Depths of the Ocean may have only surfaced now but it has been in the making ever since Susmit Sen began his musical odyssey two decades ago, when the dream called Indian Ocean was yet to materialise.

The music album is so ingrained within him that he still cannot quite fathom why people are asking him what seems an obvious question to many: Why did he feel the need to go solo? But answer he must; so says the guitar virtuoso, “I am the only person who has never played with any musician outside the band. So I thought it was high time that I experiment and do what I have been meaning to do ever since I started Indian Ocean.”
Susmit’s finesse with the six strings has largely headlined the sound of Indian Ocean for over 20 years now, so one can’t expect him to break free from his signature style. But while he keeps his mark intact, he manages to bring in so many new layers to his music, that it leaves listeners enthralled as they make their way through the Depths of the Ocean, not just by what they are listening to at the moment but also at the delightful anticipation of what’s coming their way, especially when the cover spells names such as Shubha Mudgal, Nitin Malik of Parikrama and the latest indie sensation Papon. And Susmit exceeds all expectations. “All creative expressions are not possible within the band. Because apart from a band, a musician also has his individual identity that needs to be expressed. I am thankful to them (band members of the Indian Ocean) for allowing me to explore my path; this is something that I have always wanted to do. In fact some of the compositions in this album are over 15 years old,” he says.
The journey of seven tracks opens with Rejuvenation that gives fans one last chance to hear the mellifluous voice of the late Asheem Chakravarty, whose vocals float over Sushmit’s emotive notes. “I had recorded that four years ago when a friend of mine had requested me to compose something for a dance recital,” says Susmit. The opening notes evoke the heydays of jazz before taking a percussive turn interlaid with Asheem’s octaves — rejuvenation indeed!
Asheem and Susmit’s magic is only a prelude to the genius in the next composition featuring the powerful earthy voice of Shubha Mudgal — a jugalbandi we have been waiting to encounter for years — and City Lights makes the wait seem so worthwhile. Shubha’s compelling vocals intertwined with the haunting riffs of Susmit's guitar creates a trance-like state for the listener. Susmit calls it one of the most memorable experiences of his lifetime. “This is my first full-fledged track with Shubha Mudgal. She is a wonderful person, an amazing singer, it was absolutely enthralling to work with her,” he says.
Next up is the title track Depth of the Ocean that features the voice of Nitin Malik of Parikrama. Incidentally, this was composed even before Indian Ocean was formed and stands out in its distinct Western mood, a departure from Susmit’s usual tuneful leanings. Wild Epiphany with Papon infuses a folk touch for the first time in the album, but the classical feel is prominent in Papon’s vocals that cut through the guitar. “I have known Papon for a really long time now, he’s a really close friend — his singing is absolutely superlative," says Susmit. Their real life camaraderie reflects in the music too, that strikes a fine balance between two different kinds of maestros.
In Intimacy, the guitarist collaborates with cousin Sari Roy and delivers a raw, sensual yet sweet track that also evokes traces of pathos in the Bangla folk interjections. Susmit then goes on to salute his musical and personal inspirations through an 11-minute Tribute, a one-take solo guitar piece that begins with an aalap and metamorphoses into a melodious crescendo.
A key highlight of the album is a guitar rendition of the National Anthem called the Six String Salute, which Susmit describes as his “only cover song”. “The composition is so beautiful that I couldn’t resist playing it on the guitar,” he says. And among the many musical takes of the National Anthem we have heard so far, this one is sure to stay with us for a very long time to come.
Depths of the Ocean is not just a picture of Susmit’s prowess with the guitar, it mirrors his receptiveness as a musician to fellow artistes and new sounds. “Sometimes compositions just grow within you and you cannot help but express them. This album was cathartic for me,” he says. And for us? Well, these are depths we’d happily sink into.