BIOGRAPHY
From the bottom to the top ... rise and fall ... but never give up!
Born in Leidschendam as the son of intellectual parents, an artist named Basant Marhé would later adopt the stage name: Desi Dhol. At the age of 16, he became fascinated with the melodies and rhythms of his culture. He became enamored with the beats of the Dhol drum when he was introduced to Bhangra music. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at the Codarts Conservatory (University of Arts) in Rotterdam and studied Indian classical music.
The young artist discovered that Indian music theory is extremely refined, broad and logical, with plenty of room for creativity and improvisation. The tabla attracted him, but his heart was set on the dhol. Unfortunately, there was no dhol direction at the conservatory.
Unconditional love
Gradually, Basant's love for Bhangra music grew. At the age of 17 his father brought him a traditional Dhol drum from India. It was then that he knew he had found his passion, his love and everything he was looking for. This unconditional love can be compared to that of Christiano Ronaldo for football, Steve Jobs for Apple, or chicken for tandoori. A new inseparable duo was born: Basant and his Dhol. It was the beginning of a new adventure.
The beginning of an unforgettable adventure
Because this instrument was not yet known and practiced in the Netherlands, Basant started looking for a suitable teacher at the age of 18. Then he met Ravi Dana, Dholi of the famous artist Diljit Dosanjh, in the state of Punjab in India. With his passion and his trusty Dhol by his side, Desi Dhol started his journey. With his dedication and determination, he traveled around the country, exploring his roots and becoming familiar with the culture. During this period, he endured the hardships that came with it: in terms of nutrition, hygiene, diseases, getting used to the Indian lifestyle and teaching. This Dholi has been through it all. Back in the Netherlands, the young Dholi, after having built up enough self-confidence, started performing at all kinds of events and weddings for countless groups, such as Indians, Pakistanis, Afghans, Surinamese Hindustani and Moroccans.
Every exercise was a learning process
Basant soon got to know the different styles of Dhol. Just as every artist has a preference for a certain style, he became enchanted by the sounds of Sufi dhol. The Sufi style is distinguished by its Tabla base.
It had been difficult for him to find the right teacher for the basics of the dhol, but now he faced a new challenge: finding a Sufi dhol master. During his search for the ultimate Sufi dhol master, the dholi ended up in England. There he met Jaan Ali Khan, a classic Sufi dhol specialist from Pakistan who took him under his wing. He even gave the young artist a second name Bilal.
Together they left for the country of Desi Dhol's great-grandfather, Pakistan. The young dholi and Jaan Ali Khan toured Pakistan for months, from Islamabad to Karachi, from weddings to melas and events. Desi Dhol's Ustad (teacher) taught the young artist all the dhol craft secrets, from tree trunk to finished product.
Desi Dhol goes international
Desi Dhol went on a mission in 2013: to introduce the world to dhol drum beats and bhangra tunes.
His audiences in the Netherlands, Morocco, Mexico, Suriname, Cyprus and France, many of whom had never heard of the dhol drum, were time and again in ecstasy when hearing these rhythmic beats.
Desi Dhol to the top!
Now this young dholi has taken on the mission of giving this great instrument a well-deserved place in the world. With this in mind, he founded a company called Desi Dhol, the drum of South East Asia (India and Pakistan).
He provides workshops, lessons and performances to introduce people to the world of the dhol drum. Through training and continuous improvement, the best dhol player in the Netherlands was born. He is now an expert and connoisseur of the dhol.
In addition, Desi Dhol continues to perform at weddings and all kinds of events, both in the Netherlands and internationally. His passion and successes are an essential motivation for the emergence of a new genre of music in the West.
