Jose Neil Gomes Embraces Minimalism And Diversity On New Solo Album

The multi-instrumentalist brings together electronic music, intriguing voice samples and more on the 16- track ‘Google Maps for Lovers’

- Anurag Tagat

IF YOU MET the curly-haired, friendly-faced multi-instrumentalist Jose Neil Gomes more than a decade ago, he would have likely told you he’s training to be a Catholic priest. At some other point, he might tell you he’s studying philosophy or journalism and advertising, or the time he was “unsatisfactorily pursuing” a Master’s degree in English literature or teaching in schools. The 30-something from Goa says he eventually stumbled upon music as a way of life. “It’s been quite a rollercoaster,” Gomes says.

For someone who’s worked with the likes of mainstream artists such as Kailash Kher and Sunidhi Chauhan as well as rock bands like Tough On Tobacco and Hipnotribe, Gomes even had his own project Stitch In Nine, which was in action since 2010. It involved seasoned artists such as bassist Nathan Thomas, drummer Dhir Mody, and producer Pruthu Parab. Gomes says, “Stitch In Nine took a new shape, and direction, moving from a guitar-driven sound to a more thicker and experimental synth-based sound… jungle, electronic, drum and bass.” It’s what led to Gomes writing his solo album Google Maps for Lovers, which released on April 26th.