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INDIE KALAKAAR Volume 1, Issue 1, Monsoon 2022

IndieKalakar

CREDITS Publishing Vernekar Publishers Pvt Ltd

Editor Arikta Vernekar

Illustrator Arikta Vernekar

Articles Wikipedia goldflakepaint.co.uk Mixtape, Berklee college of music The daily guardian Republic news India Infosaurs.com Highonscore.com instrmnts.com

For educational purposes only. No commercial use.

EDITOR’S

LETTER

“Music heals your mind and soul”. And what else does it do? Music brings people from all around the world with different perspectives together. It has the power to rise above everything and anything that keeps people from being together. Indie Kalakar aims to connect people to the beautiful and vulnerable indie music by underrated and undiscovered Indian artists. Independent music is growing largely in India and it’s time that it gets as much recognition as labeled records. This edition of Indie kalakar focuses on 5 major upcoming indie artists. We also have a range of song selections for your monsoon chai sessions. Whether you are sad, happy or in love, we’ve got it all covered for you. Here we are are proudly presenting to you the hardwork or all the artists, illustrators in indie music and from this magazine. Cheers to a new and fresh world of music!

Arikta Vernekar Editorial Director ariktaarun@gmail.com

IndieKalakar

CONTENTS

ARTISTS

NEW ARTIST

MUSIC FOR THIS SEASON

INSTRUMENT

EVENTS

MUSIC VIDEO

POP MUSIC

GLOBAL INDIE MUSIC SCENE

IndieKalakar

PAREKH & SINGH

Parekh & Singh are an Indian Dream Pop Duo from Kolkata, West Bengal. They play multiple roles in their band. Let’s hear their story... The duo consists of Nischay Parekh (vocals,

in 2013. The album featured contributions

guitar, synths) and Jivraj Singh (drums,

from Singh on drums and percussion, Pedro

electronics). The two met as teenagers,

Zappa on bass and George Matthew Dylan

although they had both attended La Martiniere

Varner-Hartley (AKA George Dylan) on piano

for Boys. Parekh, who was introduced to

and keyboards. Ocean was well-received in

pop music by his mother, attended classes

India, with Rolling Stone India naming it as

at the Berklee College of Music in Boston,

one of the best Indian albums of the year. Two

Massachusetts, United States.

singles were released from the album: “I Love

Singh, meanwhile, was raised in a musical

You Baby, I Love You Doll” and “Panda.” The

household; with both parents being singers

duo were then briefly known as Zap in 2014,

and musicians that would often tour and

before changing their name to Parekh & Singh

“I don’t think you can really reject or resist anything that happens to you when you’re a kid; all of those experiences are part of you whether you like it or not.” perform in cover bands. Prior to the two playing

in 2015;[3] inspired by acts such as Simon

together, Parekh sang and played guitar in a

& Garfunkel and Hall & Oates. By this point,

self-described “experimental pop” band, The

bassist Zappa had moved on to other projects

Monkey In Me. The band formed in 2009, while

and keyboardist Varner-Hartley had relocated

Parekh was still in high school.

to Canada; thus officially making the project a duo again.

Formation, early years and Ocean

Ocean re-release (2015–2017) The band re-released Ocean under their new

Initially, the duo performed under the banner

name in October 2016 on Peacefrog, a British

of Nischay Parekh in 2011. Although it was

indie label. Parekh & Singh then re-released the

ostensibly Parekh’s solo project, Singh was a

single “I Love You Baby, I Love You Doll.” Its

constant collaboratorand appeared alongside

music video, which was shot on a US$5000

Parekh for photos and performances. They

(INR 322324) budget, features an aesthetic

released an album, Ocean, independently

influenced by the American film director

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Wes Anderson. It has since garnered over 2,000,000 views on YouTube, considered to be a significant feat for an Indian indie band. Two more singles were released from the album: “Philosophize” in November 2016, and “Ghost” in May 2017. In my case, luckily, my mum listened to a lot of really classic and really popular music – there was Stevie Wonder and The Beatles and Elvis and all sorts of stuff so I was lucky there was good music at home,” he explains. In terms of early-experimentation with his own music, Parekh reveals that from day one, his mum was his biggest fan.

Albums Ocean (2013; re-released 2016 as Parekh & Singh) Science City (2019) Singles "I Love You Baby, I Love You Doll" (2013; re-released 2016) "Panda" (2014) "Philosophize" (2016) "Ghost" (2017) "Summer Skin" (2018) "Hello" (2019) "Crystalline" (2019) "Je Suis la Pomme Rouge" (2022) "Sleepyhead" (2022)

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MALI

Maalavika Manoj known professionally as Mali, is an Indian musician and songwriter based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. What has she got for indie music fans? Maalavika Manoj known professionally

by Goethe Institute and Alliance Française de

as Mali, is an Indian musician and songwriter

Chennai in association with Unwind Center. In

based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. She was a

December 2012, she performed a few songs at

member of the underground band Bass-in-

a "Christmas Extravaganza" organised by Dr.

Bridge, and became a solo artist after the band

John Joseph Foundation at YMCA, Vepery. In September 2016, she released a single titled

Maalavika grew up listening electronic music.

"Dreaming".

When she was five years old, her parents

The five-track EP Rush, which had been in

decided to enroll her in various classes ranging

development as early as October 2015, was

from swimming and Bharatanatyam to piano

released on 27 January 2017. "Dreaming",

and drawing classes. A few years later, she quit

originally released as a single, was included

all of her classes other than piano, which she

on this EP. The title track of this album was later

learned till she was 17 years old. Around that

ranked second in Rolling Stone India's list of

time, she also decided to try learning the guitar,

"10 Best Indian Singles of 2017". In February

because at that point she felt it was "cool".

2017, Sony Music India released "Onnume

Maalavika said she never had to seriously

Aagala", a duet single between Mali and

tell her parents that she wanted to be a

Anirudh Ravichander on YouTube. In April

musician, because "they're happy if I'm doing

2018, Mali released "Play", a single which had

something I want and can sustain myself and

her grandfather M. C. Rammohan as featured

be comfortable with a career in music." Her

artist, playing the harmonica. In August 2019,

first singing performance was at a party when

she released a new single titled "Mango

she was 12 years old. At the party, she sang Ella

Showers"."Age of Limbo", the first single from

Fitzgerald's version of "Fever", with some of the

her next album Caution to The Wind, was

lyrics changed to "suit the occasion".Bass-in-

released in April 2020. The complete album

Bridge.

was released in April 2021.

Solo career

Musical style

Maalavika was featured in the "Sachin Anthem"

Mali's songs are usually inspired by

composed by Dhanush, which was released in

melancholy. She describes "over-thinking" as

February 2012. In June 2012, she performed at

"[o]ne of [her] weaknesses or strengths". On

the World Music Day celebrations organised

her songwriting style, she told The Telegraph,

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"When I start over-thinking, my best form of closure is writing it down. Once I write it all down, I feel I have expressed myself... literally crying to your friend when you are sad." In an interview with The Hindu, she described Skrillex, Hillsong, A. R. Rahman and Alanis Morissette as some of her "whole lot of random influences" in music, but noted that her "real inspiration to write music comes from situations or feelings that really strike a chord deep inside me and more or less compel me to write a song." According to Suraksha P of The New Indian Express, Mali also takes inspiration from artists like Stevie Nicks, Joss Stone, Norah Jones, Katie Melua and Ella Fitzgerald.[9] In an interview with The Times of India, the latter described Stone, Melua, Andrea Corr, Fitzgerald and Sara Bareilles as her favorite artists. In an interview with Deccan Chronicle, Mali described The Corrs, Morissette, Savage Garden, Backstreet Boys and ABBA as her early inspirations. According to Garvita Sharma of The Times of India, Mali's compositions are inspired by the changes in her life, which include "moving to a different place" or "going through a break-up".

Songs “Come on Girls”

2011

“Vaazhkaiye”

2012

“This One’s for You”

2013

“Deceptive”

2013

“It’s Not the Same”

2013

“Hi My Name is Malini”2013 “Irumugan Settai”

2016

“Dreaming”

2016

“Poor Girl’s Dream

2017

“Onnume Aagale”

2017

“Surviva”

2017

“Peela Peela”

2018

“Dei Machan Dev”

2019

“Age of Limbo”

2020

“Mange Manzooriyan (Female)”

2022

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PARVAAZ

Parvaaz is an Indian rock band formed in 2010 in Bangalore. Their unique approach on indie rock would definitely add up to your playlist. So what’s their story? Parvaaz is an Indian rock band formed in

for the Bangalore-based band Insane. After

2010 in Bangalore by Kashif Iqbal and Khalid

the release of their first single Dil Khush the

Ahamed. The present line up features Khalid

group went on tour through India playing at

Ahamed (vocals), Fidel Dsouza (bass), Bharath

many popular music festivals. In the course of

Kashyap (lead guitars) and Sachin Banandur

recording a new song in 2011(which was later

(drums and percussion).

scrapped) Neil Simon left the group and was

Parvaaz released their first single Dil Khush

later replaced by Fidel D'Souza from the jazz

in 2011 followed by their five-track debut E.P

band Bourbon Street.

Behosh in 2012. Their second single Khufiya

Khufiya Daastan was released as a single in

Dastaan was released in 2013. Their debut

2013.

album Baran was released in August 2014 with eight tracks. In 2016 they released a

Baran (2014)

live feature length album Transitions that

Parvaaz independently released their first

contains previously recorded tracks and two

full-length studio album Baran. The eight-

additional tracks Shaad and Colour White

track album was recorded and mixed at the

(both later released as singles in 2017). The

Nathaniel Production House in Bangalore with

group released their nine-track album Kun on

engineer Jason Zachariah. Rolling Stone India

18 October 2019. Kashif Iqbal Left the band in

noted the album's 13-minute title track is said to

2021.

showcase the band's 'moody and progressive leaning sound'.

Early years and formation Emergence (2015–2016) Khalid Ahamed and Kashif Iqbal formed the

Parvaaz won the Toto Funds the Arts Awards for

band while in college with the initial lineup

Music in early 2015 for their Album Baran.[9]

comprising Neil Simon (bass), Adarsh Deokota

In December 2016 Parvaaz was featured in

(rhythm guitar) and Somarashi Bhattacharjee

Rolling Stone India's 2016 hot list.[15] Parvaaz

(drums).

released their first video single Shaad on

With its initial line up, Parvaaz won a string

YouTube in April 2017.

of college level competitions in 2010. It was

In May 2017, Parvaaz released the music video

around this time that Sachin Banandur took

for their single Colour White on YouTube. The

over on drums. Banandur had been playing

concept and direction for the video was done

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by Parvaaz. The video was edited by drummer Sachin Banandur. The track was recorded and mixed by Parvaaz's live sound engineer Rahul Ranganath at Monohive and Third Eye Studios, Bangalore. A Rooted Departure and Rolling Stone cover (2017–present) In August 2017 Parvaaz went on their first international tour to Canada. Among other venues they played at the Monster Rock Orchestra in Brampton, The Harbourfront Summer Festival, Small World Music and at the Panorama India Day festival in Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square. Parvaaz was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone India in their May 2018 edition where they said: "There's no denying Parvaaz enjoy an unexampled spot in Indian indie. Their music is unmistakable, idiosyncratic, cinematic, and

Albums Behosh EP (2012) Baran (2014) Transitions (2016) Kun (2019) Singles[edit]

there’s no other band that sounds anything like

Khufiyan Dastaan (2013)

them. Try labeling their music and chances are

Shaad (2017)

you'll struggle." Director Kushal Srivastava used Parvaaz's Beparwah as a soundtrack in his 2018 film Vodka Diaries. In March 2018 Parvaaz won the Radio City Freedom Jury's Choice Awards for Best Rock Artists. Kun (2019)

Colour White (2017)

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VASUDA SHARMA

Vasuda is a singer-songwriter, originally from New Delhi. Her music is a nice blend of Indian classical & folk music with western contemporary music. Vasuda is a singer-songwriter, originally

Director Mr. Govind Nihalani.

from New Delhi. Her music is a nice blend

You were a pop star at 18. After a decade as

of Indian classical & folk music with western

a successful musician, why did you decide to

contemporary music. Her debut as a music

come to Berklee in 2011?

director in a bollywood movie “Shahrukh Bola

“I was doing a lot of gigs, and I was earning a

Khoobsurat Hai Tu '' brought a new wave in

lot of money. I’m pretty much known in the music

the music Industry with songs sung by the late

circuit here. But in terms of satisfaction as a

Jagjeet Singh & Shanker Mahadevan.

musician, or something that you do for your

She loves experimenting with different stuff, is

personal need, [I wanted] to become better,

“In terms of satisfaction as a musician, or something that you do for your personal need, [I wanted] to become better, not just bigger”. trained in Indian classical and has been doing

not just bigger. So my personal need was to

live looping combining both indian n western

learn more and get inspired, more than just

influences. This makes her a one woman

doing the same things over and over, earning a

band where she does a bit of beatboxing,

lot of money but just being there.”

few harmonies and makes her own music

What did you study at Berklee and how have

live and sings her compositions over it. She

you used it in your career?

collaborated with international musicians

“I went for contemporary writing and

from all over the word and recorded her album

production and I did some sight-reading

which is going to be ready soon. Vasuda

classes. I had all these ideas in my head, but

has recently released her new single for her

to put them on paper and give it to someone

upcoming fusion album “Attuned Spirits”

was a big, big deal. And before [Berklee] I

Apart from her independent work, she is also

would always do the guesswork. I’d give [my

scoring music for an animation movie called

band] references: ‘Okay, I want you to play

“Kamlu ” by a very senior and renowned

like this, that, that’...and they would have their

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own interpretation. Berklee helped me be a musician who can actually communicate what she has in mind. When that happened, I was much more confident; I was much more certain of my music. I knew exactly what I wanted. Before I would kind of leave it in the air and have all sorts of things that I might not be happy with but would still go ahead with because I knew that I was not equipped to do what was needed. But Berklee helped me kind of gain that ‘Okay, this is the song I have.’ What did you do when you returned to India? “I did a crowdfunding campaign here, back

Songs

in 2012. I managed to raise a big sum, and I

Mera hai tu

released an album called Attuned Spirits,

Tere bina

which featured 13 musicians. It’s a folk-fusion album that I released independently. And

Yeh Dillagi Maa meri

that did really well here in India. Through that

Yakeen hai

crowdfunding, I was able to pay them back,

Dopamine

so that was very, very satisfying. Since then

Aashna bann jaayein

I’ve been actively involved in the independent

Shanana

scene in India, with my own band [not Aasma]

Meri zindagi

and with playing my own music in festivals all

Happy place

over the country—just my ukulele and my voice and a little bit of live looping that I do on my own. So it has just been a very pretty journey after Berklee.”

IndieKalakar

ARNAV

MAGGO

Arnav Maggo is a singer-songwriter and a self taught guitarist based in Delhi. How did he switch from finance to music? Let’s find out... Arnav Maggo is a singer-songwriter based in

me a lot of things to think about and express. I

Delhi. Having studied at New York University

would also go to a lot of concerts and musicals

and spent some time working in finance in

both big and small, and get to see a lot of acts I

the US, he moved back to pursue music. He

grew up listening to which got me closer to the

has released his Hindi single ‘Aa Chalein

art form.

Hum Kahin’ after ‘It’s Hard Staying Apart’,

Q. How did you switch from finance to music?

which received appreciation from his current

Having landed up a finance job with the

audience and received praise in India as well

world’s largest asset management company,

as internationally. He tells us about his journey

it seemed I had achieved an ideal position

so far.

in the proverbial land of opportunity that is

Q. How did you get involved in making music?

America. However, music had transitioned from

I have been passionate about music for a

a passion to a dream career in the meanwhile.

very long time- I started to get into it heavily

Even when I was working it was quite an

when I was introduced to bands like Pink Floyd,

important part of my life and I dedicated a lot of

Queen and The Beatles by my father at around

time and energy to it. I would collaborate with

age 13. I used to listen to the albums and be

many local musicians and was part of bands

particularly mesmerized by the guitarwork

ranging from folk to heavy metal. However,

(something that happens to this day). Shortly

I found my solo work to be quite fulfilling.

after, I picked up the guitar and began to

Over time my inclination towards it grew and I

cultivate my musical understanding by digging

decided to move back and do it more seriously.

into multiple genres (like rock, blues, soul

Q. How has the transition been so far?

and R&B) and discographies with it. During

It has been quite liberating and exciting so far.

my time in New York, I began to find my voice

I had a great time writing and recording songs

and perspective as an artist while studying

and they have been getting a good response. I

Economics and subsequently working in

am exploring different musical ideas and styles

Finance.

and planning future projects, so there are a

Q. I spent my formative years in New York and

lot of things to look forward to. My last song

it was where I came out of the comfortable

‘It’s Hard Staying Apart’ was about wanting to

college lifestyle and entered the “real world”,

get out of a rut-like situation. I have found that

which changed my perspective drastically and

people of all ages relate to it in their own ways.

was a major turning point. That phase gave

Q. How did you learn music?

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I am mostly self-taught, picking up the guitar by watching a lot of videos and playing songs. I do love reading a lot about the theory and culture surrounding music. I think the best way to learn is by listening to a lot of music. I have always been heavily into music which has shaped my musical compass and taste. Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Vasuda Sharma and fellow artist Arnav Maggo recently teamed up on the hauntingly beautiful justreleased single “Tere Bina.” The track features a lovely acoustic guitar-picking pattern while the exquisite string arrangements add to its charm. Sharma and Maggo both shine on the

Songs

song as their voices intertwine gorgeously to

Tere bina

create lush and rich harmonies. In a statement, the artists said, “‘Tere Bina’ is about the end

Jo tu hai yahaan Look at me now

of what was expected to be a promising bond

Aa chalein hum kahin

between two people. It revolves around the

It’s hard staying apart

emptiness and longing that comes with it.”

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EVENTS

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EVENTS

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EVENTS

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ARYAN KATOCH

NEW

ARTIST

Aryan Katoch is a 21-year-old vocalist lyricist and film director who worked in media outlets. Aryan Katoch is a seriously well-known name considering his devotion to his calling and his preparation to offer grace and inspiration through his creation as well as through his lifestyle. He hails from Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. Aryan Katoch has made a name for himself today. Not withstanding, this excursion has not been without a few obstacles and difficulties. Aryan Katoch had begun his life as an assistant director and part-time model in Mumbai. In any case, this piece of his profession was brief as he needed to get back to his family to deal with friends and family. In any case, each foreboding shadow has a silver lining. For Aryan Katoch the silver lining was that this time of gloom pushed him to make inspirational words and verses for

them through his music. “When I saw my mom escaping the OT after a significant medical procedure of 13 hours. She had fastens on her belly, when I saw that I felt the very torment in my stomach also and that was the second when I composed a line “Teri har khushi main meri khushi, Tere dard hai mera dard bhi” and afterward made a tune around it. Furthermore, that was my most memorable tune “Gehraiyaan”. Furthermore, after that I wrote constantly”, adds Aryan Katoch. Aryan Katoch made his introduction with the tune Gehraiyaan delivered on the 24th of November 2020. As Of today, Gehraiyaan has nearly Million streams, crossing 1.5 Million streams on Spotify alone. The outcome of his most memorable tune put Aryan Katoch under the spotlight and spurred him to continue to compose and create his own music. Before long he finished and demonstrated his abilities with his second melody Khamiyaan. At this point, Aryan Katoch is chipping away at his impending collection which includes the single Meri Hai Tu. Meri Hai Tu was delivered Worldwide on the twentieth of October 2021 and depends on the idea of a far-removed relationship sprouting between two people stuck at home during the pandemic.

himself. Gradually this system transformed into propelling others too and encouraging IndieKalakar

REVISITING THE MUSICAL JOURNEY - CAREER Aryan calls himself a 'Pahadi guy from Kullu'. He is from a humble farming background. They own magnificent apple orchards as well! Coming back to music, with his raw talent and sheer hard work, he rose to prominence. Right now, Aryan releases his songs and tours all around India with his popular band 'The Lost Fireflies'. He has also done well as an advertisement film assistant director. Then, Aryan felt like directing his own music videos. Since he also was great in writing songs and composing his own music. Aryan got the major breakthrough when his debut song 'GEHRAIYAAN' crossed the insane 500k+ views/ streams (inclusive of all platforms). Although his song 'GEHRAIYAAN' had earned just $8, he is very happy about the success. Soon after this success, Aryan released another music video ''KHAMIYAAN' which was another hit. His Instagram is a popularity explosion which has about 100k+ followers! Aryan earns handsomely from his shows, social media campaigns and other sources. There are many projects for the future, but in the near future, Aryan is working on his music album.

IndieKalakar

MV OF THE EDITION

WHEN CHAI

MET TOAST

Take your mind back to the first rain of the

Like all good artists, When Chai Met Toast creates

season. It felt fresh, rejuvenating, like the

music to comfort the disturbed. This song, in

promise of a new life. It washed away the rust

particular, is a splash of cleansing hope. In the

of past inhibitions, exhaustions, anxieties and

midst of despair, play this song, hold on to the

agonies. It offered respite, and allowed you to

hope it offers, and find yourself returning to your

breathe deeper than you had in a long time.

own light before you know it.

That is what this song feels like. Melded in the acoustic melee of breathtaking and laid-back, they sing about reminiscence, happiness and love. Lyrics addled with warmth and uncomplicated joy, the song takes you through four and a half minutes of good feelings. The track is the perfect mood-setter for anyone who thinks of an old friend or lover and smiles about how lucky they are. When they sing, “Into the night/I feel alive/At fifty-nine/When we feel young” It gives you every reason to believe that no matter your age, happiness is right by you. As always, When Chai Met Toast are able to make music sound effortlessly uplifting. From rainy mornings to balmy evenings, When We Feel Young is a shot of sunshine right into your veins. The music video, additionally, is an absolute delight. Animated with rustic forms and lively colors, it paints the life of a happy middle-aged couple who go through their quiet, content lives in the glow of companionship, good memories and new adventures. The video warms your heart, enchants your eyes and offers all the reassurance you need in this terrifying year. IndieKalakar

ANJALI THE ARTIST BEHIND THE VIDEO

ABOUT Anjali (she/her) is a 23 y.o Indian illustrator and visual artist based in Vadodara. She works with illustrations, animations, comics and more. CLIENTS Vox, Apple News+, Soumik Datta & The British Council, NPR, Prateek Kuhad, Pratham Books, Taba Chake, When Chai Met Toast, Agents of Ishq, The Soup Magazine, Queerabad, Paper Planes

EDUCATION 2016-2020 Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology : Information Arts and Design Practices Spring 2019 Hochschule Lucerne, Exchange Semester : Illustration Fiction 40

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MUSIC FOR THIS SEASON

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MUSIC FOR THIS SEASON

LOOKS LIKE IT’S GONNA RAIN! MUSIC FOR YOU CHAI SESSIONS

PAANI Rohan Kamath

RAIN Dhruv Visvanath

BAARISH KA ASAR Twin Strings

BAARISHEIN Anuv Jain

BARSO Ritviz

PEHLI BAARISH Akanksha Bhandari

COLD/MESS Prateek Kuhad

FIREFLY When chai met toast

BEH BHI LE Priyansh Paliwal

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GENRE OF THE MONTH

POP MUSIC

GENRE

OF THE MONTH

borrows elements from other styles such as rock, urban, dance, Latin, and country. According to Frith, characteristics of pop music include an aim of appealing to a general audience, rather than to a particular sub-culture or ideology, and an emphasis on craftsmanship rather than formal "artistic" qualities. Besides, Frith also offers three

Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom.The terms popular music and pop music are often used interchangeably, although the former describes all music that is popular and includes many disparate styles. During the 1950s and 1960s, pop music encompassed rock and roll and the youthoriented styles it influenced. Rock and pop music remained roughly synonymous until the late 1960s, after which pop became associated with music that was more commercial, ephemeral, and accessible. Although much of the music that appears on record charts is considered to be pop music, the genre is distinguished from chart music. Identifying factors usually include repeated choruses and hooks, short to medium-length songs written in a basic format (often the versechorus structure), and rhythms or tempos that can be easily danced to. Much pop music also IndieKalakar

identifying characteristics of pop music: light entertainment, commercial imperatives, and personal identification. Pop music grew out of a light entertainment/ easy listening tradition. Pop music is more conservative than other music genres such as folk, blues, country, and tradition. Many pop songs do not contain themes of resistance, opposition, or political themes, rather focusing more on love and relationships. Therefore, pop music does not challenge its audiences socially, and does not cause political activism. Frith also said the main purpose of pop music is to create revenue. It is not a medium of free articulation of the people. Instead, pop music seeks to supply the nature of personal desire and achieve the instant empathy with cliche personalities, stereotypes, and melodrama that appeals to listeners. It is mostly about how much revenue pop music makes for record companies. Music scholar Timothy Warner said pop music typically has an emphasis on recording, production, and technology, rather than live performance; 47

GENRE OF THE MONTH

a tendency to reflect existing trends rather

ii – V – I) and blues scale-influenced harmony.

than progressive developments; and seeks to

There was a lessening of the influence of

encourage dancing or uses dance-oriented

traditional views of the circle of fifths between

rhythms.

the mid-1950s and the late 1970s, including less

The main medium of pop music is the song,

predominance for the dominant function.

often between two and a half and three and a half minutes in length, generally marked by a consistent and noticeable rhythmic element, a mainstream style and a simple traditional structure. The structure of many popular songs is that of a verse and a chorus, the

INDIE POP LEGENDS

chorus serving as the portion of the track that is designed to stick in the ear through simple repetition both musically and lyrically. The chorus is often where the music builds towards and is often preceded by "the drop" where the bass and drum parts "drop out". Common variants include the verse-chorus form and the thirty-two-bar form, with a focus on melodies and catchy hooks, and a chorus that contrasts melodically, rhythmically and harmonically with the verse. The beat and the melodies tend to be simple, with limited harmonic accompaniment. The lyrics of modern pop songs typically focus on simple themes – often love and romantic relationships – although there are notable exceptions. Harmony and chord progressions in pop music are often "that of classical European tonality, only more simple-minded." Clichés include the barbershop quartet-style harmony (i.e. 48

•

LUCKY ALI

•

EUPHORIA

COLONIAL COUSINS •

INDIAN OCEAN • •

SILK ROUTE USHA UTHUP

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GENRE OF THE MONTH

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Instrument of the edition

A UNIQUE MUSICAL

INSTRUMENT

TOHA

THE NEST OF SOCIABLE WEAVER BIRDS

The Toha or Totem Harp, was inspired by the

TOHA IN SPACE

sociable weaver birds of Southern Africa that

The toha is one of the favorite instruments with

build their nests in big bundles of closely knit

visitors in our touring INSTRMNTS exhibition.

communities. As an instrument that can be

Here at The Royal Opera House in London

played by two musicians each has a set of

during the DELOITTE IGNITE Festival where

strings with the same tuning on each side of the

we also performed with the toha and several

instrument.

other instruments. Usually this instrument has a

BIRDS CREATE

central role in our performances.

How do birds build their nests? with only beaks as tools, they turn basic

PLAYING TOHA

components into nests secure enough to take

mother and child creating music for nests

a growing family of nestlings, vying for their

The toha has 44 strings divided into two

parents’ attentions and stretching their wings.

sections of a diatonic scale with three octaves

When playing the toha people can find a

each. The two musicians facing each other can

nest, beaks, the pole around which the nest is

play it using the tip of their fingers or their nails

supported and even the overhead telephone

while weaving together a piece of music they

lines the pole supports.

themselves create. Picture by Joost.

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EDUCATIONAL TOOL The INSTRMNTS exhibition has an intense program of workshops where the toha is one of the instruments that gets kids excited and inspired. At Teatro Colsubsidio in Bogota we adapted the workshops to the busy educational program of the organization that brings in big groups of school children from across the city and surroundings as far a Cachipay. They all get their chance to play.

TOHA IN CONCERT The toha has been featured in many concerts from the Concertgebow in Amsterdam to the Carnegie Hall in New York and been played by musicians such as the Kronos Quartet. In this concert Salomé Pais Matos, a professional harpist, uses the tip of her fingers while Victor Gama uses his nails, two very different technics.

HOW DO WE BUILD IT? for us there isn’t a broken path between traditional acoustic instruments and instruments that are created in our time. Our instruments are ”born digital” as we are using 21st century digital technologies. As a result the final object still follows the lineage of ”traditional acoustic” musical instruments but carries a digital self, a virtual instrument and its own sound library.

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Global indie music scene

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The Marías are an American indie pop band

Doron Zounes on bass, Edward James on

from Los Angeles, California. They are known

keyboards, and Gabe Steiner on trumpet.

for performing songs in both English and

Carter Lee was a former bassist until his 2019

Spanish, as well as infusing their music with

departure.

elements like jazz percussion, guitar riffs,

The band is named after its lead singer María

smoke-velvet vocals, and horn solos.[1] In their

Zardoya who was born in Puerto Rico and

live show, with Zardoya on lead vocals and

raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She and her partner

Conway on drums, they are joined by Jesse

Josh Conway, the drummer, met at a show

Perlman on guitar,

at the Kibitz Room, the bar and music venue

In September 2021, their single “Hush” topped

inside Canter’s Deli in Los Angeles. She was

the Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay chart,

performing on the bill and he was managing

wwbecoming their first chart-topping single.

the sound, something he had never done

On November 23, the Recording Academy

before. They began writing almost immediately

announced that band’s debut album Cinema

after meeting, and subsequently began dating.

was nominated for a Grammy Award in the

Soon they recruited close friends to join as

category Best Engineered Album, Non-

band members; Edward James on keyboards,

Classical. In 2022, the band will be going on

and guitarist Jesse Perlman. They were offered

their first tour, in promotion of Cinema, as well

an opportunity to make songs for television,

as opening for Halsey on her Love and Power

which helped them understand the visual and

Tour.

sonic feel that they were striving for, but when it

In 2022, they collaborated with Bad Bunny on

did not materialize, they used their recordings

the song “Otro Atardecer” from his album Un

to make an EP, entitled Superclean Vol. I. Vol. I

Verano Sin Ti.

was released in 2017, while its counterpart Vol. II was released in 2018.

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DISCOGRAPHY

THE MARIAS Studio Albums Cinema (2021)

Extended plays Superclean Vol. I (2017) Superclean Vol. II (2018)

Singles “Drip” (featuring Triathlon) (2018) “...Baby One More Time” (2019) “Out for the Night” (live) (2019) “Hold It Together” (2020) “Jupiter” (2020) “Exit Music for a Film” (2020) “Care for You” (2020) “Bop It Up!” (2020) “We’re the Lucky Ones” (2020) “Hush” (2021) “Un Millón” (2021) “Little by Little” (2021) “Kyoto” (The Marías Remix) (2021) “In or In-Between” (Remix) (2021) “Hush” (Still Woozy Remix) (2021) “Dakiti” (Spotify Singles) (2021) 60

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