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Green dreams
Making a record comeback
PACESETTER: Dalip Grewal
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Green dreams
Gardens
have always been around. But with everything getting a designer stamp, landscaped features are the rising trend in your green patch whether you live in a sprawling bungalow or a small apartment. The concrete jungle around us demands a breather and what better way than to introduce a bit of green. Everywhere we look, for better or for worse, we see high-rise structures, endless rows of buildings and row after row of houses with little to greet the eye than brick and mortar structures that hardly ever give way to nature. Whether or not there is space, people crave greenery to break the monotony.
Stylishly verdant Farm houses and open spaces have the edge in terms of space where a lot can be achieved and at the same time these also pose a challenge. Without the right design and approach, they could end up as replicas of each other; lawns with rows of plants around the edges. Somit Midha, a landscape artist from Panchkula, has handled many projects with sprawling lawns, such as the Haveli at Jalandhar, Jehan Hotel and Banquet at Narela and Bathinda's Sheesh Mahal township. He says, "The process of conceptualisation begins with understanding the functional requirement, location, liking of end user, the impact desired and budgetary constraints. While some clients are very clear about what they want, most have only a vague idea which is shaped into a structured plan over a few sittings. I think there is a lot of unexplored potential in the rich, vibrant and cultural themes that exist in Indian style such as ghats, baghs, vans (forests) and chowks. A look into modern Indian history of landscaping offers a rich heritage created by the likes of Professor Ravinder Bhan (Shakti Sthal) and Professor Mohammad Shaheer (Rajiv Gandhi Memorial)."
Bring home the bouquet With all the emphasis on greenery, Mohali-based Ranmeet Kaur of Perennial Landscape feels that flowers and the colours that these bring to the surroundings are getting overlooked. She prefers to add flowering trees and shrubs to peripheries which she feels add an element of vibrancy. She says, "There is a lot of liking for Zen gardens these days and people really like to have interior cut-out areas with plants and water bodies. Even indoors, a sunny area can easily have plants that bloom."
Home with a view There is indeed nothing better than sipping tea in your garden in the morning while admiring the beautiful blooms. Amrita Dhariwal from Chandigarh was looking to doing up the garden in her new house. What she definitely did not want was the typical 'flowerpot look'. It was then that she decided to hire the services of a landscape artist. She says, "I was looking for a relaxed, resort feel and our landscape architect has added some wonderful landscape features. She worked around the existing structure and yet completely transformed the garden."
Working greens The corporate world is all about work and the formal work environment can feel stiff and cold. To add warmth to such surroundings, bringing in the greenery is a much sought-after option. Rajiv Mehta of Karigar Interiors, who has done interior landscaping for a huge office in Gurgaon, says, "For an office we recently created a waterfall indoors and the greenery that we added really enlivened the place. We are a 40-year-old company and have handled varied landscaping projects that include big farmhouses to terraces. I feel a garden, however small, is very important for the children to learn to be a part of nature. The most important aspects in landscaping are ensuring precision and proper drainage without which the most beautiful creations could just crumble."
Emerald balconies With most development happening in the form of apartments and small houses, people are left with lesser space to plan a garden. Balconies turn to storage areas and the only green people see, both literal and perceived, is when they look at someone else's garden. A trio from Bangalore has come up with a novel idea where you can brighten up your balcony with landscaped corners. Reena Chengappa, Shailesh Deshpande and Sriram Aravamudan of My Sunny Balcony bring the sunlight into your living area by adding plants and accents to suit your lifestyle and liking. Shailesh says, "With no gardens and backyards, apartments have balconies that are the best place to connect with nature if you give them a chance. We have done a lot of theme-based balcony gardens such as Mediterranean, Zen, Moroccan, granny gardens and even herb patches from where you can use the produce. For those who are not based in Bangalore, we offer an array of products on our website that will make the process of indulging your green-fingers on your own easier."
Foliage on the wall Sometimes, even a balcony is asking for too much and the only space left unoccupied is the vertical area, walls. Pune-based Landscape designer entrepreneur duo Supriya Nikumbh and Bhairavi Shevade offer the innovative vertical gardens. For both commercial and residential areas, Green Drops India brings green ecosystems to you. They say that not only does it save space; it also saves water through an irrigation system with the lower plants using the water passed on from the upper plants. Pioneered by French botanist and artist Patrick Blanc, it is known as mur végétal and has helped transform the way people look at walls. From malls to hotels, they have made a name for themselves with what started out as a wall at their own home. They now offer 20 varieties of plants, including flowering plants.
Creating art with plants While the concrete around us cannot be avoided, it can be moulded to be a part of the landscape and flow with nature. Big cities are notorious for packed spaces where greenery hardly finds a foothold. But even there, people crave to add elements of design that are in harmony with nature. Sometimes what you desire is not a tamed garden but a bit of wilderness. Architects Disney Davis and Nitin Barchha of The White Room, Mumbai, believe simplicity is hard work and pare down a design till it is essential, useful and beautiful. Nitin says, "Gardens are very important as they bring you in close contact with nature, especially large landscapes with a forest like feel. We suggest suitable options to clients and for us landscape should be an extension of the environment." Their rooftop garden with free flowing arched canopy, interspersed with lily ponds and barbeque area, speaks volumes for their creativity and organic style of design.
Maintaining your garden
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Making a record comeback
Music box Today the nostalgia of music on records and music boxes is being revived like never before. For some, these make a great adornment in the drawing room as curios and decoration pieces. But for the more serious collectors, these are a hark back to the days when CDs and digital music had not blasted the ears and the senses. Till the turn of the new millennium, music lovers with a penchant for the retro stuff would scour shops in different parts of the country to procure records whose life was cut off after the emergence of cassettes and CDs followed by digital music stores like Apple’s iTunes and Google Play Music. “We have collected these records from various parts of the country. I procured my Elvis Presley vinyl collection from a specialty music shop in London,” says Brigadier Sharma. But now, music aficionados like him will not have to go to such lengths. Much like the fountain pen, vinyl phonograph records are making a dramatic comeback. Every new release is being offered in CDs, digital formats and in record versions which are finding passionate buyers. The burgeoning interest in records is backed by numbers. Last year, more than 10 million vinyl records were sold worldwide with the highest sales of 5.8 million came from America alone. Estimates say that the demand is likely to grow by a million every year. Ironically, even as overall music sales have registered a sharp drop by more than 50 per cent in the last one decade, sale of vinyl records has jumped by more than 250 per cent.
Business sense In today’s scenario, no musician or record label can afford not to release songs and albums on vinyl. And though the sales may be just around three per cent of the total music business, records are making their presence felt all over again and in no uncertain terms. In many western countries, there are speciality shops catering to the old-fashioned way music was heard. It is not just the older singers and bands who are releasing on vinyl. Today all artists — even those born after the era of the records — are putting their new releases on vinyl apart from CDs and digital downloads even as the market for the retro steadily grows year after year. The buyers, too, are not just music-loving senior citizens seeking to rekindle their younger days. Even Gen Y is getting hooked to records with many preferring these to newer versions. Such is the demand that there is a severe capacity shortage for pressing records. Apart from the established ones, a number of new companies like Gotta Groove Records and RIP-V have cropped up who are working round the clock in a bid to meet the ever-increasing requirement. Unlike olden times when most records came in black, these companies are offering these in rainbow hues. Along with the records, gramophones and turntables, too, are making a comeback. There is an incredible array of options available in the market of turntables that are under Rs 25,000. The sound choices on offer include names like Audio Technica, Stanton, Pro-Ject Debut Carbon, Soundwagon, Crosley, VPI Classic and many more.
LPs revisited Many music enthusiasts are attributing the vinyl renaissance to the fact that records yield warmth and depth which CDs and downloaded music does not. Fans are particularly excited about the re-release of classic albums like the complete Beatles and Rolling Stones repertoires and are willing to pay big bucks for these. “In the West, many record labels are working overtime to produce records. Indian music companies should also follow suit as there's a growing demand for old songs of K. L. Saigal, Talat Mehmood, Mukesh, Mohammad Rafi, Manna De, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle in vinyl versions. As of now, all one can get are second-hand records many of which are not in a great condition," says Brigadier Sharma. Indeed, it is a business opportunity waiting to happen. Records, which are a part of musical history, are suddenly back in vogue mainly among the trendy music connoisseurs. In this age of digital downloads, they are holding out their magic again all over again.
Amy’s posthumous success Price:
Rs 900 per record
Rolling Stones roll on Price:
Rs 1,500
Led Zeppelin’s Déjà Vu Price:
Between Rs 600 and Rs 900
Kanye West’s record demand Price:
Between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,500
Lady goes gaga Price:
Between Rs 900 and Rs 1,500
Madonna on vinyl again Price:
Between Rs 900 and Rs 1,500
Michel Jackson for the records Price:
Rs 1,200 per record
Beyonce spurs turntable sales Price:
Rs 2,500 per record
Bieber basics Price:
Rs 1,800 per record
Shakira’s record breaking feat Price:
Between Rs 1,800 and Rs 2,500
Adele’s record Price:Rs 1,200 per record
Ageless David Bowie Price:
Rs 1,500 per record
Beatles once again Price:Rs
1,000 to Rs 2,400
per record
Britney’s new LPs Price:
Between Rs 600 and Rs 900
Rihanna re-loaded Price:
Between Rs 1,200
and Rs 1,500
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He gave flight to his dreams Dalip Grewal loves flying even if it is ferrying police and paramilitary forces on an Ecureuil AS 350 to Naxalite-prone areas Jasmine Singh When
youngsters his age are partying away, he gets his high from flying to dangerous areas. Try telling him that and he retorts, “And you say adventure is dangerous, try living monotony.” Dalip Grewal has the same answer for anyone who is curious to know why this 24-year-old is dropping the police and CRPF on the helicopter Ecureuil AS 350 to Naxalite-affected areas. Especially when he could have easily chosen a risk-free life. Dalip is the youngest civil pilot to fly anti-Naxalite squads in a helicopter first as a pilot and later on as a captain from 2011- 2012. “Well, I was just about 21 when I started ferrying government officials to and fro,” he says confidently. When he would fly in the Naxalite-affected jungles, where conditions are hostile it is not a surprise, besides the tough terrain, there is no air traffic control and no one to give me information on the weather conditions. To top it all, as he says, “The Naxals are waiting for us to make a mistake.” This helicopter pilot is currently flying politicians for the upcoming Lok Sabha General Election. Before he explains the challenges and fun part of his job, Dalip shares what exactly inspired him to be a pilot. “My grandfather was an avid flyer, he would come back with stories from a different world that he saw up there”. Then, a friend gifted me Richard Bach’s book A Gift Of Wings and that’s when I knew this is all I wanted to do,” shares Dalip who studied from Vivek High School, Chandigarh and went on to do his course in flying from a flying school in California. Dalip could have easily chosen the money-minting profile of a commercial pilot, but he decided his flying would have a purpose, an adrenaline rush and adventure too. “When I first told my family that I would be flying officers to and from the disturbed area, they literally panicked. With time though they accepted it,” he adds. From Lucknow to Jhansi, from Dehradun to Delhi, Dalip flies a politician daily to their respective rallies. This sure sounds fun! He says, “Well, not really. First, I have to be prepared to fly at their beck and call, and then as a pilot I have to deal with so many last-minute changes.” The one thought that runs in his mind while flying is none other than… “I am trained to fly, but when I know I am flying a political personality, I tell myself I’d better be careful,” he smiles. This is the challenge of his job, and then there is a fun part to it, which Dalip shares, “We don’t fly in the night, so I know that I have the night to myself, so I can watch the match.” Dalip dreams only of flying. “I want to fly a MI-172, a 26-seater helicopter soon. In fact, Mesco Airlines, my company had sent me to for extensive training to Russia. Now, lets see when do I get closer to my dream,” adds the this pilot who is also working on a new project. He wants to write a book based on the real-life incidents of his life. “It will be a fiction and satire on how things are in the Naxal areas. I feel we don’t know much about these areas, though this book I would be able to shed some knowledge on the area as well. I would go with the title, Jagdalpur Diaries, and it would be out soon.”
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ONE FOR THE RIVER
Price:
Rs 81 lakh ($135,000)
SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE
Price:
Rs 1,800 per cigar ($30)
RAISING A TOAST TO CANNES
Price:
16,800 a bottle of 750 ml ($280)
RIDING A SWAN
Price:
Priceless!
BEATLES ONCE MORE
Price:
Upon request
FLIGHT OF THE BLUE DREAM
Price:
Priceless!
A TOAST TO ASTON MARTIN
Price:
Rs 2.49 lakh for cooler & Rs 30,000 for two flutes ($41,500 & $5,000)
ACCESSORISING THE DESK
Price:
Rs 5.70 lakh ($9,500)
Price:
Upon request
HIGH FLIER
Price:
Rs 390 crore ($65 million)
PICTURE THIS!
Price:
Rs 75,900 ($1,265) for the Leica camera
GOLDEN LOVE LETTERS
Price:
Upon request
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The
The
One of the most brilliant singers of the current generation, Amy Winehouse died tragically in 2011 at the age of 28 of substance abuse that included alcohol and drugs. Posthumously, her albums like Back to Black, Love Is a Losing Game and Back to Rehab have gone platinum in all formats, especially on vinyl.
In 2012 when Rolling Stones celebrated their half century as a band, the music world exploded in celebrations. The Stones started off in 1962 when the 78 rpm was supreme. The highlight of their 50th birthday bash was the re-release of all their greatest hits in vinyl version, which are now clocking brisk sales. 
Almost half a century ago when this band was formed, the 78 rpm records were giving way to LPs and gramophones were going out of fashion giving way to electronic players. The era has come full circle for Led Zeppelin as vinyl records of their old hits and new collections flood the market.
America’s top-of-the-line hip-hop singer and songwriter Kanye West has released most of his smash hits like The College Dropout, Jesus Walks and Stronger on all formats. Interestingly, his vinyl records sell out so fast that his record labels are constantly deluged with orders that they find hard to fulfil.
What can one say about Lady Gaga that has not already been said or written before? The American singer and songwriter shot to fame in 2008 with her debut album The Fame, which was released both on CDs and record formats. Today most of her hit singles and albums are hot sellers in vinyl version.
For a singer who has been one of the most prominent cultural icons for more than 30 years, Madonna has seen the world of music changing in different ways. Her popularity was at its peek when records gave way to cassettes and CDs. Two decades later, music companies are again releasing vinyl versions of her hits.
A modern-day music God, Michael Jackson’s huge hits in the 1970s and 1980s like Thriller, Beat It and Off the Wall came when records were the rage. He rode the transition to cassettes and CDs. After his death, companies are re-issuing vinyl records to meet the burgeoning demand for this new trend.
In February when top American singer Beyonce released her eponymous fifth album as an LP, it was proof — if any was required — about the re-emergence of music in the Long Playing Record version. Such was the craze for the ‘new’ format that many fans actually invested in turntables to enjoy the music.
A youth pop icon of the new generation, the 20-year-old Canadian musician, song writer and dancer, Justin Bieber has some of the biggest monster hits to his name. Though most of his music is in CD version, he was signed by Island Records in 2009 to release his chart-toppers like My World on vinyl records.
Though she’s had a string of hits in her career, Columbian singer Shakira shot to universal fame in 2010 when she sang Waka Waka This Time for Africa, which became an instant worldwide number one hit on CDs and records.
Since then, her chartbusters are appearing in record format and flying off the shelves.
One of the most successful singers of our times, Adele has won a record 10 Grammys and the Oscar for the lead song of the James Bond movie Skyfall and countless other awards. Most of her hit albums and singles, including Someone Like You, Set Fire to the Rain and Skyfall are now also available
in vinyl format. 
At 68, most musicians walk into their golden sunset. But not David Bowie. He has as big a fan-following today that he enjoyed in the 1970s and he keeps churning out hit after hit. The new millennium saw most his music being released on CDs and vinyl records, including his new album The Next Day.
Back in the 1960s, the Fab Four wowed the world by releasing one chartbusting record after another. These came in all sizes — 78 rpm, 45 rpm and the 33½ rpm and listeners lapped them up. The record version of their hits has staged a comeback once again and Beatles fans are making a beeline for them.
Time was, just a year ago, when it was almost impossible to find a single song by Britney Spears on vinyl. Today, the market is flooded with all her singles and albums in record format. And ever since these records appeared in the market, Spears has a new fanatical following of fans who groove to the vinyl music.
At 25, Barbadian singer Rihanna has had more top-of-the-charts hits than her age. Many of her songs like Take A Bow and We Found Love are in the list of the Best Selling Singles of all times. Though these were available only on CDs and iTunes, now their record versions have been released to amazing response.
Stuck in a road mess? Take a turn towards the river and don't stop. Lo and behold, your car doubles up as a boat! Online retail giant Hammacher Schlemmer is offering the world's fastest amphibious car that can attain a speed of upto 75 kmph on water and capable of reaching 125 kmph on the road. Powered by a 300-hp Honda engine, it operates like a regular vehicle on land with four-speed manual transmission, four-wheel disc brakes and lights. When it's time to enter the water, a built-in hydraulic wheel-retraction system raises the wheels above the bottom of the hull. The car's resilient body absorb bumps while coasting over waves or rough roads. Soon with the Flying Car also becoming a reality the world will have automobiles for land, water and air!
Any socialite will tell you that the best way to kill a party is to light up a cigar. So, if you enjoy your cigar should you step out into the balcony and puff away till you've had your fix which could take almost half an hour-the time a normal cigar lasts? Not a great idea. But fear not. With the 'Fifty One Electronic Cigar' you can smoke away to your heart's content. Your lungs may cry out for help but no one will protest in the party. That's because this specially made E-cigar emits no odour though it is said to give the same kick as a regular one. And best of all, you do not have to chuck it away. One cigar lasts for a mind-boggling 1,500 puffs without jeopardising your health or environment.
Guess which is the permanent entry to the Cannes Film Festival? It’s not a film but a brandy. When the festival takes off on May 14, 2014, this will be French cognac Remy Martin’s eleventh year of participation. And this year the company is pulling out all the stops for a stunning presentation comprising a beautiful gold-toned XO Excellence decanter. The sleek exterior of the decanter matches perfectly with the tone of the festival. This bottle is packaged in an awesome gold and black box. On the inside however, the allure of Hollywood is rendered through the rich red carpet and stairs that represent the Cannes Film Festival’s famous red carpeted steps making it truly a collector’s item.
It is an annual parade of some of the most beautiful vintage cars of the world. The Concours d'Elegance (competition of elegance) at the Pebble Beach in California this year showcased one of the rarest of rare cars. Called the Brooke Swan Car— Maharaja Class, it dates back to 1910 and belonged to Robert Nicholl Matthewson, an engineer, during the British Raj. An India hater, he got the car designed specifically to mock the garish cars of the maharajas. Ironically, in the end, when he was leaving India he had to sell the car to the Maharaja of Nabha, who was the only person who could afford its price. The jalopy today is in mint condition and is an instant attention grabber at automobile festivals around the world.
Anything that the Beatles touched in their musical career has turned to gold...or rather silver! The legendary Rock Box of the Fab Four has now been recreated into a complete sterling silver work of art individually numbered and encased in a cabinet by UK Silversmiths Phil Wainman & Co. As it takes an immense lot of man-hours to craft every instrument only four Rock Boxes are produced annually and each is individually numbered with a certificate of authenticity. Weighing 2.27 kilos the glass case is 21 inches wide and 12 inches high and is the ultimate memorabilia dedicated to the greatest rock n roll band of the twentieth century. A hark back to a musical legacy. 
Which is the fastest car in the the world? The answer is the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. Right? Not fully. At 430 kmph, it may be the fastest car but it is not the fastest Bugatti. That honour must go to the 900bhp, 800kmph aircraft named the 100P which was designed by the company founder Ettore Bugatti back in the 1930s. However, World War ll put an end to the unique aircraft. Now two American aeronautical engineers, John Lawson and Simon Birney, have re-built an exact replica of the 100P. The fully airworthy art deco-style airplane called the Blue Dream will find pride of place in the California Aircraft Museum where it is expected to attract plane enthusiasts from all over the world
What is the drink of choice of people who drive an Aston Martin? The finest champagne, of course. Or, at least that’s what the iconic British car company would have us believe with its stunning new silver collection. The limited edition collection comprises an uber exclusive champagne cooler and matching silver flutes that have been inspired by the extraordinary engineering and beauty of Aston Martin, the favourite car of James Bond. The collection offered in a classy presentation case that would have you saying cheers to the skills of the craftsmen.
True-blue executives are known by the desk they keep. A luxury desk not just spells class but indicates corporate success. Take a look at the sleek and dramatic calf leather Corriander Pearlised Shagreen collection from Italian luxury house Paolo Guzzetta. The collection accented with palladium fasteners and a pearl-like sheen includes everything a business honcho could ever want on his or her desk. Aside from the obvious pad and letter tray, it also comes with a picture frame, a pair of scissors, letter opener, tape dispenser, stapler, pencil cup, desk clock, post-it and business card holder and a magnetic clip holder. There’s just one thing missing — an assistant to lick envelopes!
If you thought all flashlights are created equal then you’ve got to see this one by Orbita, the Swiss luxury watchwinder company. The Embedded LED Flashlight with 24-karat polished gold-plated end caps is a multi-functional luxury illumination tool powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery delivering an intense white light. One of the specialities of the flashlight is that the components embedded in the body are a collection of actual watch parts like dials, gears, bridges and balance wheels. The flashlight comes complete in a lacquered wooden box with an Italian leather holster making it an ideal—and very useful—gift.
When high rollers fly they do it in mega style. And it has nothing to do with booking a first-class airline ticket. The mega rich fly in their private jets which have all the trappings of super luxury. A shining example of this bespoke opulence is American company Gulfstream’s newest ultra-luxe jet, G650. Currently, only 50 of these powerhouses are in the air and the waitlist tops four years. The 18-passenger, 11,000-kilometre range jet is accessible only to the super rich and current owners include Las Vegas hotel mogul Steve Wynn and fashion tycoon Ralph Lauren. The buying queue is long and includes Oprah Winfrey and Warren Buffet!
What does Leica camera have in common with a magazine like the Playboy? The obvious answer is that a camera is used to take pictures of those gorgeous models who feature on the pages of the adult entertainment magazine. French retail giant Colette has teamed up with Playboy and kid-friendly icon Hello Kitty for a line of Hello Kitty x Playboy items. Apart from the Leica camera, other products include . iPhone cases, mirrors, lighters, mugs, shirts, and more. The collection coincides with the 40th anniversary of Hello Kitty, 60th anniversary of Playboy, and the 100th anniversary of Leica. Strange bedfellows but the products are worth it.
Considered to be one of the most creative jewellery designers in Asia, Singapore-based Brenda Kang has wowed the world with her latest collection that evokes the spirit of romanticism through beautiful envelope pendants and cufflinks. Handcrafted from 18K gold, each envelope in the collection opens up to reveal a gold letter plate upon which messages can be etched. The jeweller says that the collection is inspired by the old habit of writing love letters, a lovers’ ritual that has fallen out of fashion in the era of E-mails and SMSes. Whether the collection brings back those times remains to be seen but these golden envelopes are a welcome and romantic alternative.