Listening to old Ravi Shankar records from his grandfather made Barend decide to start playing sitar. It resulted in a long journey learning the instrument and Indian classical music. Barend also lived for six months in India where he had lessons every day. These six months were a real boost for his sitar playing. Barend had lessons from several great sitar players like Darshan Kumari,

Jyoti Thakar, Partha Bose and Indrajit Banerjee.

 

The last few years he is trying to incorporate Indian classical music in several fusion styles and groups. By this he is finding his own voice on the sitar more and more.

 

Together with his brother Maarten Tromp he is playing sitar in BMI Goes India. In this Asian Underground group Indian music is combined with modern dance styles like drum and bass, breakbeats and everything in between.