Sunny Jain’s music is a celebration of cultural diaspora, taking inspiration from the scores of Bollywood classics and Spaghetti Westerns, Indian folk traditions, and improvisation. The result? A heady fusion of jazz, rock, and sheer, unbridled energy. A drummer and dhol player, Sunny has performed internationally with his quintet Wild Wild East and the globe-trotting Red Baraat, a band he founded who are known for their frenzied fusion of bhangra, hip-hop, jazz, and rock. He has collaborated with artists including Arooj Aftab, Michael League, and Zakir Hussain. Sunny lives in New York City with his wife and their ten year-old twins.
UKJazz News: What is the best advice you received about balancing/juggling parenthood and career?
Sunny Jain: Several people have told me you have to find that balance of continuing to do what you love, which might mean going out on tour for some time, and being home for your children. I think that balance is different for everyone, but the point is that your children learn to have a passion and love for things by seeing their parent’s lead that type of life. I think I always thought I’d slow down a bit when I had kids, but the opposite happened. I wanted to “work” more. There was an urgency to do as much as I could before I couldn’t, for whatever reason. But I also make sure to be home and present as much as possible for my family.
UKJN: What information or advice do you wish you’d received but didn’t (and had to learn through trial and error or on the go)?
SJ: Kids are so adaptable, especially toddlers. They can roll with any schedule that’s given to them. I wish I had the opportunity to bring my twins to my shows, soundchecks, and on my travels, a lot more than I did. I think there was an obvious financial barrier to doing this, but I think there was the fear of throwing them off their schedule.
UKJN: Your top tip(s) for other parents in jazz:
SJ: Let your kids adapt to your schedule to a certain degree. Bring them around as much as possible into your world. Being able to be around that environment/community of improvisers, music makers, is rare and special.
UKJN: What has surprised you about becoming a parent and remaining engaged with your professional activities and ambitions?
SJ: I think I’ve become a lot better with managing my time and making sure I do the things that keep me sane: exercising everyday, playing my drums everyday. I’ve also become really great at compartmentalizing things, such as work, emails, etc and making sure I’m present with my family when we’re together. Becoming a parent helped all this, but I do believe the isolation of pandemic refocused my priorities in life as well.
UKJN: What boundaries have you set for yourself as a parent in jazz (could be related to travel/touring, riders, personal parameters, child care decisions, etc.)?
SJ: I won’t tour longer than 2 weeks anymore and try my best to limit it to 1 week. I won’t ever miss my kids’ birthday. I did that once in my life and vowed to never do it again, no matter what the gig is.
(*) Parents in Jazz was started (first as ‘Mothers In Jazz’) by vocalist Nicky Schrire in August 2022. The initiative aims to create an online resource for jazz industry professionals with children, those contemplating parenthood, and jazz industry figures who work with and hire musicians who are parents. The insight of the musicians and administrators interviewed for this series provides valuable emotional, philosophical and logistical information and support that is easily accessible to all. “Parents In Jazz” shines a light on the very specific role of being both a parent and a performing jazz musician or jazz arts professional.
