All posts filed under: ARTISTS

Explore Local Artists and Know Their Stories

Rootsandleisure_tap comics

This Engineering Grad and MBA Dropout Found Her Passion in Storytelling | Meet Ramya Sriram – Creator of TAP Comics

Published by Vilina

They say no matter where you go and what you do, your dreams don’t die when you have the passion for it. Today’s guest has had an interesting journey –  from an aspiring medical candidate to an engineer to an MBA drop out to working in publishing then advertising, and finally settled on something that is truly hers. She tried many trades and yet, her love for storytelling and drawing never left her. Lucky for the world, she found her true passion and finally created TAP comics, which is a delightful mix of art, happiness, nostalgia and lots of good ‘ol humor! Meet Ramya, creator of TAP comics as she chats about her colorful journey and why she chose a career that is completely different than what she set out to achieve. Plus her love for drawing and more. Hi Ramya, please introduce yourself. I am Ramya Sriram currently living in Loughborough, UK. I’m a cartoonist/ writer from Hyderabad, India. I draw comics and write stories (or vice versa) at thetap.in, a space where I hoard …

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Singer Songwriter Abdon Mech from Nagaland Talk About Growing up in a Family of Musicians

Published by Vilina

Abdon Mech was born into a family of four, where every other member is a musician including his father, mother, and sister. This talented 21-year-old singer-songwriter, despite stepping into the music industry just a year ago, has quickly emerged as a remarkable artist, captivating audiences with his soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics. His musical prowess spans across genres, effortlessly traversing the realms of slow 70’s jazz and seamlessly blending into the infectious rhythms of peppy pop beats. With his undeniable talent and undeniable star quality, he has already on his way to stardom! We sat down to get personal with this young local talent from Nagaland to talk about his roots, musical inspirations, and more. R&L: Hello Abdon, please introduce yourself Abdon: I am Abdon Mech from Thahekhu Village, Dimapur in Nagaland. I am 21 years old and an aspiring singer/songwriter. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in English and will be pursuing my Master’s in the same soon. R&L: Introduce us to your work. What got you started? Abdon: Music started very very late for …

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Meet Shreya Kundu | 20 Year Old Comic Artist Who Will Turn Your Frown Upside Down

Published by Vilina

We all grew up reading comics and most of us still love reading them . This 20 year old comic artist from Kolkata is an exception, who not only grew up reading but learned the trade of creating one in her own imaginary world with animal characters being her favourite. Her Instagram is filled with quirky and fun comic strips that will definitely not leave you disappointed . R & L had a quick chat with this talented young comic artist who turns day-to-day activities or real life situation into humour by doodling them into characters. Tell us something about yourself and what are you up to ? I’m Shreya Kundu, 20 years old who is currently based in Kolkata. Well, I am currently  up to expressing my ideas in silly comics! Introduce us to your work. What got you started? I’m a comic artist, and I make funny short stories from time to time. “I’ve been a fan of humour as long as I can remember, so a couple of years back I decided to store my …

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Meet Vikhietuonuo Rutsa – Soulful Pianist and Music Teacher from Nagaland

Published by Tiarenla

“Music is the key to your soul” As cliché as it may sound, it is always going to be true! Music can trigger feelings and memories, and most importantly, can connect you to the self, the creator or even a stranger thousands of miles away from you. Today we have a sweet soul, who is a pianist, music teacher and youth leader. Vikhietuonuo Rutsa from Nagaland radiates peace and calm, and that you can feel very strongly in her music. We had a quick chat with the musical genius Vikhietuonuo Rutsa, to talk about what keeps her focused and optimistic, taking risks, and how to prepare for stage performances, as a beginner. Tell us something about yourself, and when did you start playing? Hi , my name is Vikhietuonuo Rutsa but my friends call me Vikhie or Vi. I’m 26 years old from Kohima – a Sociologist, a Musician, Youth Chairman and a Worship Leader at Baptist Mission Church, Kohima. “I started my first piano lesson when I was 10 from Miss Mhalevonuo Zhale. Later on only …

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Turning The Mundane Into Something Insane and Outrageous | Meet Self-Taught Digital Artist Onen

Published by Ovung Jungio

Today’s artist is a digital artist-cum-engineer who goes by the name of “Mr.Brightside” whose weird, twisted yet profound sketches is a reflective exploration of the human state – physical and mental. His art stands out from the multitude of other artists due to its accented uniqueness and inventiveness which enthralls and unnerves all at the same time. Onen’s works are multi-faceted and open ended to the point of debate. It embodies a sense of existential vagueness that instinctively entices the feral remnants of our collective primate heritage. Our contributor Jungio chats with the self- taught digital artist about his transition from drawing cartoon characters as a kid – to diving into the dark and surreal inspired by Japanese art and culture, current art scene in Nagaland and more. Tell me a little about yourself? My name is Bendangonen Atsongchanger but I go by the name of Mr. Brightside :D.  I am 25 years of age from Mokokchung, Nagaland and currently pursuing my Bachelor’s in Computer engineering from Pune. How would you describe your art? What or …

Rootsandleisure_Nagaland artist

“My Top 7 Tunes From The Hills Of Nagaland” by Jungio

Published by Ovung Jungio

Our contributor and music aficionado Jungio has shared another list of his top seven songs from Naga artists. He also adds a personal commentary about each of the tunes, and why he thinks we should give them a listen. Over to Jungio! “Despite the paltry infrastructures and less-than-ideal circumstances, musical talents from the region have been able to put Nagaland on the map for something worth writing about and beyond. So without much further ado, let’s shine a spotlight on these stars and their tunes that deserves your attention and your listening ears.” ~ Jungio Here’s the Top 7 tunes curated from the hills of Nagaland. “See” by Tuden Jamir  There are songs with piercing lyrics, there are songs with evocative melodies and then there is this song from the songwriter extraordinaire, Tuden, who effortlessly brings together both these elements in this outstanding track – with the finesse and showmanship of a musical alchemist. “This song is the de-facto anthem of any twenty-something-someone swimming against the tempestuous tides of conventionalism and conformity, a love letter to the …

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This Self-Taught Dancer from Arunachal is Melting Our Hearts with Her Dance Moves | Meet Nemngai Mosang

Published by Kumti

Meet 22-year-old Nemngai Mosang from Arunachal, who is a passionate dancer, plays the guitar and enjoys listening to K-pop. Don’t brush her off as just another dancer on Instagram – yet. The fact that is self-taught, working hard on her dreams – every day, manages to inspire us with her dance moves and fun-loving attitude, and brings together multiple cultures – the Northeastern and Korean cultures through her love for Korean music and dance moves is admirable. Also, she is a talent powerhouse (she plays the guitar too!) with tons of positivity! So let’s get to know her a little bit more 🙂 This 22-year-old enthusiastic powerhouse of talent chats with R&L to talk about her dancing journey, her creative mantra and more. Hi, would you like to tell us a bit about yourself? I am Nemngai Mosang, 22-year-old self-taught dancer from Arunachal Pradesh. For me, dancing is everything; I just can’t express how much I love dancing! Dancing allows me to be completely myself and makes me happy. Apart from dancing, I also like to play the …

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Local Fashion Brand “Shipen-Shisang” from Nagaland Celebrates Women with Their Spring Summer ‘18 Collection

Published by Roots & Leisure

It’s the month of June, and the weather in Nagaland is becoming warmer.It rains occasionally – sometimes very fierce, but as the sky opens up after the showers of rain, temperature may soar as high as 30°C; maybe a little cooler at around 25°C in Kohima. But the overall mood is relaxed and summery – with the locals often paying a visit to the nearby ice cream parlor, a friend’s place or an evening out to check out the lineup of cafes/lounges that have recently popped up in various parts of the state. That’s when they dress up in their most comfy – yet stylish outfits to capture #Instagram-worthy clicks. Thank their stars, they have some talented fashion designers – along with the local boutiques, to gather to their never-ending pursuit for the trendiest outfits – that are uniquely and exclusively made for the local fashion tastes. Today we have the talented fashion designer/entrepreneur duo from “Shipen-Shisang”showcasing their Spring Summer ’18 collection. The talented sisters behind the brand have been dressing up the savvy dressers with …

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This Talented Pianist Wants to Enlighten Us on Naga Folk Music and Ethnomusicology | Meet Jaremdi from Nagaland

Published by Tiarenla

Music is food for the soul, so they say – and the Nagas are no doubt among the lucky ones who are blessed and with an innate and exceptional talent in this field. There’s a musician in almost every household in this part of the country but talent alone does not guarantee success; it needs to be backed sufficiently with persistence and a strong entrepreneurial drive to create a successful music career. Today we chat with one such lady who has all qualities that can potentially carve an enthralling musical career. Say hi to Jaremdi Wati Longchar from Nagaland, a seasoned pianist, who is working passionately towards a career in ethnomusicology. Hi Jaremdi, tell us something about yourself- your background and your musical journey Hi, I am 29 years old and I am currently based in Dimapur. However, I’ve lived half of my life in Kohima as well, so, I consider myself both a Dimapur and a Kohima girl.I am currently working towards building a career in ethnomusicology, which is basically the study of music in …

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Another Musical Talent from Northeast India You Need to Follow – Meet Vocal Artist Thunglamo Ngullie from Nagaland

Published by Tiarenla

Music and Musicians, you will find aplenty in Northeast India; it’s a huge part of their lives, and most of the artists are genuinely talented and passionate – which is the reason why we just can’t stop writing (or talking!) about them! Trust us, we have merely scratched the surface of what is a goldmine of creative talents in this part of the world. Today, we introduce you guys to Thunglamo Ngullie, a 27 year old dynamic and versatile solo artist from Nagaland. A hardcore music lover, trained musician, Naga Idol Runner Up and now a Vocal Trainer. Here’s a chat with the talented young man to talk about his musical journey in this remote part of the country, and how he got to perform in several parts of the world – including China and South Korea! Hi Thungla, tell us about yourself and your musical journey so far. I’m originally from Wokha district, and now I am based in Dimapur. I graduated from Unity College Dimapur; I’m now a full time musician, and also work as …