, changes in members of the band, adapting to new styles of playing, new genres of music, you name it. We’ve come a long way from being the house band at Cidade de Goa to being the go-to wedding band. Weddings are our forte.

How many gigs have you completed? Tell us about a fond memory from one of these gigs.

Oh man! I have no clue. I just know I’ve been blessed to have been busy. Each show has its own special place in my heart, but there are two shows I can think of that have left a mark on me, and they are one with Crimson tide and one with Tammy and Roy. With Crimson Tide, I will never forget the Show we did at GIM Sankheli in June of 2019. The energy that day was almost palpable. From the word go, the crowd was on their feet and jumping till we played our last note. With the duo Tammy and Roy, we were playing a regular Sunday brunch at the Lazy Goose and there was a table with a child who had down syndrome. She was so bubbly and was absolutely the life of the party and in no time got the whole restaurant dancing. She then proceeded to give everyone a hug. That was one very satisfying show.

How are you adapting to the Covid-19 pandemic? Do you do virtual performances?

We haven’t jumped onto the virtual performance band wagon yet. Guess it’s just been a good time out. I honestly cannot remember being this free in the last 20 years. It’s always been work and practice and hurry for shows and repeat. This pandemic has triggered a lot of creativity in people as far as being original is concerned. Or maybe people have always had some original work done sometime but we’ve never had the time to see it. I’ve been putting tunes to songs written by Tammy. This is an absolute first for me.

How has your experience been being a music teacher?

Oh it’s very gratifying. To be able to make a difference in a child’s life, be it big or small, is the best feeling ever. They look up to you unconditionally. Of course, there are some days they drive you up the wall. I’ve been fortunate to be associated with the pre-primary and the primary department of the schools I’ve been with and the children are just adorable.

What are your favourite music genres? Have you released any singles in them? 

I don’t have any particular genre I could call a favourite but I do not prefer electronic music. There is just that much I can take since I’m old school that way I guess. I’ve grown up listening to Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Madonna, ABBA, The Beatles, Bob Marley, Eagles, you get the drift. We have released a country single called ‘Silver Linings’ which is out on Youtube and all other digital streaming sites. It’s about life in the pandemic, just as it was settling in.

How is the music industry in Goa? What attributes of the industry are a boon and which are a bane? 

The music industry in Goa is very commercial, especially when it comes to bands, which isn’t a bad thing because it pays you well. But then it’s the same songs being dished out by every band at every wedding which makes it a bit of a bore. Unfortunately, it’s a formula that’s been tried and tested so deviating from it would mean phrases like “kitem vazoita re” and “ play bala bala, taki taki” being fired at you.

Original music is out there, flooding the social media like a breath of fresh air but unfortunately, there is no representation, no record companies or labels to take you forward like it is in the west. So making money being original is very difficult, unless you’re Remo Fernandes. 

What interested you in theatre? Which are the theatre productions you have been part of?

I was always interested in theatre and I loved to go watch plays, especially comedies. I never ever thought I’d actually be part of one. I’ve taken part in four productions all together, The Carpenters Cross, Grease, The Witness and AD2019. It was something out of my comfort zone. I know I can sing, but adding the acting and emotions element to it was something absolutely new to me.

Can you describe/outline your typical day?

My typical day in the pandemic is waking up at 8 in the morning, starting my day with reading the newspaper, then online music classes with The Ardee school. I then head over to porvorim to spend time with my children, go cycling, come back home and work on our original music. Netflix and chill on the days I absolutely don’t feel like doing anything.

Not necessarily monetary, how have the rewards been so far in this career?

Rewards have been very good monetarily, but other than that, it has helped me connect to a lot of  like minded people in music. 

What’s the one piece of advice you would like to give to an upcoming artist?

My advice would be find your niche and stick to it. It’s good to experiment too but you’d be best in your comfort zone. Even if you do covers, make them your own, give them your identity. That’s what would make you stand out from the rest.

What’s coming up for you down the road?

Right now, I’m concentrating on a couple of more original songs coming up soon by Tammy and Roy. One is a good old classic rock and roll about love and the other is an acoustic rock ballad dedicated to all the front line workers in this pandemic.

To connect with Roy, log onto Instagram

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