A taste of different genre of music

Titled, ‘Handshake’ concert, the evening will feature about nine bands, each performing their own style of music.

This year the fourth edition of the concert is presented by Mindlogicx and organised by Rattle and Hum Music Society in collaboration with Nagaland University, North East  Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), Tourism Nagaland and the Rolling Stone.

Artiste Vishwa Mohan Bhatt will be performing with upcoming bands like Soulmate (from Shillong), Melodrama (winner NSACS rock reach 2010), ‘Divine Connection’ (winner MTV desi beats 2011), Anuradha Pal from Mumbai, Sathya, solo performer from Chennai, ‘Swarathma’ (from Bangalore), Kenei Chale (NSACS rock reach ambassador) and folk artistes Khrukusolu and Vetolu Lohe.

Talking about how the initiative began, Theja Meru, president of Rattle and Hum Music Society said they first started in a small way in 2008 in Nagaland. Thrilled by the tremendous response, Theja decided to take the concert to different metros across the country. “Handshake concert is all about integration, friendship and goodwill. It hopes to promote good music and popularise the different genre of music among the people,” explained Theja. The first concert had five participating groups and this number has grown to nine. “We don’t restrict the musicians to perform around a particular genre. We give them the freedom to perform whatever they’re comfortable with. There will be folk and fusion music along with hip-hop, jazz and heavy metal. We encourage up-and-coming artistes to mix with established musicians,” added Theja.

Metrolife interacted with a few of the participating bands and asked them why they chose to be a part of this initiative and what they would be performing.

K Sathyanarayanan, Sathya for short, is from Chennai. He performs Carnatic and Indian classical music on keyboard. “Music is always special and that there is a day dedicated to music is even more special and this is why I chose to participate in the concert. I am also blessed to play with internationally renowned musicians of all genres,” said Sathya.

Sathya has been practising hard for the concert. He will perform, Chinanchirukiliye, a Ragamalika authored by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi. Najane,  a composition of Balamuralikrishna song on raga Amir Kalyan and will close his performance with a medley of Tamil Nadu traditional folk, a composition of Purandaradasa, Bagyadha Lakshmi Baramma and Vandhey Matharam. 

Mhathung Odyuo, a band member of ‘Divine Connection’ said that this was their first concert in the City.

The band has done exceptionally well and are the winners of ‘MTV Desi Beats Rock On’. Among the songs that they will be performing are Tum Jo Mil Gaye Hoh, Zara Se, Ba Khuda, ‘It’s Love’ and ‘3:45 am’.

“The songs are a mixture of rock, blues and jazz. We are from Kohima in Nagaland and music binds us. That’s the language we all speak and are thrilled to perform some of our original compositions at the concert,” explained Mhathung.

Some of the others musicians include — the ‘Lohe Sisters’ who specialise in Naga Folk songs. Anuradha Pal, a tabla player and percussionist who composed the background score in Gaja Gamini, the M F Husain film.

She regularly scores music for music albums, theatre and documentaries. The entry to the concert is free.