Pianist and Sound Engineer Mukesh Lobo Passes Away at 36

Late keyboardist and sound engineer Mukesh Lobo. Photo: Bryan Daniel

Goa/Mumbai artist Mukesh Lobo, who was the keyboardist and producer for blues band Kanchan Daniel & the Beards and also an audio engineer at Mumbai’s Globe Studios from 2012 to 2018 passed away yesterday following complications from a stroke he suffered three years ago. Friends of Lobo, who turned 36 last month, confirmed that the musician passed away on social media.

Kanchan Daniel & the Beards’ bassist Anand Kamath posted, “My dear friend and bandmate Mukesh Lobo is on his way to play gigs in the heavens. He fought long and hard last few years, but he finally decided to bid us adieu. Gonna miss all the jam sessions, traveling, gigs and more than that, your presence. You take care until we jam soon.”

With the Beards, Lobo — who co-founded the band with Daniel in 2012 — was a key driving force of the group with his exquisite ability on the keys, arrangements and overall proficient musicianship. They performed extensively across the country playing at clubs and festivals while also writing blues bangers that include “The Road,” “Cookie Crumble,” “Quirky Perky,” “Jackie,” “Superficial” and more.

Recently, Lobo was releasing previously produced solo material through 2020 and 2021 and included some of the song titles such as “A Technicolored Dream,” “Colours,” “Playful and Quirky” and “When We Were Young.”

In a 2015 interview with Rolling Stone India, Lobo said, “I’m not a blues person. I’m a New Age person. If you want to hear my music, I can play it to you. I started composing music and realized I can keep shifting genres. That happened the moment I met Kanchan. It’s not about having an attachment; it just comes naturally.”