Known throughout the cricketing world as one of the fastest and most exciting pace bowlers in the game, Australian cricketer Brett Lee may not be as well known for his achievements off the field.  Brett’s passion in life is music and he is an excellent guitarist, having inherited his musical genes from his mother, who was a piano teacher.

Brett Lee who has made India his ‘second home’ seems to be quite serious about living in the country and has taken up the cause of bringing the joy of music to lesser-privileged children through his Mewsic Foundation, which has collaborated with Vh1 for the ‘VH1 Spread the Music’ campaign. Verus Ferreira met up with the fast bowler to know more about Brett’s other side and this new initiative.

You have been spending a lot of time in India, what is it that makes you so close to this country?
I have been to India countless times and I share a special bond with the country. I love the country and the culture, I share a special connect with this place that makes India so special for me. I love coming back to here and now more so for my foundation – MEWSIC and my commitment towards the campaign Vh1 Spread the Music, which is my priority.

What made you decide to start this Foundation if I might ask – was it to help out slum children?
I am passionate about music and I love kids. I started my foundation MEWSIC, to support under privileged children to overcome challenges and reach their full potential through music. It is through this campaign – Vh1 Spread the Music, that works on similar lines, of providing every child with the opportunity to experience joy and happiness through the power of music, that made me associate with the campaign and help these children to learn music in India.

What role will you play in this project.....from overseeing its working , to raising funds for the same?
My association with the campaign – Vh1 Spread the Music just doesn’t stop with this one launch event. It would go far beyond that! Even though I don’t stay in the country I would be looking closely into every process of making the campaign Vh1 Spread the Music as huge as possible in India. I would like to give every child a chance to learn music and provide the basic amenities and the required instruments for them to learn music. To promote the campaign ‘Vh1 Spread the Music’, I have composed the campaign song with the kids in association with Muso-Magic team from Australia to write and choreograph the song. We would also be raising funds through charity concerts and hold special performances by leading musicians and artists in metros in the coming weeks. We have also got on board a lot of partners ranging from night clubs, youth hangouts to coffee shops, etc, to spread the music.

What genre of music will be imparted to the slum kids from this project?
Through the campaign – Vh1 Spread the Music, we have launched four music centres in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Lucknow where for 2 hours kids will learn music, dance, express themselves and have fun! These music centres will also be attended by leading artists who would train and guide the children. There is no specific genre that would be taught to the children but they would learn each and every music instrument and excel in the one that they are passionate about!

As a fast bowler, you could've opened a sports centre or teach kids the rudiments of cricket, why music?
I had been thinking of starting a charity foundation in India and I thought rather than do it through a sport, I can do it using music, which I am passionate about! So I decided to take this passion of mine and open a foundation, soon things fell in place when Vh1 stepped in and provided the necessary help to spread music in India and help these young kids to experience the joy and power of music in India.

How much time will you spend on overseeing the functioning of the project you have started?
As I said earlier, I would be completely involved in the project – Vh1 Spread the Music and provide all the support that is required from my end. In the coming weeks, I would also be convincing my teammates to join in, to support the cause and spread the music.

~ Interviewed by Verus Ferreira