All posts filed under: MUSIC

Explore Local Musicians and their Music

Representing Our Blood Line, Our People- Khasi Bloodz from Meghalaya

Published by Lisa

“Here’s to the heartaches that pulled you through/Here’s to the walls you built to stop them coming back to you/Here’s to the bad times you’ve been there before/ And oh your feet are sore and you can’t do it anymore…” – A verse from their song ‘Don’t Stop’ Khasi Bloodz is a hip hop group from Meghalaya. The group, which started in late 2009, is the first Khasi hip hop group. Their music is influenced by Old School music, Hip Hop from the 90’s, Jazz and Rock. R&L member Lisa caught up with the group during one of their rehearsals. Hi there! Tell us how you got together to form a band? We started off with six of us but a few months back, new members have joined the crew and our family has gotten bigger and better. Initially, our band was called ‘Khasi Blood’ as we wanted to represent the blood line of Khasi’s but later added the Z to make it sound more Hip Hop. What kind of music do you make? And what is your …

Interview with Triau Trackx Band from Mizoram

Published by Lisa

Triau Trackx is a pop-rock band based in Champhai, Mizoram. They released their self-titled album in 2015 and are currently recording their next EP. Lisa, from Roots and Leisure, recently sat down for a quick chat with band members, Ramenga(drummer), Ruatfeli(vocalist), Ate-a(guitarist) and Lalthazoa (Tz’a) (Bassist), before their performance at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender, Meghalaya. Here’s an excerpt from the interview as Triau Trackx tells us about their music style, thoughts on the Northeast music scene and their message to the R&L community. Tell us how you guys got together to form the band and the origin of your band name? It started out as a project to promote local artists based in Champai, Mizoram. There is a river called ‘Tiau’ which flows between India and Myanmar, which is near Champai, the people there used to call us Triau Trackx and that’s how the name of the band came to be. What kind of music do you make? We make different kinds of music, sometimes ballads-working with only a piano, and other times it is grunge music, …

Platforms like NH7 Can Play a Big Role in the Indian Rock Music Uprising : Thaikkudam Bridge

Published by Shweta Rao

Kochi-based folk metal collective, Thaikkudam Bridge is synonymous to versatility and unprecedented innovation in remaking classic melodies. The band has been ruling the roost in terms of gaining massive fan-following right from the first time its music was aired on TV. The recognition has translated itself to a gradually growing number of shows booked apart from collaboration offers from established international names in the industry. This year the sprawling 18-member band will be performing at the multi-city music festival, NH7 Weekender that begins at Shillong, Meghalaya this weekend. We chatted with Anish Krishnan, one of the latest addition to the band’s vocals team, who couldn’t hide his excitement to watch Steve Vai perform live at the event. Shweta from Roots and Leisure interviews the Kochi-based folk metal collective band. Hey Anish! How excited are you about performing at NH7 Weekender? Yes, this is our first trip to Shillong and we’re very excited about it. After a delayed flight, weather scare, and a day layover at Bangalore, we have finally arrived to Shillong to give our share …

It Took Us 28 Years to Reach Shillong : An Exclusive Interview with Indian Ocean Band

Published by Shweta Rao

India’s happiest music festival is here! Music fans across the country have been eagerly waiting for Bacardi NH7 Weekender. And this time around, the festival is back with more exciting artists that promise action-packed performances. The multi-city music festival, which has previously played host to stellar performers like AR Rahman, Mark Ronson, Vishal Dadlani and Nucleya among others will be starting off at Shillong (27 to 28 October) again this year and will have its final showdown at Pune (8 to 10 December). As the marvelous musical weekend nears, Shweta from Roots & Leisure sat down to speak with members of Indian Ocean, a band that has been a staple at NH7 Weekender for a few years now and is a phenomenon in itself. Amit Kilam (drums, percussions and vocals) and Nikhil Rao (lead guitarist) tell us about what’s in store for their fans in the 2017 edition of one of India’s largest music festival. Photo : Indian Ocean What are you looking forward to the most about performing at NH7 Weekender this year? Amit …

Interview with Polar Lights Band from Nagaland

Published by Senti Naro

Nagaland in the North East region of India is an artist hub. Unlike the place which is mostly an unknown corner in the country, artists from this part are often one of the most recognized in their fields – especially musicians. North East region produces the country’s best original music artists. Today we are sitting with Mar Jamir – the lead singer of the super talented band from Nagaland – Polar Lights. Meet Mar Jamir from the band ‘Polar Lights’. Formed in the year 2013, they have come a long way. Hello Mar so good to be having this chat with you! Tell us about your band “Polar Lights” Polar Lights came together back in 2013. We’ve always been avid music enthusiasts, so when the opportunity came for all of us to get together and write music, we gave it a shot and 3 years later, we’re still here – writing music and doing what we love doing the most. So it was definitely worth the shot. We’ve had a couple of lineup changes since our inception but …

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Are You Headed to Bacardi NH7 Weekender 2017 Shillong ?

Published by Roots & Leisure

Folks! It’s time for another music festival in this beautiful part of the country – in the North East of India. Brace yourself for BACARDI NH7 Weekender 2017 – the Shillong edition, to be held on the 27th and 28th Oct. Looks like many of us are headed to “Wenfield, The Festive Hills” – Thadlaskein, Lad Mukhla, in Jaintia Hills – the venue for the happiest music festival! What are our folks saying about the festival? In order to give you guys a good enough view of the festival – in terms of what to expect, we reached out to a bunch of festival goers, to share their experiences, and how they are planning for this year’s event. Soyingo Ezung, 27, Entrepreneur | Owner, House of Candy “One of the coolest events to take place in India hands down. Very well organized and very safe event – but nonetheless, be safe and don’t forget to enjoy! Keep a lookout for the local musicians – you will be amazed at all the talent India has – in every …

Making My Own Musical Instruments From Bamboo | Rizal Abdulhadi – Folk Music Artist from Indonesia

Published by RNL Writer

“Music is the universal language of mankind.”― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Rizal Abdulhadi from Indonesia believes this to be true. He is a full-time musician, instrument builder, multi-instrumentalist, social activist, video producer & editor and the founder of the ‘ThatBamboo’ company – a music label that uses bamboo to create hand-crafted musical instruments. The most interesting fact about Rizal is that he makes his own instruments out of bamboo. His most recent handcrafted instrument called ‘Rasendriya’ is a combination of guitar with didgeridoo and celempung (percussion).He recently came to India for the Ziro Music Festival, and we had a chat with him to know more him, his music and his craft. Rizal Abdulhadi was here in India for the Ziro Festival of Music and R&L team caught up with him to know more about him, his music & his unique musical instruments – and his experience with the people, the place and the festival at Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh Hi Rizal! Tell us briefly about yourself. Hi! I am Rizal Abdulhadi from the band – Rizal & The …

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Nourhevilie Khate | 25 Year Old Violist and Guitarist from Nagaland

Published by Shiori Chan

25 year old Nourhevilie Khate from Nagaland plays the violin and guitar with equal skill and passion that it has not only won him several competitions but the young multi-talented musician is now doing his Master’s in Violin performance from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London. Nourhevillie was a winner of the David Menezes National violin competition in 2014 and judged as the best guitarist in the Rockville: battle of the bands at NIT-Nagaland’s annual cultural fest Ekarikthin 2015. He has also been a part of the India National Youth Orchestra, Canada-India Youth Orchestra, Indo-German Youth Orchestra, BSM Chamber Orchestra and Purple Fusion (A folk fusion band from Nagaland) He has helped others like him follow their passion in music and taught music at Symphony School of Music Kohima, Music Academy Kohima, Hope Centre for Excellence, Dimapur and Bangalore School of Music. Hi Nourhe, can you brief us a bit about your journey so far? I am from Nagaland, India. I graduated with a bachelors degree in theology from SABC, Bangalore. I …

Meet Kekhrie Ringa – Rising Broadway Style Singer from Nagaland

Published by Shweta Rao

Outspoken, yet cool-as-a-cucumber, budding artist and singer Kekhrie Ringa has never been a voice that blends into the background. Not surprisingly, she’s also one of the very few rising singing stars in the Broadway genre in India. In her own words, “I sing and teach vocals for a living” Kekhrie works at the Music Academy Kohima as a vocal teacher, and she is also a part of the gospel rock band ‘Fireflood’ – a seven-member band, based out of Bangalore. I sing and teach vocals for a living” Kekhrie Ringa, Nagaland Shweta Rao: Hey Kekhrie, feel so good to have you here with us! So tell us – who according to you – is Kekhrie Ringa? Kekhrie Ringa: I am a singer and a vocal teacher. I was born in Mokokchung, but I currently live in Kohima. I am a Broadway-style singer and admire Kirsten Chenoweth for her work in the genre. She is an amazing Broadway star. Also, Christina Aguilera was, is, and will forever be my favorite. I finished my Bachelor in Arts …

Losing Our Hearts to Nagaland’s Very Own John Mayer | Imliakum Aier

Published by Shweta Rao

“Poise, prose, and passion make a great musician,” goes a famous saying. Nah! We just made that up. But it’s true! Most of our favorite artists today have struck a chord with millions of fans not just for being good singers. They gotta have the looks and be completely invested in their music beginning from lyrics, to costume, and even their Instagram posts. It’s what the music industry calls ‘a whole package’. Somewhere amidst the bustling, vibrant city of Kohima, Imliakum Aier is strumming a guitar whipping up a new tune for his brainchild, a young band of funky young musicians aptly named The Electric Cool Kid. Aier sports a pair of Lennon round sunglasses, a funky Hawaiian shirt and a pensive look that would put John Mayer to shame. One cannot help but think that Nagaland’s music scene has found its whole package. We spoke with Imliakum to get to know him and how this budding artist weaves magic through his simple lyrics. Tell us about the musician in Imliakum Aier. When did realise you wanted …