He may not be related to John Mayer, but travelling Austrian guitar player Peter Mayer can certainly give the Wonderland star a run for his money. Although the irony is that very often Peter plays for free. The 26-year-old was in Chennai last week to perform at the opening of an art exhibition at Apparao Galleries in Nungambakkam. His boyish good looks coupled with soulful acoustic guitar strains seemed to woo several art enthusiasts in the small gathering. “I have an inclination to fall in love with painters,” he smiles mischievously, as he introduces one of his songs. “Maybe that’s what brought me here,” the lanky lad says, offering a toast to destiny.Talking to him after his performance, it appears that there really is a twist of fate that brought Mayer to Chennai. He recalls that he always wanted to come to India and around the same time that he was planning his trip, he received an invitation to play in Mumbai. “I was invited to perform in Mumbai at the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation.” Then he continues excitedly, “Shortly after I performed, somebody there requested that I come down to Chennai – so here I am.” His next stop is Pune, he states, although he isn’t quite sure of the date yet.Travel seems to bring out diverse genres in his music which flows from one into the other. There is a hint of jazz, the melody of a love song, and, in one particular composition, chords of the Austrian anthem! Asked about how all his tunes are instrumental pieces without lyrics, and he responds, “I didn’t think they needed any!” Geared up to meet his next audience in India as part of this ‘holiday tour’, the guitarist promises to return to Chennai soon. “I have an album coming out later this year, and the plan is to tour India in December,” he adds. So does a song about Chennai figure on the list? “Yes. It’s going to be fast and relentless just like the heat,” he says.
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