Jon Batiste’s words flow as effortlessly as his music, always radiating joy. The American musician and composer expresses genuine excitement about his inaugural trip to India this November.
He describes India as ‘singular,’ a place where ‘deep authenticity, truth, and beauty’ resonate profoundly. This cultural richness, from its music and cuisine to architecture and dance, evokes a feeling reminiscent of his New Orleans upbringing. ‘It really is almost like you’re going through a portal into a new world,’ he shares.
For the celebrated, multi-Grammy-winning artist, whose journey spans from Juilliard’s halls to Oscar stages, India stirs a fond, personal memory. He reveals a previously untold story: ‘Everyone who knows me and my family is aware of this. One of my father’s friends and our neighbor, who was born in India and moved to Louisiana, would often introduce us to Indian culture.’ He fondly recalls a time, around age seven or eight, when this neighbor had a tabla. ‘He wasn’t a musician, but he would still play, or invite others to play. That’s something I’ve always cherished from my childhood.’
Cross-border collaboration
Given his eclectic artistic vision, it’s no surprise that Indian music forms a subtle part of his musical upbringing. Batiste consistently seeks inspiration beyond conventional boundaries. When discussing his influences, he readily names legends like the late Ustad Zakir Hussain and Ravi Shankar, then enthusiastically mentions ‘a musician, his name is Lydian.’ He’s speaking of Lydian Nadhaswaram, the 20-year-old Chennai-born piano virtuoso who captivated a global audience as a child prodigy, dazzling with his speed and skill on The World’s Best talent show in 2019. ‘I’ve been in touch with him and I’ve listened to his music,’ Batiste shares, expressing excitement about discovering more Indian musicians and hinting at a potential collaboration with Lydian.
Collaboration has always been central to Jon Batiste’s artistic journey. His extensive list of collaborators reads like a who’s who of influential artists, including Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Willie Nelson, Lenny Kravitz, ASAP Rocky, Ed Sheeran, Lana Del Rey, Roy Hargrove, Juvenile, and Mavis Staples, among many others. He believes that ‘everybody is different. I learn from everyone whom I get to collaborate with.’ He further elaborates on successful partnerships: ‘The way that you make a collaboration great is by doing something that’s authentic within you that brings out the best in another person. And then they’re doing something authentic within them that brings out a side of you. You both create something that you wouldn’t have if you were by yourself.’
(An image of Jon Batiste is featured here.)
This collaborative spirit was evident in one of his most celebrated projects: Pixar’s Soul, which earned him an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a Grammy. He shared composing credits with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and despite the stark contrast between the Nine Inch Nails veterans’ ambient electronic style and Batiste’s fluid jazz, their work harmonized seamlessly. ‘It was just about serving the story,’ Batiste explains. ‘The story was our foundation. Sometimes those worlds would intertwine, like when souls from The Great Beyond would appear on Earth. We constantly found innovative ways to blend them, but you always need a clear structure in collaboration so everyone knows their role.’
Beethoven and beyond
Batiste is also actively reinterpreting classical works, as seen in his 2024 project, Beethoven Blues. He praises Beethoven’s compositions as ‘of the highest musical and human achievements.’ However, he argues that limiting its interpretation solely as ‘European music,’ or confining it to specific performance settings, obscures its true depth. ‘Greatness evolves,’ he states. ‘The more unique something is, the more it resonates universally. That’s the beauty of discovery. If you approach Beethoven’s music from a fresh perspective and recognize its African roots, it reveals the profound power of African music and rhythm, and its universal connection to all forms of music.’
When asked about dream collaborations, he instinctively names legendary jazz pianist Duke Ellington, musing, ‘Maybe to see Duke perform with Michael Jackson.’
Playful roots
Jon has a knack for balancing serious topics with a touch of playfulness. He fondly recalls his early days transcribing video game soundtracks from classics like Street Fighter and Final Fantasy, and confesses he still makes time for gaming. ‘All the time, I was just gaming yesterday,’ he admits with a mischievous grin. ‘Sometimes you’ve got to play the scores. I even recorded moments from the Green Hill Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog on my album.’
His cinematic jazz preferences are equally varied. ‘I really like Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues,’ he shares. ‘I also appreciate how music was integrated into Birdman.’ Beyond fiction, he’s a fan of jazz documentaries, citing Straight, No Chaser, about Thelonious Monk, as a film he ‘used to watch ALL THE TIME.’
(Another captivating image of Jon Batiste is featured here.)
The common thread weaving together his diverse influences—from New Orleans gospel and Juilliard’s rigorous training to video games, Beethoven, and the allure of India—is his profound belief that music is a deeply resonant language. His responses consistently reflect this philosophy: that all these elements harmonize because they originate from within him. ‘They always harmonize because it’s the genre of Jon Batiste,’ he asserts. ‘Everything connects because it’s all within me.’
Before concluding the conversation, he eagerly notes down a recommendation for a Japanese anime film about jazz, Blue Giant, responding with genuine delight, ‘Blue Giant. Yeah, I’ll check it out.’
Fans can catch Jon Batiste live at the Plenary Hall in Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam on November 24, and in Mumbai on November 26. These highly anticipated concerts are proudly produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live.