The Score Magazine May 2017 issue! by The Score Magazine

ISSN 0974 – 9128

Vol 10 Issue 4 May 2017

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India's National Pan-Genre Music MagazinE

STAR OF THE MONTH

SHASHAA TIRUPATI THE VOICE BEHIND THE POPULAR SONG HUMMA FROM 'OK JAANU' TALKS TO US ABOUT HER MUSIC JOURNEY, FAME DOWN SOUTH AND MORE.

INTERVIEW WITH

PENN MASALA COVER STORY

POPULAR A’CAPELLA BAND TALKS TO US ABOUT THEIR NEW ALBUM YUVA, UPCOMING INDIA TOUR AND FUTURE PROJECTS.

JONITA GANDHI

HER CAREER CHOICE, MAIDEN FILM OFFER, COMPOSING IN THE CLOSET, SINGING STYLE AND MORE ALSO INSIDE: IMPORTANCE OF VOCAL HEALTH, FANTASTIC FIVE DUB STEP ARTISTS OF INDIA AND MORE.

Music unaltered.

Make sure it’s you they’re hearing. Clear, natural, powerful sound delivered with room-ﬁlling 180° horizontal coverage. What else could a performer ask for? How about a quick, easy to setup portable unit that's lighter than most in its class. You ask, Bose L1® answers. Bose.com/L1systems For more details please call 011-4659 9025 or email at in_prosales@bose.com

G N I M

N O O S

I NSIDE

JONITA GANDHI

Talks to us about her career choice, maiden film offer, being a daddy’s girl, composing in the closet, singing style and so on.

PALM EXPO 2017 28

STAR OF THE MONTH: SHASHAA TIRUPATI

India’s largest pro audio expo is back this June from 1st to 3rd. Here is a summary of what you can expect this year.

MUSIC & FITNESS

We tell you how music and fitness are deeply entrenched.

INTERNATIONAL ALBUMS WITH INDIAN INFLUENCE

The voice behind the popular song Humma from OK Jaanu talks to us about her music journey, fame down south and more.

We list out albums made increadible due to India influences

INTERVIEW WITH PENN MASALA

VOCAL HEALTH 40 We tell you how you need to maintain your vocal health for better result

MUVE ACOUSTICS

Recently launched two super products A Plus and A Star. Read about the features here

Popular A’capella band talks to us about their new album Yuva, upcoming India tour, what to expect and future projects.

DIRECTOR'S NOTE Director, Strategy and Planning Ajay Prabhakar Director, Business Development Pragash VM Director, Marketing & Operations Sneha Ramesh Editorial Advisor Nikila Srinivasan Creative Director George Vedamanickam Creative Designer Manasi Doshi Content Contributors Sumit Suvarna Aditi Sarawagi Sriram Ravishankar Shreya Bose Souvik Chakraborty Pramita Bose

brand partners

Playback singer Sonu Nigam attracted controversy when he tweeted about the use of loudspeakers for religious purposes on April 17. The singer stated that he wasn't a Muslim but he is woken up by Azaan in the morning and asked when this forced religiousness will end in India. In the following tweets the singer also mentioned about temples or gurudwaras using electricity to wake up people who don't follow their respective religions. What followed was a bevy of voices both in support and opposition. These days we as a people get offended very easily without thinking for a minute. This led to a cleric offering a reward to shave Sonu Nigam's head amongst other things. The singer took it upon himself to shave his head during a press conference to make a point about the insanity of the situation. I was surprised to see the number of people who got offended without verifying the series of tweets by the singer. Just 3 tweets can instigate huge drama and violence. We have seen similiar situations in the recent past with the song 'Hymn for the weekend', and Snapchat CEO's views about the Indian Market for their app. Where is the media that shouted for freedom of speech and a secular India? Whether it is for Azaan, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri or any sort of religious processions, high volume levels have to be brought under control. The government should have a proper noise control mechanisms in place across cities and states. We should also take collective responsibility to verify news on the internet before we jump the gun.

PRAGASH VM

Director - Business Development subscribe to us at www.thescoremagazine.com

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contactus@highonscore.com +91 95000 12975 DISCLAIMER: Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photography or illustrations without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and illustrations. Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publication and accordingly no liability is assumed by the publisher thereof. Advertising copy and artworks are the sole responsibility of the advertisers. http://www.motherteresafoundation.org.in The Score Magazine is proud to support the Mother Teresa Foundation and urge our readers to join us in giving back a fraction of what we have been given.

PRAMITA BOSE

JONITA

GANDHI

She is a desi damsel with upbringing on the phoren shores. But she never forgot her roots and returned to soar high in the musical sky like a whistling songbird. Born in Delhi, India but moved to Toronto and Brampton (Canada) for the most part of her formative years, talented young singer Jonita Gandhi never neglected her inherent talent nor compromised on honing it further. Like many from her generation, this 28-yearold performer too initially tested waters on her YouTube channel and emerged successfully with over 4.5 million views and 40,000 subscribers to boot. After a brush with the limelight, she is now completely immersed into Bollywood playback with a door kept ajar for independent music and joint-ventures. She talks to Score music magazine about her career choice, maiden film offer, being a daddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s girl, composing in the closet, singing style and so onâ&#x20AC;Ś

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You have an exotic touch to your profile having hailed from Canada. Did that give you an extra fillip during your foray in Bollywood as a strong command on world music scene is considered an added bonus today? I firmly believe, versatility is a real valuable trait for any singer. And that quality develops from a keen indulgence in eclectic genres of music. Growing up in Canada, I was exposed to both western and Indian music equally. So I have spontaneously developed an ability to build up my skills in two distinct spheres of music — first by training in western classical singing, second by self-practice with Indian songs of various kinds. Thus having the aptitude to blend western vocal techniques with the nuances of Indiangayaki was something that has helped me begin the process of shaping a unique sound of my own over a period of time.

How has been your musical grooming in Canada? Would you miss your desi sangeet on a foreign land till you decided to pack bags and shift base? Performing at events in Canada was quite a different experience for me than it has ever been here in India. But overall, it propped me up well to prepare for the various types of events I dabbled in while visiting back home. In Canada, most events tend to be for an audience of amalgamated Indian cultures, so the energies and expectations span over a wide range.

Seems like language is never a barrier for you and you have sung in several regional lingos. How do you manage this? I use phonetics to learn the lyrics of languages am unfamiliar with. This is a very scientific approach for me. I rewrite the words based on how they sound to me, and over time, I have developed a sort of a legend of my own that I can apply to each and every vernacular I chanced upon to croon in. It’s really important to me to get the diction right. So I take aid of those immediately around me who natively speak the language of the song to help me correct my pronunciation while I’m picking up the tongue.

You could have easily chosen a career in corporate business or health science as your academic background highlights the same. Instead you chose music. Was it all about your passion’s call? Deep down inside, singing was always my happyhaven, but I wanted to have a strong academic backing before attempting to pursue a career in music. Getting a good education as a solid backup was something my parents had instilled in me. So once I completed my studies, I was confident of giving the vocalist’s discipline a fair chance as a fulltime preoccupation, knowing well that I have a stable foundation to fall back on, lest my career flunks to take off properly. So here I stand now feeling absolutely content and thankful to having followed my gut in chasing my passion for music. I’m also grateful that I had the muchneeded support-system to succeed on this score.

Who has been your greatest guide, support and source of inspiration in music? I owe it to many people who have along the way shared their experiences with me, provided that desirable relevant guidance and have also continued to support me on this

ever-changing journey. I’d like to first and foremost refer to my parents for incessantly motivating and encouraging me through thick and thin. Musically, I am inspired by those who push boundaries and exude the self-sufficiency required to manifest their dreams into reality.

Your respected father — Deepak Gandhi — too is a musician by hobby and was the first person to unearth your talent. How did he encourage and introduce you to music? My dad has been leading a music band in Toronto since I was a kid. When he first realized that I had a knack for singing, he cheered me on to learn and practise the craft. I was very shy as a child and he made all the efforts to trigger that spark in me and help me discover my true calling which lies in music. Thanks to his push and belief in me and the opportunities that he provided along my path by allowing me to perform with his band, that today I am where I am. I stand at a certain height now to keep challenging myself by adopting new techniques and grasping the essential ropes of the musical vocation.

Was Bollywood naturally your next step towards progression in terms of music? Didn’t you think of trying your luck on international platforms? Well, I have always had this aim to take my penchant to an international level, since I grew up in a place where Bollywood wasn’t the be-all and end-all when it came to entertainment. I remember waiting to be 16 so that I could be old enough to audition for certain English musicals and also participate at the Canadian singing competitions. That being said, it was solely the Indian music that lent me an identity while in Canada. Because I had the most prospects to showcase my talent and culture when I sang Hindi and Punjabi songs, and so that became the primary focus as far as professional singing went.

How important was your training in both western and Hindustani classical music given the fact that it’s a rare combo to spot in an artiste’s CV? Though I manage to deliver the techniques required in semiclassical songs that I perform, my training in Hindustani classical music has been limited thus far. This is something I would really like to work upon. I’m grateful that I have learnt a bit of both styles though, and I hope I can learn a lot more soon. I think the more styles you know, the more fun you can have taking on new characters in the studio as a playback singer.

You tasted fame by posting your music videos of super hit covers on the YouTube that went viral. How significant do you think is grabbing this digital space in today’s times to make yourself heard across the board? The rise of YouTube and social media as digital platforms for artistes to exhibit their work has increased substantially since I had first begun uploading videos back in 2011. I think it’s a perfect window for artistes to adjudge their pluses and minuses alike. Yet at the same time it brings them a golden opportunity to be heard and seen by audiences, significant musical personalities, music producing companies and record labels across the world.

Tell us about your first break in Bollywood and how it all happened. A friend of mine was working at Vishal-Shekhar’s studio as an engineer and had taken me to visit his workstation. The

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He introduced me to Vishal Dadlani sir, who at the time was scoring notes for the title-track of Shah Rukh Khan-Deepika Padukone starrer blockbuster, Chennai Express. After listening to some of my music he asked me if I would want to try out a few lines on the track. I went in to record with zero expectations and thought nothing of it after I left, beyond being simply obliged for the surprising scope that fell in my lap to have had him hear my voice. It wasn’t until weeks later that I found out my vocals being retained intact in that number. I was over the moon and you know what — I guess, am fortunate enough to suddenly notice things turning in my favour and falling into place without any hiccups. I was quite naturally welcomed within the industry and never ever made to feel like an outsider.

You share a wonderful rapport with the musical genius A.R. Rahman and have not only lent your vocals to his film-tunes but also collaborated on an album with him called Raunaq and even crooned at his concerts. How has your entire tryst been with the ‘Mozart of Madras’? I really mean it when I say that working with Rahman sir has been a dream come true so far and I feel so blessed for every single opportunity I got to record and perform with him. There always used to be something new to learn from him and I am humbled by the fact that he taught, directed and threw challenges at me to live up to. You won’t believe how much I have learnt about myself and grown as a singer because of his guidance and the tenacity with which he has goaded me beyond my self-defined limits. It’s been a total revelation or me!

DISCOGRAPHY Sau Tarah Ke - Dishoom Pink Anthem - Pink The Breakup song - Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Gilheriyaan - Dangal Saajan Aayo Re- Ok Jaanu Meetha Zeher- Playing Priya: Short Film Blessings from the Sky- Pelé: Birth of a Legend Kahaan Hoon Main and Implosive Silence-Highway

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Does it irk you when you come across mediocre singers or even actors getting to sing tunefully by virtue of the Auto-tune technology? Initially I won’t deny that it did bother me a bit. But now, I’ve matured and realized that there is room for everyone in this industry. Everyone has the right to give a shot at something new, especially if it makes him/her glad. You can’t blame a person for using technology to do a certain patchwork. And today, audiences are more aware than ever. If you need to rely on Auto-tune to sing, the astute listeners would anyways come to detect it, and that may not always fare well for you in the long run.

Working with hitmaker Pritam Chakraborty also fetched you a winning streak as you bagged the Mirchi music award for Dangal and also got a Filmfare nomination for the ‘Breakup’ song. So it’s a double bonanza for you. What do you have to say to this? I feel so honoured to have received such a prestigious award and to have been nominated for so many other accolades this year. I take it as an added impetus to become the best musician I can be. You know it’s such an overwhelming experience to be bestowed with recognition by multiple committees for these songs. My sincere gratitude goes to Pritamda for giving me such lovely compositions, and also to both the teams of Dangal and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil for absorbing me into their folds as a significant part.

Are you doing any musical collaboration? I’m working on a slew of collaborations, both on film music as well as YouTube material, but nothing that I can elaborate on at the moment. So please stay tuned for the updates (smiles)!

Any EP (extended play) or a single on the anvil? Not as of now, but I hope to dip my toes a little deeper into the independent musical shores in the near future.

Why do you think there is a dearth of female composers in the music industry barring a few like Sneha Khanwalkar, Jasleen Kaur Royal or the erstwhile Usha Khanna? Would you ever like to compose a note or two yourself? I’ve never considered myself a composer. I’ve written a few songs casually here and there, but those are my private thoughts penned at leisure. They are exclusively mine and not for sale. I can hum a few stanzas for my own gratification and solace in a lone corner but won’t really look to broadcast them over the mike. See I thoroughly enjoy the process of creating, but in my public life, singing will always remain my principal priority. I’m not sure “why” there is a dearth of female tunesmiths in the tinselville, but I can clearly figure out a voluminous emergence of more and more female technicians and behind-the-scene craftswomen, etc. in showbiz currently than ever before, which is indeed a positive sign and a step in forward direction!

Again there is a resurgence of remakes of golden oldies or yesteryear hits. How challenging is it for today’s singers to do justice to such songs, yet deliver a fresh feel with their contemporary twists? This is something I deal with regularly, as I’m known for a lot of covers I do for the YouTube, where I too must execute an already existing song with much integrity and yet add my own verve and freshness to its present-day version. It is definitely a challenge, but audiences are open to hearing new interpretations of songs they love. It’s why our YouTube covers get so many views, hits and likes. So, it is definitely possible to strike the right balance between staying true to the original as well as adding your own spin to it.

What would be your future plan of action? Is Hollywood/international indie music scene calling? By Jove, I want to do it all! Taking it step by step though. While for now, I’m just about getting started in Bollywood. Slow and steady wins the race — doesn’t the sagacious saying go that way?

You don’t have a typical sugary sweet voice but a new age one for sure. Is that a blessing in disguise for you to stand out of the crowd? I think finding your own unique sound is extremely crucial for singers. I am delighted, my voice isn’t considered ‘stereotypical’ — precisely that would be the last adjective I’d wish to associate myself with!

Do you follow or incorporate any particular singer’s style in your rendition? Who is your favorite international artiste and what quality attracts you to him/her? I’m sure I subconsciously incorporate the style of several singers who I’ve grown up listening to. I try to learn from everyone I listen to. One of my all-time favourites has been the sensational soul/popstar Beyonce Knowles. She’s an amazing all-round performer and a musical trendsetter in her own right.

Your message to your fans and readers of the magazine… I am indebted to everyone whoever lends an ear to my music! So conveying my loads of love to all those die-hard fans and followers out there. Besides, I’d ask you all to stay plugged-in, as I have many exciting things coming up in the next fiscal! Ta-ta!

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On Stage Essentials: The CASIO CTK 6300IN From Practice To Performance

All of us dream of playing in a band on stage, or reciting a classical piece in front of a grand audience. We dream of creating majestic ensembles that captures the awe of listeners around. Then why be limited by choice and create only a fraction of the grandeur that’s possible?

equip the aspiring professional with the ability to express their composition style in a way that is otherwise not possible on a beginner level keyboard. Nevertheless, a well rounded keyboard goes a long way in completing a musician’s versatile repertoire, hence, picking the right one becomes absolutely critical for one’s growth as a performer. Any performance keyboard one considers should unlock one’s potential by expanding the range of musical possibilities. However, the current alternatives to CTK 6300IN limit these and create trade offs between crucial functionality choices, thereby capping the limitless prospects of the artist. This not only binds one’s repertoire, but also creates dissatisfaction that the full value of the instrument was not delivered inspite of paying full price. With almost two decades of experience in working with music enthusiasts and technology, Casio excels at understanding these innate needs of a musician and delivering products that empower them to perform at their best. The CTK 6300IN stands as the epitome of Casio’s high quality offering for the ones that aspire to reach the pinnacle and promises to deliver top-notch sound quality and unravel possibilities every time one plays the keys. So go ahead and explore the music with Casio.

PX-560

The instruments that we first pick as beginners can only go so far as to let us compose music that’s part of basic learning, or limited to musical curriculum. Due to its technological limitations, it binds our choices of tones, functionalities, genres and the ability to create the sound that one exactly wants. For players who feel this limitation with their current instrument and harbor the insatiable desire to up their game, explore new sounds and play a few gigs, Casio’s CTK 6300IN provides the perfect platform for beginners and intermediates to graduate to the next level in the art form. Whatever be the genre - Carnatic, Hindustani, Classical, Rock, House or even Hip-Hop, the CTK 6300IN with over 200 rhythm patterns and 700+ tones allows one to create music without prejudice. The 17-track song sequencer will let one perform multi-track recordings of other instruments over beats and drum layers to create full blown songs in real time and the 32 channel mixer & equalizer will adjust the sound parameters and help interface with the on stage sound. In the hands of a diligent musician, that’s enough to create a theatrical and enchanting experience. The keyboard features 100 preset DSPs which can add dimensions to the tones played by the keyboardist. By adjusting the parameters of the DSP effect types, one can create original effects and store up to 100 original types in memory for later recall. With exhaustive music presets, this piano style keyboard also allows pattern sequencing to create origial accompaniment from multiple built in rhythms which can be recorded and saved on an SD Card in MIDI format. Its 6W+6W high-output bass reflex 2-way 4-speaker system delivers rich sound across ones sound range and it doubles up as high-quality monitoring speakers during performances. You even can save tones to which effector effects are being applied. Recalling a registration instantly changes the digital keyboard's setup, making this a great tool for live stage performances. Features like these

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The PX-560 is the latest edition to Casio’s Privia Pro line. Featuring many of the sound design elements of the award winning PX-5S, the PX-560 adds new tones, user-programmable rhythms, built-in speakers, all centered around an amazing, easy-touse 5.3” Color Touch Interface. ABOUT THE KEYBOARD: Introducing the Privia Pro PX-560 Digital Piano, a stage piano unlike any other. From the first look at its striking blue case, you’ll know it’s different. It boasts some of Casio’s most impressive sonic technology, in an easy-to-use instrument that sounds every bit as great as it looks. For the piano player who wants to go deeper, the PX-560 delivers a comprehensive set of features that will take your music further than ever.

TOUCH YOUR MUSIC Front and center is Casio’s new Color Touch Interface. Its bright, 5.3" display is clear and easy to read, and the interface is inspiring yet simple. You’ll see familiar graphics to help you select instruments and functions, making exploring the PX-560

fun and easy. You’ll find yourself experimenting with new ideas, new sounds, and new ways of creating music.

THE KEYS TO SUCCESS The PX-560 features Casio's renowned Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II keyboard, which accurately reproduces the touch and response of a concert grand piano, despite the PX-560’s light overall weight. As on a real concert grand, the keys are heavier in the lower register, and lighter up top. Your fingertips will immediately feel the ebony and ivory textured keys, which not only feel more realistic, but also give your hands a positive grip to keep your playing on point.

sostenuto, and damper pedals, fixed in place for an accurate piano performance. The built-in speaker system has more than enough power to entertain at home. If you connect your favorite music player to its 1/8" stereo audio input, it even becomes a high-quality music dock.

5.3" COLOR TOUCH INTERFACE BRING THE BAND

THE PIANO In an instrument like the PX-560, the all-important piano sound must be as rewarding as the keys themselves. Casio’s Multi-Dimensional AiR (Acoustic and Intelligent Resonator) Sound Source delivers some of the best piano sounds you’ve ever heard. Its Linear Morphing technology creates smooth transitions between the softer and louder sounds. Damper Resonance gives you the deep feeling of the piano’s soundboard interacting with the strings. String Resonance models the harmonic relationships between vibrating strings. Hammer Response mimics the time between pressing the key and the hammer striking the strings. Key Off Simulation gives you control of a note’s decay by how quickly the key is released. And with a massive 256 notes of polyphony, you won’t have to worry about dropped notes, even while all of these incredible details are being recreated. These specifications are impressive, certainly, but what’s most important is that they combine to form the perfect and complete experience of playing a 9-foot concert grand piano.

A SOUND DESIGN FOR SOUND DESIGNERS Under the hood, the PX-560 is not just a highly capable stage piano, but a full-fledged synthesizer. Unlike most other synths, going deep into sound design is as easy as touching the display. The PX-560 features Casio’s Hex Layer technology, borrowed from the flagship Privia Pro PX-5S. This means you can create massive splits and layers, with four zones and a total of 14 layers at once. What’s more, you can edit these Tones to sculpt them into something new and all your own. There are three realtime control knobs, as well as a modulation wheel, all of which can be controlling up to two assignable parameters at once. With great-sounding filters, responsive envelopes, and extensive modulation, the PX-560 can be a sonic playground as well as a performance instrument.

TAKE THE STAGE The PX-560 is designed to perform, and to make you sound your best. You’ll be delighted at how lightweight it is (just over 26 pounds), and how easily you can integrate it into your live setup. Its 1/4" outputs and inputs give you great connectivity for PA systems and multi-keyboard rigs, and its dual pedal inputs can be configured to accept an expression pedal, damper pedal, or footswitches.

HOMEWARD BOUND In addition to fitting just about any commercially-available keyboard stand, the PX-560 fits neatly in Casio’s optional CS-67P wooden stand, making a stylish musical statement in any home. Add the optional SP-33 3-pedal unit to experience realistic soft,

Going beyond the traditional definition of a stage piano, the PX-560 includes 550 Tones, covering a huge variety of musical instruments and genres. There are dynamic and expressive guitars, basses, strings, drums, and much more, enhanced by powerful onboard DSP effects. The 220 onboard Rhythms allow multiple instruments to follow your playing, creating a backing band that plays in the style of your choice. In addition to exploring the built-in Rhythms, you can even assemble 30 customized User Rhythms by combining basslines, drum beats, and other elements. You can also create 100 of your own Music Presets, which encompass a Rhythm, Tones, effects, and built-in chord progressions.

A BUILT-IN STUDIO When the muse speaks, you owe it to yourself to capture your idea. You don’t want to miss the chance to record your creation. The PX-560 gives you two ways to make sure your work is preserved. There is a 17-track MIDI recorder with editing features, and a USB audio recorder that creates an audio file directly onto a USB stick. You can create the sounds you want to play, record and edit MIDI songs with them, then add external instruments via the audio inputs, and capture the whole mix to share with the world.

TOOLS FOR SCHOOL The PX-560 includes features that are especially beneficial for private lessons and music labs. Duet mode splits the keyboard into two equal pitch ranges, letting two people (i.e. teacher and student) play side by side on a single instrument. Classroom mode adds the ability to send each side to an individual audio output, making it compatible with the most popular third party piano lab systems. Two front panel-mounted headphone jacks also make the PX-560 great for lessons or practice.

PLAYS NICE WITH OTHERS Like all Privias, the PX-560 has a class-compliant USB port which connects to a PC, Mac, or iOS device with no drivers needed. Easily control your favorite music software, without any extra setup. The

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ADITI SARAWAGI

MUSIC & FITNESS Music has an overhand reach across all spheres. It helps in relieving stress, puts one right in the party zone and helps one vent emotions too, be it listening, playing or creating music. Music has an undeniable connection to fitness as well. Not many can claim to knock out a workout or two without listening to their favourite beat pumping song. This is not only a psychological or a general phenomenon but the concept of the association of music and fitness has been scientifically ramified as well with researchers bringing out information on the interconnection of the two and how music actually affects fitness and our approach to it. Movement and music are deeply related and even if a person is sitting in one position listening to music, the sound vibrations increases electrical activity in those regions of the brain which are important for synchronizing movements and hence music and fitness are deeply entrenched. Research by Carl Foster, Ph.D., director of the Human Performance Laboratory and research director of the Clinical Exercise Physiology program at the University of Wisconsin shows that as far back as in the B.C. era, rowers working on Roman Galleys, used music for their work. Drummers would play a certain beat which would keep the rowers rowing with a basic rhythm in coordination and following a common tempo. Research dating back to as far as 1911, shows that cyclists pedaled faster when a band was playing than when it was not. This correlation between music and fitness has been around for more than a hundred years and a huge amount of research has been conducted in this field and even today scientists are working on theories surrounding this phenomenon of music affecting peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performances during any sort of physical activity. Research by Szabo, Small and Leigh in 1999, has also revealed that music not only facilitates exercise performance, but also reduces fatigue, promotes relaxation and increases motor co-ordination as well. Some psychologists suggest that the most effective form of music which will work in enhancing fitness should have rhythms at a frequency of two hertz i.e. 120 beats per minute (bpm) or 2 beats per second. This is the most natural form of rhythm to which people have been seen to respond to. Though 120bpm is said to be the most prevalent pulse, activities such as running on a treadmill or while performing other such exercises, people prefer music with rhythm of around 160bpm and sometimes even 180bpm for those who prefer an even faster tempo. Researchers are of the view that though each person favours a different tempo, a maximum tempo of 145bpm has an effect on perceived performance enhancement. A higher tempo does not really have an additional positive effect on fitness.

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Not only does different types of music help, even the level of volume has an effect on performance as a higher volume is said to increase the body’s endurance even further, as does particular genres of music.

Endurance One of the foremost points of importance in this theory is that listening to music while exercising is said to increase endurance or stamina by up to 15%, according to a research conducted by Brunel University. It is a common phenomenon to listening to music while working out and this research bases this on scientific research. Having said this, a research conducted by Dr. Costas Karageorghis, deduces that not every kind of music is conducive to increasing endurance and only some genres work this way. According to his research, the tracks which help in doing so have to be of a certain tempo, preferably between 120 and 140 beats per minute. Music has always been a powerful medium and with multiple effects on the human psychology, it is not surprise that music also affect fitness of a person when played while working out.

Diversion from Exertion It is a well-known fact that any form of fitness workout be it running, cycling, working out at a gym, swimming or any other form of physical exercise causes exertion to the body. After a certain point of exercise, fatigue starts creeping in and might affect performance. Music helps in dissociation or diversion from this exertion as it draws away attention from pain and fatigue during a work-out. The research at Brunel University in the UK reveals that the effort made during the work out can be perceived to be less by 12% if music is played during fitness activities. It also increases the efficiency of the activity. Music leads to bursts of intensity which increases the capacity for working out and also gives a boost to strength and productivity. This is because listening to music, stimulates one’s brain and hence attention is diverted from the exertion on the body with focus on the rhythm of the music. This also leads to increasing the time of the work out as exertion is perceived to be lesser than when music is not played.

Metabolic Efficiency Listening to music while working out is also said to increase metabolic efficiency. A study conducted in 2012 demonstrated that cyclists who pedaled as the same tempo of the music being played required 7% less oxygen than the cyclists who didn’t. Music helps in achieving a degree of efficiency which requires less energy i.e. metabolic efficiency increases.

Athletic Performance In 2007, the the USA Track & Field, the national governing body for distance racing banned audio players during races as they found it to give a competitive edge to the athletes’ performance if they listened to music while running. This was protested by many runners resulting in the upliftment of the ban with some basic rules into play. This goes on to show how listening to music can affect an athlete’s performance. In a 2012 research at Brunel University, Costas Karageorghi, one of the world's leading experts on the psychology of exercise music, stated that music has so many positive effects during a physical exercise that it may be considered "a type of legal performance-enhancing drug".

Increases concentration Music alters a person’s mental state of awareness during any activity and acts as an internal motivator. It puts the brain on auto pilot without a lot of conscious effort. Music is said to remove all external distractions and helps one concentrate better during the fitness exercise. Athletes are said to list music as one of the reasons of their great performance and cannot function their workouts without music in the background. Not only do songs play a role, any sort of music works as a motivator be it instrumental, audio books or even podcasts. Music helps in making a workout or exercising a more enjoyable experience rather than just a physical exercise or chore. One can safely say that amongst the many psychological and physiological benefits of music in our lives, music can play a crucial role in enhancing fitness levels and aiding exercise to yield better results.

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BEYERDYNAMIC

HISTORY OF THE STUDIO LEGENDS Founded in 1924, as "Elektrotechnische Fabrik Eugen Beyer" in Berlin, the company has radically influenced and promoted audio recording and sound reproduction. Products like the first dynamic headphones DT 48 (1937), the first studio-grade dynamic microphone M 19 (1939) or the tour guide system for museums and factory tours which was presented by beyerdynamic for the first time in 1974 were milestones in this field. But they are just three examples of the many innovations that have made beyerdynamic a leading audio specialist over the years. Countless musicians, sound engineers, conference participants, interpreters and hi-fi fans have come into contact with beyerdynamic products over the years – either consciously or not, at work or in their leisure time. For the company, they all belong to "Generation Audio", a family of sound enthusiasts and passionate users. For experienced sound professionals, the beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro is an old friend used in countless studios throughout the world. The roots of the legendary beyerdynamic DT 770/880/990 line go back to 1981. Their outstanding sound and durable design laid the foundation for these headphones’ unprecedented studio and stage career. Made in Germany As with all beyerdynamic professional studio headphones, the studio legends are also handcrafted in Germany. Backed by high-quality materials and meticulous workmanship, this high-end product is a long-term investment. The PRO classics beyerdynamic’s DT 770 PRO, DT 880 PRO and DT 990 PRO headphone series has it’s roots in the early 1980s. Since then, millions of audio professionals from all parts of the world have become loyal users of beyerdynamic products. The series has been designed to cater for listening in a wide

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variety of environments, thanks to different headphone construction: DT 770 PRO – Closed back (studio, stage) DT 880 PRO – Semi-open back (reference monitoring, mastering, mixing) DT 990 PRO – Fully open back (critical listening) Sound you can rely on The sound of the studio legends is without doubt a benchmark for professional users. It’s secret lies not only in our cutting-edge drivers, which are hand-made in Germany, but also in a very sophisticated bass-reflex system. The membrane can “breathe” in an otherwise closed housing and is therefore extremely quickand precise in its response, accurately replaying frequencies anywhere between 5 to 35,000 Hz. This makes the DT 770 PRO an ideal tool for critical listening and monitoring purposes. Superior build quality As opposed to many “lifestyle headphones”, beyerdynamic headphones are to last. Only the best materials are used, such as neodymium magnets, a steel headband, anodized aluminum forks, composite housings and soft skin earpads. All of these parts are hand-made in Germany - with incredible attention to detail and quality. Every part is replaceable These headphones are designed to perform even under extreme conditions. Its superior build quality has ensured that the DT 770 PRO is the No.1 choice for professional users around the world. However, in the rarest of occasions should something break, nearly every part can be replaced individually thanks to intelligent design and implementation. This is what we’ve promised our customers for more than 30 years, and this is what we deliver.

Yamaha MX 49 & 61 Great for stage, studio and everywhere in between parts for each performance. The keyboard features 128 notes of polyphony, so you won't have to worry about notes cutting off even with the densest sequences from your DAW.

The MX series synthesizers feature carefully selected sounds taken from the Yamaha MOTIF XS. That powerful sonic palette is packed into sleek packages (available in 49- and 61-note versions) that fit today's on-the-go life style. But the MX Series aren't just synthesizers; they are designed to bridge the gap between hardware and software. By adding extensive audio and MIDI USB connectivity, advanced DAW and VST controller features and a suite of powerful music production software, the MX integrate hardware reliability with controller flexibility to give you the best of both worlds at a ground breaking level of affordability. 128 performances & 16-multi-timbral parts for each performance.

Bi-directional USB Audio/MID interfacing But the MX doesn't just control software DAWs and VSTs; it's an audio interface. One thing about this series of keyboards is the fact that one can record its internal sounds directly to the computer. There's no need to go the analog route, therefore you get the highest sound quality possible. You can control internal sounds, DAW parameters and VST instruments via the knobs and buttons of your MX. This hands-on control is truly impressive. The keyboard comes with a complete suite of music production software. Included in your package is Steinberg Cubase AI which features 48 audio tracks and 64 MIDI tracks, notation and builtin VST effects, allowing you to do complete productions. In addition the keyboard comes with compelling VSTs to get you started, namely, Steinberg Prologue and the Yamaha YC-3B organ emulator. Bottom Line Rewrites the rules for what you can expect from a do-it-all gig keyboard at an entry-level price. An outstanding value.

The Yamaha MX49 and Yamaha MX61 each feature 128 performances, all editable. There's a total of 16-multi-timbral The

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SHREYA BOSE

The Indian Inspiration Given its enormously rich history and often bewilderingly multifaceted culture, its no real surprise that all things Indian have been inspiring art since times immemorial. In particular, spiritual ideas that have their origin in this piece of the world have much to do with the crafting of some of the world’s best music. Since a lot of these songs tend to be forgotten unless you are as obsessed with the classic side of Youtube (or you have parents who actually collect vinyl ), it’s a good reason for me to nudge you towards some music made unforgettable because of something Indian. Journey in Satchidananda Alice Coltrane ( Yes, THAT Coltrane) made an incredibly nuanced set of sounds come to life all thanks to her philosophical engagements with the ideas of Swami Satchidananda, a guru hailing from Tamil Nadu who advocated for “internal yoga” – a system of thought, word and action meant to result in a life that was “Easeful, peaceful and useful”. True to her exposure to his means and methods, Coltrane shaped this album as a jazz-infused passage through nirvana. The sounds twinkle and swirl off each other in an effortless, unbothered matrix. The album is apt for nights when you want to float on top of the world, and have your mind flirt with those momentary lapses into enlightenment. Or, at the very least, you get a taste of your own divinity.

Heart Full of Soul

See My Friends:

The more popular version of The Yarbirds’ big fat hit features a dirty fuzz guitar played by Jeff Beck, but my personal favourite happens to be their first recording of the same which features a surreptitious sitar. Incidentally, this was also their first single after Beck replaced Eric Clapton as the lead guitarist.

The Kinks’ 1965 single was one of the first pieces of rock to feature the sound of the sitar, despite the fact that the tone was generated by a low-tuned drone guitar. A little disappointing if you are a purist, but try to think of its impact in terms of the proliferation of Indian classical influence.

The Beatles: I know, I know. I am Captain Obvious. Its no secret that The Beatles were intrigued by India, though their interaction with the Maharishi did have its share of bumps and bruises (all metaphorical ). They played around with a plethora of sounds, especially those of the Tabla and Sitar. Immediate picks would be Norwegian Wood, Across The Universe and Tomorrow Never Knows (that tanpura buzz). Then there is everything that George Harrison touched during his musical and sentimental alliance with Pandit Ravi Shankar, and I do mean everything. Do yourself an enormous fever and get the four-disc compilation box set of theirs called Collaborations. And this very minute, find “Within You, Without You” by Harrison.

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Lord Sitar: Sunshine Superman: The album by British singer-songwriter Donovan scored a massive hit in 1966, including the eponymous single which is riddled with sitar, tambura and table aounds. The album is an early example of psychedelia, and chock full of songs that you would want to play with a touch of the holy green. Fun fact : In the video for the Beatles' "A Day in the Life", a close up of a spinning turntable shows the Epic Records version of Sunshine Superman playing.

During the 1960s and 70s, Big Jim Sullian was one of the most sought-after studio musicians in the UK. He played on records by Donovan, David Bowie, George Harrison, Billy Fury, Frank Ifield, Adam Faith, Frankie Vaughan, Helen Shapiro, Johnny Hallyday, Freddie and the Dreamers, Cilla Black, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield…you get the idea. He played on the first records on the UK to use a fuzz guitar (P.J. Proby's 1964 hit "Hold Me"). At some point, he was the only session guitarist in England to own a sitar, and trust me, he used it well. In 1966, he released an album of pop covers…in sitar. You can hear “I Can See For Miles”, I Am The Walrus,” “Blue Jay Way” and my personal favourite, Daydream Believer. This album deserves your love, your money and your obsession.

Paint It Black: Brian Jones decided to crack open a bottle of innovation when he took The Rolling Stones the way of the sitar on the Aftermath album. Having trained under Harihar Rao (a disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar), Jones turned this track into a perfect tribute to the extent of the sway which Hindustani classical instruments held over far too many of the greatest rockers in the world. Predictably, Jones had a bit of a chat with George Harrison before recording this one, and that is why it could remind you of Norwegian Wood.

Black Mountain Side: No, I wasn’t going to do a list of classic rock singles and albums without mentioning Led Zeppelin. This instrumental nugget of gold features Jimmy Page using sitar tuning on his guitar (similar to “White Summer”), and features Vimal Jasani on the tabla. It’s a Led Zeppelin song, so I am confident that I won’t have to tell you to play it (or replay it, as the case might be).

A Rainbow in Curved Air: The experimental and classic minimalist Terry Riley was massively influenced by the Hindustani classical ethos when creating the purveyor of all things psychedelic that is this album. With this one, its less about the instrumentation that is inspired by Indian movements but rather the shaping and structure of the songs themselves. I wish I were more qualified to describe the poeticism of Riley’s phonetic technicalities, but I recommend you just give it a listen. And if my recommendation doesn’t do it for you, possibly the fact that the album inspired Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" and Pete Townshend's play on the organ on The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "Baba O'Riley,"( a tip-of-thehat to Riley and to Meher Baba), will.

There is, unsurprisingly infinitely more where that came from. I implore that you dive into Google if you aren’t sure exactly how influential Indian sounds has been in shaping some of the most acclaimed, most adored and most fanaticised sounds in the world. Take it from someone who has spent the last four years rifling through the history of rock, it is worth the research.

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New Technology at PALM Expo 2017

The PALM expo has firmly established itself as the premier event for entertainment event technology in India. The 2017 edition will once again take place at the BEC, Mumbai from 1– 3 June. The very latest technology will be showcased by 500+ brands for use in live stage shows, entertainment and corporate events, theatre productions, installations in venues like nightclubs/pubs/lounges, houses of worship, broadcast and AV, leisure attractions, etc. Over 200 of the industry’s leading local distributors and international brands will showcase state-of-the-art pro audio, lighting, installation and rigging technology at the show.

NEW EXHIBITORS AT PALM 2017 The show continues to grow year on year, expanding by another 10% this year. Last year the expo boasted of separate halls for lighting and prosound + music production, making room for more stands on the show floor. The expanse of exhibits in each segment meant more efficient movement of buyers leading to better business for exhibitors. The 20,000+ visitors, flooding the aisles over three days were benefitted in better floor management for easy access to product and technology This year the expo will welcome a record number of brands through a 20% increase in new exhibitors from 2016. Companies will showcase cutting edge technology on the expo floor and this year PALM has also focused on inviting more and more Indian manufacturers, thus promoting the government’s initiative of Make in India.

NEW TECHNOLOGY AT PALM 2017 Some of the new products at PALM include:

PALM Expo now in its 17th edition will once again attract International manufacturers and Indian companies to launch their latest products, propelling the industry and encouraging the connection between manufacturers, distributors, dealers and end users. Here’s a low-down of the muchawaited event.

“Made in India” LED Dance Floor from Aura OptoElectronics India Pvt. Ltd; Celto Acoustique IWAC series Line Array Speakers and VCM series compact, low profile coaxial monitor; MA LIGHTING’S new compact range of modular lighting control solutions- the dot2 core and SHOLITE SHARPY and MAGIC-FX STADIUM SHOT II; Icon Pro Audio ULTRA 4, audio interface at Pink Noise Professionals Pvt. Ltd. booth; MARANI digital speaker management systems; Aluminum Truss E1480 by Weifa Trussing Co., Ltd.; LIGHT SKY beam by Fly Dragon Lighting Equipment Co., Ltd; Rock EUR, Rock UR, and NX Audio’s Slam 5, M5K, N14K, IT Series Amps by Narain Audio & Lighting LLP; new products by TASCAM at Sun Broadcast Equipments booth. LED display by Shenzhen Gloshine Technology Co., LTD; introduction of VGA and HDMI Cables till 100 mtrs by Jinali Enterprise; FLIGHT CASES made by Non Bio–Degradable Plastic Aluminum Composite Board by RAJRATAN; PRV AUDIO’S 12MB1003FT by H V & COMPANY; TG 1000 digital wireless system by BEYERDYNAMIC; India’s first modular synthesizer by first time exhibitors Modular Analog; Alphatec Audio Video Pvt Ltd, will debut at the show a series of new products from brands like KLARKTEKNIK, BEHRINGER’S, TANNOY, LABGRUPPEN; while ACOUSTIC ARTS PVT. LTD. will launch new products by POWERSOFT, TW AUDIO and QUESTED. Number 1 flag bearer of the show - YAMAHA MUSIC, will display an entire bouquet of products which include Wireless speakers and preamps, VXS Series M and S compact surfacemount speakers and subwoofers, MX series and Montage synthesizers and the RS 320 Series Yamaha Guitars.

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PALM Conference & Seminar Programme is back with a stellar line-up of expert speakers driving the three day event at the Mezzanine level of hall 1 of the BEC. Support from Platinum Partners Yamaha has provided crucial impetus to the staging of the programme. Yamaha is also Sound Partner for the 2017 PALM Conference & Seminar, providing vital audio services and sound support to the three day programme.

Additionally, the ‘Open Air Line Array Demo’ will showcase some of the best line array systems in realistic conditions. This year the venue for the demo has been relocated to Ground 1, visitor parking, BEC. The 12 confirmed line array exhibits are from brands that include: Amate Audio, Audiocenter, Carlton Audio, Stonewater, Ewing, KV Audio, Lloyd Audio, Next proaudio, Outline, Sound Capital, Star Acoustics and TW Audio.

Speakers this year include ace visual & lighting designer Becket Tundatil, who will answer questions on designing lighting for the big stage on day one, which is the day dedicated to stage sound & lighting. Top live sound engineer Fali Damania in an exclusive Q&A session will let delegates in on the tips and secrets in the live sound realm.

Besides boosting the business and knowledge quotient, the PALM Expo also acts a platform and catalyst to recognise and honour innovation in technology, quality work and talent and skill of industry professionals, through the PALM Sound & Light Awards and IRAA Awards, complete details of which can be found on the PALM expo website.

The theme of Music Production on day three is also high on the agenda; Donal Whelan of Hafod Mastering, UK will explore the topic of “Cultural Differences in Production and Mastering Practices” along with Vijay Dayal, Recording Engineer with Yash Raj Films.

HARMAN PALM Live Arena, one of the most loved exhibitor features at the PALM, will be back once again in Hall 6, BEC with performances from some of the biggest artists and bands.

Point Blank Music School, UK will host a masterclass by award-winning Bollywood composer Sanchit Balhara, where, Balhara will use a working example score from the Indian epic Bajirao Mastani. Post lunch will see Oscar winner Resul Pookutty, in an interactive Q&A session and present his expertise on “How to record film sound- A modern perspective.” Day three will conclude with the popular Open Forum for Sound Engineers in association with AES. Convened by Aditya Modi, of AES, others on the panel include Chairman of Audio Engineering Society, India – Uday Chitre and renowned sound engineer Mahesh Amberkar. Also running over the three days are product presentations by leading manufacturers like Yamaha, Harman, and Marani. Michele Marani will conduct a “Presentation on Loudspeaker Management Systems” while A.R. Chandrashekhar of Anuvin Consultants will provide info on “Bridging The Gap – ICT /AV / Security”. The Demo Qubes will once again enable audio companies to demo their sound systems with ease in a very private cube structure that is specially created for this feature. This year, visitors will be able to experience Demo Qubes by Bose, Pope Professional, RCF and Rivera Digitech respectively.

The PALM Soundscape has now evolved to greater heights with DJ Championship Director Reji, curating the Soundscape sessions too with an amalgamation of powerpacked Electronic music and DJ centric panel discussions, and product presentations. Speakers include Aneesh Prasad - Co-founder and Director at The Outbox Project; hip-hop artist, Enkore; Turntablist & Sound Designer, DJ Skip; Ma Faiza - The Mother Of Electronica in India; Parampreet Singh Dhanoa - Head of Operations at Zee Live; Richy Dave - Founder of SURGE Digital; hip-hop artists, SEZ and Shah Rule; Tanseer Jabbar of The Inventory. These speakers will share their experience and expertise on panels discussions which include ‘Mega Stage Events 101’; ‘Hybrid DJing: music production meets live DJing Workshop’; ‘Reiventing the Wheels of Steel’; ‘Market presence... through the social media lens’ and ‘The Indian Hip-Hop explosion’. This feature will also host the Synthfest by United Machines (Himanshu Pandey) with gear provided by Sound.com The first two days of the PALM Soundscape will conclude with the PALM DJ Championship. PALM DJ CHAMPION PREMIUM PRIZE PARTNER – DENON will sponsor DENON consoles to the winners thereby reflecting the pioneering spirit of the brand in encouraging upcoming DJ talent in India.

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Harman Professional India to unveil products that will enhance your performance at Palm Expo 2017

JBL VTX A12

Next Generation Dual 12" Line Array Loudspeaker

JBL EON ONE PRO

All-In-One, Rechargeable, PA System

AKG K872

THE NEW BENCHMARK FOR PERFORMANCE Unprecedented accuracy for studio production and live sound engineering

AKG C7

STUDIO SOUND, STAGE PRESENCE for worry-free lead and backing vocals

JBL Intonato 24

24-Channel Monitor Management Tuning System 24-Channel Monitor

Management Tuning System

HARMAN Connected PA The Connected PA solution is enabled via ioSYS technology and initially includes equipment from Soundcraft, JBL, dbx and AKG, allowing musicians to create systems that suit their specific needs. MEET THE CONNECTED PA FAMILY

JBL PRX800 Loudspeakers

AKG P5i Microphone

dbx Di Direct Box

AKG MDAi Connected PA Adapter

Martin Thrill Series New line for DJs, musicians, and enthusiasts offers plug-and-play ease to enhance live performances and events

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Soundcraft Ui24R Mixer

Harman Live Arena to unfold an eclectic mix of genres with the unveiling of the loudest loudspeaker system ever by JBL

Harman Live Arena, the biggest IP of Harman Professional India enters in its 8th year with Palm expo 2017. Conducted at Bombay exhibition center, Mumbai every year, HLA is the only stage in India which showcases the most advanced technology of an end – to – end LIVE solution by Harman. It is a three day music festival which brings together the top of the line/ newly launched products & solutions from all the Harman brands in the LIVE domain, culminating in an audio-visual feast for the senses. Every year there is a new product feature at the Live Arena and this year we proudly announce the unveiling of the latest from JBL VTX series A12, the Next Generation Dual 12" Line Array Loudspeaker systems. VTX A12 is designed from scratch to address the unique challenges of rental companies, FOH engineers and tour sound production crews. It isn’t just a superior line array—it’s a completely new way to approach tour sound. The PA and subs will be powered by Crown IT12000HD and IT4X3500, The AKG digital wireless microphone system along IVM 4500 in-ear monitoring system will be used on the stage along with D7 and D5 Dynamic vocal microphones. Lighting effects will be created by Martin Professional’s Mac Quantum washes, Mac Aura XB, Mac Quantum Profile, Atomic 3000 LED and VDO Sceptron linear outdoor rated LED video fixtures. The command of the FOH will be in the hands of Soundcraft Vi7000 (launched at Palm expo 2016) & Vi3000 digital live mixing consoles along with Martin Professional M6 Lighting Controller. The Harman endorsees who will be debuting at the Live Arena will include “Liquid Bass Project” by Sherrin Varghese and a young energetic band from True School of

Music “Aankh Micholi”. TSM will also be featuring its “All Stars” band which features the foreign faculty at the school. Other first timers at the HLA stage will include: The Ska Vengers, Viveick Rajagopalan, Anand Bhaskar Collective, Sanah Moidutty, The Kush Upadhyay Group, and Paradigm Shift. Tejas Menon and Voctronica make a re-entry to the line up with some of the all time favorites and legendary musicians like Sivamani, Ranjit Barot, and Niladari Kumar. “As Harman Live Arena enters its 8th year of existence, we welcome the visitors to experience the extravaganza of sound and Lighting as created all these years. This year the audience will witness an eclected mix of genres that will unfold form near classical music, to folk, to beat-boxing, to punk with a mix of bollywood thrown in. This year Harman Live Arena will also the latest and the loudest box ever produced by JBL – The VTX A12 line array system. the system delivers exceptionally accurate sound even at very high SPL. We will also have the most advanced digital live mixing console by Soundcraft Vi7000 at the FOH. The Live Arena content will be showcased at the Harman booth using 4K video transmission over LAN by AMX SVSi system”, said Prashant Govindan, Senior Director at Harman Professional India. This year Harman Live Arena will be spread in a 800 sq. mtr enclosed space which will give an ultimate experience to your senses with great sound, visually ecstatic lighting and a dream team of artists performing live every day. Visit us on the 1st June to witness the launch of VTX A12 line array system and on 1, 2, 3 June from 12pm – 7pm at Hall no.6 to get immersed in an experience like never before. The

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STAR OF THE MONTH

Shashaa Tirupati

SNEHA RAMESH

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We chatted up with Shashaa Tirupati, the voice behind the popular latest song Humma from OK Jaanu about her musical journey, her popularity down south, classical influences and more. You are probably one person who started out in the media field at the very young age. How did you have the interest at the age of 6? My parents, though hailing from families not supportive of anything close to music, are exceptionally tasteful listeners. Through them, around the age of 5, i was introduced to the gems and classics created between the 40s and 80s by Madan Mohan, Naushad Saab, SD/RD Burman midst others. They would have me sing on local radio channels in Vancouver, where ive grown up. That developed my confidence and became a major source of encouragement in the initial days. Live shows followed by age 8, after which they took me to Allahabad for training. Singing in the studio began at about 16 years and forth.

Being a multi lingual singer, how did you first break the barrier? Having been raised in Canada, we were exposed to various cultures and communities as children. I was raised midst kids and families of the Punjabi, French, Caucasian, Chinese, Italian and Middle Eastern races among others, so various languages naturally and sub consciously penetrated us. I began listening to the music in many of these languages and others. My friend circle was predominantly Croatian, Tamizh, Pakistani and Persian, so I picked up a lot of nuances of their respective languages and intonations.

You are very popular down south too. What was the first opportunity you got and from who? My first Tamil song was Oday Oday from Raja Rani, which became a mass hit. I also sang a beautiful melody, Kadhal Nergaiyil with Javed Ali around the same time, both composed by GV Prakash. However, it was in 2014 that AR Sir called me to record Aye Mr. Minor for Kaaviyathalaivan, which bagged me the Mirchi Music Award for Best Upcoming Female Singer and a string

of Tamil songs followed. Working with the combo of Mani Ratnam and Rahman Sir will remain perhaps the most magical experience in my life. Ive had the privilege of working with Raja Sir (Amma Kanakku), Harris Jayaraj (Gethu), Leon James (Un Kadhal Irundhaal Podhum - song name), D Imman (Silikku Marame, Palindrom Songs, Meenkuzhambum Manpaanayum, Kotigobba 2 and others), GV Prakash and Dharan.

What in your opinion is lacking in the current music scene? I think the current music scene is growing to be exceptionally technologically advanced and experimental. I also love the sense of adventure various music composers maintain, wherein they are open to using different vocal tones and textures. And with the times, outlook, sound and preferences will continue to change. It would be interesting, though, to see what it would be like to record as they did in the olden days when they would have 25 odd rehearsals followed by a live take with all singers and musicians at once!

Do you prefer Mainstream music or Independent scene and why? I'm open to anything musical! I'm doing both simultaneously. Really wish to work with Vishal Shekhar, Pritam and Amaal Mallik

Hailing from a classical music background, do you think that played an important role in shaping your career? I'm blessed that my parents took up the responsibility and onus of bringing me to India at a young age to have me train in the basics of Hindustani Classical music. For me that has and continues to work as my base for pitching, tone, and improvisation. Once the basics are clear, one can easily build around it. Thereafter, extensively listening Photo credits- Jerin James

New Releases Baarish- Half Girlfriend Phir Bhi Tumko ChahungaHalf Girlfriend with Arijit Singh

to music, other musical influences and singers from the fraternity and aptitude and exposure played an essential role in my growth as a singer.

art and the artist, how he seeks inspiration from what may seem to be the most underestimated sources make him a living institution.

Apart from music, what do you like doing?

Tell us about your upcoming projects

I'm a coffee and food enthusiast, a travel buff and an ardent lover of classic movies and books. In my free time, i pack my bags and take off on trips on my own to unexplored places and try their local cuisine. I also have an affinity for collecting old artefacts and collectibles. A secret desire: id like to endorse Starbucks Coffee one day :)

Not something I could mention just yet, but fingers crossed. I do have some original content out soon.

If there is one person you look up to as an Idol, who would it be and why?

I would always say consistent, back-breaking hard work and effort, a mind like a sponge, self criticism, a Guru, and a sound academic background and backup plan. I'm an MBA in Marketing and I have practiced 10 hours a day relentlessly. its essential.

Undoubtedly Rahman Sir. His life story fascinates me and is a pep talk on its own. His ideals, way of living, morals and drive and passion with regards to his work, how he respects

What would be your message to singers who are just starting out in this competitive and every growing industry?

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SOUVIK CHAKRABORT Y

MURDER OF MELODIES From the EDM corrupted tu cheez badi hai mast mast to the oddly placed Shah Rukh in laila mein laila, Bollywood is going head over heels in an effort to serve stale old wine in stained bottles. The trend is a part of a never ending fetish, it has been tried a zillion times in the past and it would be standing tall as a popular influence in the Bollywood soundscape for the ages to come. The foci of discussion however begets from the existential qualms of a rational mind, which cannot help but ask, isn't it supposed to be a creative medium? Music saleability and acceptance today has largely been a square root to the amount of views it garners on online platforms; and it is there that lies the interest of making the soundtrack an 'eye candy' rather than a ear-rollicking piece. The affinity for the tried and tested formula, thus, is at an all time high. Here are a catalogue of some complimentary factors that amount to this crazy phenomenon. The rise of the EDM and MIDI generation has predominantly led to a new crop of music, which has shifted the focus from melodifying lyrics to sequencing them into dopeshot loops. The phrase, "music is my drug' has finally found its meaning, ever the more than before. Beat breaks are not as important as the monotonous cacophony of bass boosts and cranked up highs.Everything boils down to how many discos would ideally be throbbing the foot tapping numbers. Stars are alligned to selling the idea that whatever they are doing is to "pay homage" to the cults and legends of yesteryears. Be it the stars going brouhaha for Laila Mein Laila (from Qurbani, 1980), to singers and musicians vouching for re incarnates of songs like Humma Humma (from Bombay, 1995), and indigestible versions of Tamma Tamma (from Thanedaar, 1990) and Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast (from Mohra, 1994). The trend of this revival works alright, not just because of the brand value added to the films by the star casts, but also by the heavy weight veteran directors like AbbasMustan and also the legendary big names like David Dhawan is reincarnating tracks like Oonchi Hai Building and Tan Tana Tan, from Judwaa (1997) for the sequel to the same. But these are not the only the responsible groups to have made a difference on the musical scene. The largest influence

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has grossly stemmed out of the necessity for selling out music rights in order to earn a significant return of investment. Producers do not dream of selling a roof tearing revenue from the sales of compact drives or digital release; rather their primary focus is on the rights sales, and to survive the cut throat competition the approach has to be of a steep climb up the ladder, with the glance of an ambitious mercenary. The economies of sale has ensured that there is a dwindling fall of the quality in terms of either lyrics or compositions. That leaves us with one final point of discussion, what about the use of situational music in our movies? In order to put this to consideration, we must first acknowledge the fact that our actors and most importantly the directors, no longer prefer to have lip synching songs. Today, playback tracks are presented as the interior monologues of the protagonists who are filmed as a timelapse in a fast paced urban high street (without uttering a single word) and synced in the post with a song underlay, which essentially adds mood and feel to the entire story. Now, all of this totally demands the use of deepening lyrics, rhymes and prosodies. But, the Bollywood megalomaniac knows how to whisper into the consumerist mind of a sizeable chunk of an audience and so it goes on directly into manoeuvering the unimportant to the bigger truth of 'entertainment', thus the less populist pleasure of the sapiosexuals in reading between the lines of a ghazal is termed 'arty' and not considered as a main course delight of true 'entertainment'. Hence the inevitable consequence of the glittery glitzy tracks with a seemingly incoherent and an unfortunately incorrigible playlist of hundred percent pirated music of our younger generation! Who said all pornographies had to have visuals?

Bose Professional Introduces the ControlSpace® EX Audio Conferencing System

New system includes a Dante™-based audio conferencing processor and three under-table endpoints. Bose Professional introduces the new ControlSpace® EX audio conferencing system which includes the new ControlSpace EX-1280C conferencing signal processor and three new Dante™-based ControlSpace under-table endpoints (EX-4ML, EX-8ML and EX-UH). Designed with input from leading integrators, the system features connectivity for various types of audio conferencing, including USB, VoIP, PSTN, analog, and phone headset audio. “We focused on creating one audio conferencing DSP that includes everything an integrator might need – Dante, USB, VoIP, PSTN and analog audio – all in a single 1RU box. We also recognized the growing need to reduce wiring, locate equipment remotely, and address retrofit applications. Bose under-table endpoints are microphone-agnostic and use PoE and Dante to provide a ‘one cable from the table’ microphone and BYOD ATC solution,” said Arun Kumar, Divisional Manager, Bose Professional- SAARC. The ControlSpace EX-1280C processor features: Advanced AEC: 12 routable acoustic echo cancellers (AEC) with adaptable noise cancellation, non-linear processing and comfort noise to enhance the clarity and intelligibility of the meeting; multiple AEC references support multiple rooms and zones. Dante audio networking: 64 x 64 Dante audio networking for digital audio connectivity with any Dante-based product, including newer conferencing microphones. All-in-one connectivity: 12 mic/line analog inputs, eight analog outputs, eight Bose® AmpLink digital outputs, USB (stereo in/out), VoIP (2 lines) and PSTN.

Open-architecture signal processing: provides the flexibility needed for any conferencing application. SIP 2.0 compliant VoIP: Includes a web-configurable interface, two independent lines with multiple call appearances, and support for popular codecs including G.722 HD, G.726, & G.711. Front-Panel Display: Large 256 x 64 element OLED display and rotary knob for metering, viewing/changing IP settings and more. All three EX Dante under-table endpoints feature PoE, daisychainable power and networking, multiple mounting options and a slim, high-density form factor that makes them suitable for mounting under conference tables. The two under-table microphone interfaces, the EX-4ML and EX-8ML (4 and 8 channels respectively), feature 48V phantom power as well as +12V LED power and three logic IO per channel (1 in, 2 out), to interface with most types of analog conferencing microphones. The EX-UH Dante under-table endpoint extends conferencing versatility for BYOD applications such as connecting mobile phones, laptops and telephone headsets using the built-in 3.5 mm TRRS analog jack, stereo-audio USB, and RJ-9 connector. All components are configured and controlled with Bose ControlSpace Designer 5.0 software. ControlSpace Remote 2.1 has been upgraded to support the new EX and includes a dialer for creating a complete tablet-based user interface for conference rooms. Drivers for popular control systems are also available. In addition, Bose Professional’s wide portfolio of amplifiers and loudspeakers can be seamlessly integrated using convenient presets and audio connections. The

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INTERVIEW WITH

Penn Masala Welcome back to India and congratulations on your new album Yuva! We are delighted to have you back again this year. Last year you came to India after a gap of three years. What brings you back again this year and please tell us that this is going to be annual tour now! Hari: Last year’s tour was an amazing experience for everyone in the group. We could not have anticipated the kind of response we got, and we are lucky to have received the opportunity to come back and perform for everyone again this year. For most of us, this is a chance to be back in a country that is in a sense another home outside the US. From the rich artistic and musical environment to the family we have here, there are countless things about India that we love. We hope to be back as often as we can!

The Hindi and English songs in the mash-ups fit together seamlessly despite different languages. How do you come up with these incredible combinations of songs? Praveen: Picking mixes is simultaneously one of the most exciting and difficult aspects of the group. There are a lot of factors to consider, such as audience appeal, the thematic fit between two songs, and a potential song’s musical fit within an album. At the end of the day, anyone in the group can

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suggest ideas for mash-ups, but we think critically about styles that we haven’t covered recently and certain artists we would like to cover before making a final choice on which mash-ups we move forward with.

What is the idea behind the new album Yuva? Who came up with this name? Hari: After reflecting upon the variety of mixes on this new album, the group came up with the name Yuva together. Yuva represents a stage of life with which every individual is familiar. In this album, we simply celebrate youth, illustrating a natural progression from innocence to independence. From ballads to party anthems, each track on Yuva evokes in us visceral memories of youth, providing different tastes of what it means to be young. No matter your age, we hope you’ll enjoy it the same.

Last year, your show was sold out in Kolkata within seconds of going live, leading you guys to have two shows! How was the experience in performing here and how is performing in India different from performing abroad? Pranay: Performing in two shows back-to-back was an unexpected but unbelievably exciting experience! We were

overwhelmed by the response the first time around, and we’re so excited to be coming back to perform for you all again. Performing in India is always a ton of fun for the group because it gives us the opportunity to perform some throwbacks and other Hindi songs that we don’t normally get to perform in the US.

Everybody is crazy about your group and it is a landmark for the a cappella genre of music. Though we love Penn just the way it is, when do we see women artistes in the group? Hari: The group started off as all-male perhaps by coincidence, but we’ve maintained that as a tradition since then. From a musical standpoint, we’ve developed a core style through the male vocal register, and incorporating female voices now presents a pretty big change and challenge. We are definitely not opposed, however — we collaborated with Jonita Gandhi for the track ‘Manwa Laage’ off of our previous album, Resonance. She has a beautiful voice that added diversity to our album, and we really enjoyed what she brought to the song. We hope to collaborate with more female artists in the future.

Are all the band members trained singers/musicians? What is the criterion for selection of the members and how are the members trained for a cappella? Praveen: Through our audition process each fall, we work hard to find the best possible freshman and sophomores to join Masala. That being said, our first round of auditions is open to any male student—no singing experience required! We ask them to prepare a verse & chorus of an English and/ or Hindi song, and if we like what we hear, we invite them for another more intensive round of auditions. After joining, new members have a great amount of responsibility early on as they learn the full repertoire of the group prior to the semester’s tour. Over time, they are exposed to different facets of the group’s operations and traditions.

With members passing out every year from the University, the members from the band also leave with new members joining in. How does this affect the group dynamics? Hari: One of the major challenges we experience as a college group is its rotating nature, as seniors leave and freshmen join each year. Of course, this system brings with it a need to adjust to changes in lead talent as well as getting the freshmen up to speed on their parts for the music we perform. At the end of the day, though, they contribute to the evolution of our sound as a whole, helping us continue to push the boundaries of Hindi a cappella.

Yamir, you’re from Kolkata and the crowd went crazy seeing a local boy perform with Penn Masala. We hear you applied to the group only six days before auditions closed. What is the story behind this? Yamir: I actually applied to the University of Pennsylvania 6 days after the deadline because I got an email saying the application deadline was extended. As far as my Masala auditions themselves go, it’s quite funny how things worked out. I auditioned for Penn Masala on a whim, more to meet the guys and get their autographs for a friend back home.

Since I was there already, I thought why not. I’ve always loved singing in the shower, so I just closed my eyes and went for it. A couple years later, here I am!

The live shows are super fun to attend and we can see how much fun you guys have performing as well. Tell us about your best performance till date and why? Also, where do you find the most enthusiastic crowd? Nikhil: I think every member of the group would have a different answer for our best performance till date, but speaking personally my favorite show till date was definitely our show in Bangalore last year. It was the first time I had been back to visit India in a long time, and it was the first time I had ever sung in front of my grandmother, who made the trip from Mysore to come see me perform. Honestly, it’s really hard to say where we find our most enthusiastic crowd. We’re lucky to have such wonderful fans wherever we go in India. They make every performance one to remember.

Phir Le Aaya Dil features snippets from past performances of the band and Photograph/ Aayat/ Lal Ishq feature clips from the band members’ childhood. Both the videos have a nostalgic feel to them. Is it a tribute to the graduating batch of Penn or is it a celebration of the work done over the past twenty years? Pranay: Last year was the 20th anniversary of the group since its inception, so we created the video for Phir Le Aaya Dil as a tribute to the history of the group and what those before us have accomplished for the group, giving us the privilege of being who we are today. This year, we released the video for Photograph/Aayat/Laal Ishq, which used footage from our childhoods. We were inspired by Ed Sheeran’s music video for his song Photograph, and we felt that using childhood footage fit well thematically with our album Yuva celebrating youth in its many forms.

Yuva has a great collection of songs and we love all the songs. Which is the band’s most favourite song from this album? And which is the band’s favourite song from all the albums created till date? Brendan: Every member of the group probably has a different answer, but personally, my favorite song on Yuva is definitely Sau Asmaan/If I Lose Myself. It’s one of my favorite arrangements on the album, as I’m a huge OneRepublic fan and I love the songs on the soundtrack for Baar Baar Dekho. From all the albums created, my favorite song is Aadat/Apologize. Like I said, I’m a huge OneRepublic fan, and ever since I joined Masala this mash-up is one I’ve always loved.

Please tell us about the future projects of Penn Masala and what is next on the cards after the Yuva tour? Pranay: Now that Yuva is finished, we’re already working on some new content for the future. We try to start working on the next album as soon as the one prior is released, and we’ve already got some cool ideas for video projects for the coming year. Make sure to follow our Facebook and Instagram and pages, and be on the lookout for announcements about what we’re working on next! The

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Sennheiser announces the launch of XS Wireless 1

Sennheiser expands its music industry portfolio with a brand-new radio microphone: XS Wireless 1. Excellent live sound, a stunning design, and incredible ease of use that makes the system a perfect choice for up-and-coming artists who want to upgrade to wireless. The XS Wireless 1 series comprises a total of six wireless microphone sets for the budget-conscious user looking for ease of use, fast set-up and reliable transmission. Artists, bands and presenters are ready to perform within seconds, thanks to automatic frequency management with one-touch synchronization and intuitive, icon-based controls. The series uses the renowned Sennheiser evolution capsules, and employs antenna switching diversity for reliable reception. The individual sets provide up to ten compatible, preset channels in eight frequency banks, and are available in a number of ranges across the UHF spectrum (A: 548-572 MHz, GB: 606-630 MHz, B: 614- 638 MHz, C: 766-790 MHz, D: 794-806 MHz, E: 821-832 MHz + 863-865 MHz, K: 925-937.5 MHz). The receiver provides balanced XLR and unbalanced jack outputs. XS Wireless 1 sets come complete with receiver, transmitter, microphone (capsule) or instrument cable, power supply unit and batteries. Two XS Wireless 1 Vocal Sets give a choice of two different microphone capsules, the e 825 cardioid capsule or the superior capsule of the e 835, also with a cardioid pick-up pattern. The XS Wireless 1 Headmic Set with ME 3-II headworn microphone is an ideal solution for any live sound application where users need to have their hands free when singing or presenting. Brass players will be delighted to discover a dedicated Brass Set in the XS Wireless 1 range, which provides an evolution e 908 T gooseneck microphone that clips onto the instrument. Commenting on the launch, Mr. Vipin Pungalia, Director Professional Segment, India quotes â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am delighted to announce the launch of XS Wireless 1, which will be a complete delight for the brass players. Excellent live sound combined with simplicity that first time wireless users prefer, is the hallmark of XS Wireless 1. In developing the series, special attention has been paid to making user operation as straightforward as it can be, and offering great sound while ensuring affordability.â&#x20AC;? Pricing and Availability The XS Wireless 1 is starting at INR 19,900 The Sennheiser e-store now lets you check out and buy this microphone anytime and anywhere by visiting the e-store at http://en-in.sennheiser.com. The

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The Right Cords! Amidst the chaos of technicalities, musicality, creative pressures, showmanship, and professionalism, most artists today forget or overlook the vitality of vocal health. Be it for a beginner or the biggest name in the industry, vocal health is necessary for excellence in performance and otherwise. Considering the clutter around the topic, Mumbai-based vocal coach Varun Uday clear the air! What is vocal health? Simply put, vocal health reflects the state of your physical and mental health. Although it is singers and artists who primarily use their voices to perform, managing vocal health is essential for one and all. Every person must follow a basic level of vocal hygiene because the voice is a primordial element that evokes each and every emotion that one can feel. It is one of the most significant communication tools used to express yourself, effortlessly and clearly! A well supported sound combined with the right breathing mechanism is of immense significance. The sound produced should be placed or directed into the mask region of the face and into your hard palate in your buccal cavity. Not only does this improve your sound projection but also helps keep your vocal cords tension-free. (Sound vibration should be felt on the nasal bridge, your lips, upper teeth, allowing you to experience a free throat). Also, a sufficiently moisturised vocal chords are happy vocal folds, indicative of good hydration levels, at all given times.

Importance of vocal heath The equation of well-maintained vocal health is straightforward: A HEALTHY VOICE = HEALTHY SOUND = EXPRESSION (Singing/speaking) If you wish to be able to use your voice to emote and produce beautiful sounds and tones in any style/genre of your choice, you need to pay attention to the state of your vocal cords. This

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involves a clear understanding of various mechanisms that are simultaneously involved in producing a good voice such as breathing, nutrition, exercise (physical and vocal) and hydration to name a important few. It’s like being an athlete! If your muscles are sore from the last time you worked them, due to lack of technique or nutrition or something even as simple as rest or insufficient sleep, you are bound to end up with an injury sooner or later. Hindering ones ability to perform effectively!

How can one go about keeping their voice healthy? I can never say this enough, the life of a voice is the breath!, learn how to 'breathe’ right! Let’s get this straight, there is no replacement for a good breath and a good breathing mechanism (diaphragmatic breathing). Stop taxing your voice to produce excellent sounds without providing it with sufficient amount of fuel to function seamlessly. Developing the right breathing mechanism through specific exercises, helps you win more than half the battle of having to build and maintain a healthy voice. The breath to the voice is what diet is to working out. I have fitness enthusiasts who say to me, “You can never outwork a bad diet.” In the same way, you can never beat a weak breath management system if you want to have a healthy and free voice. Whether you choose to speak or sing, remember, the instrument remains the same and depends on the breath. Training your posture - having a healthy posture is absolutely essential to optimise the flow of the breath helping

you produce a free and well projected sound by tapping into the natural resonator of the body such as the chest, bones of the skull, bones forming your larynx, nasal region. Which brings us to the next critical factor - if you speak right you can almost always sing right. Speak with a full sound (do not mistake it for a loud sound). Utilise the natural resonators such as the mask region(nasal bridge, your lips, upper teeth) and direct your voice to the hard palate and last but not the least, breathe well and maintain the required breath flow! Few other pointers off the bat - refrain from screaming! One must learn how to use the body to support the sound so as to avoid hurting your vocal cords. Being loud and screaming are two completely different things. In most cases when one screams it is either when you are excited or when you’re upset. It is in these situations that we often forget the usage of the various mechanisms involved in producing a heathy sound. Rather avoid such circumstances; after all prevention is better than cure. Avoid whispering - many think it is okay to whisper because it hardly involves effort but please note, it is just as bad as shouting if not more. Don't do it! Exercise - mainly cardio workouts such as running, swimming, jump rope, give your body ample opportunity to build the lungs along with your diaphragmatic muscle and core which are responsible for building a great breathing mechanism that directly helps you keep your voice in good shape. And of course, all the oxygen that enters your system, helps rejuvenate and reinvigorate your senses. Vocal and physical warm-up – Undertake any suitable form of a physical warm-up such as a short jog, a walk, surya namskaras and then add some smooth and gentle humming followed by lip rolls at a comfortable pitch. Post that, move up and down across your natural vocal range to get the voice started before you dive into any talking or singing.

Myths about vocal health? Clearing your throat helps you clear your throat - Not true. Drink water to do the trick.

minutes to replenish, roughly about 5 to 10 mins. So keep yourself hydrated at all times.

The ideal diet for a healthy voice? I would say the key to a healthy voice is moderation. Eat what you like but moderately. Understand what suits your system. If some particular food bothers your system, avoid it. Learn your body and its needs over time.

Having said that, some pointers on how and what you could eat: Keep your diet as clean as possible. Include a lot of dark green leafy veggies, which are a good source of iron amongst many foods, iron primarily helps carry oxygen to various parts of the body from the lungs. Vegetables in general are fabulous for your health contributing to the vitamins your body needs to function effectively. Consume good fats such as nuts, one whole egg, avocados, Virgin olive oil and cheese to name a few. Avoid added sugar as much as possible because it adds to the acidic levels of the body and slows down the process of recovery of your muscles, huge amount of energy is invested in digesting these processed sugars. Eg. Chocolates, candy, canned juice etc Stick to natural sugars from fruits such as apples, banana, carrots, honey, dates etc. Include lean protein such as chicken, fish, eggs, sprouts, low fat paneer in your diet so as to help your muscles recover And of course drink plenty of water. It plays a vital role in your system than just quenching your thirst. It hydrates your voice, helps remove toxins, carries nutrients to the various parts of the body, amongst other functions! So drink up! Try to keep alcohol consumption to a minimum - we all know that it leads to dehydration. And smoking is a complete NO! Need I have to explain the ill effects of smoking.

In a nutshell: Train and master you breath mechanism. Sing after warming up the body and the voice.

A tight abdomen is not good for singers - Well, a tight abdomen is not good for sure, but a strong well developed core is absolutely essential - build your core strength whilst maintaining its flexibility.

Speak with your full tone and a healthy support system from the body. Stay hydrated (3.5 to 4 ltrs of water a day).

You must avoid certain types of foods - Each body type is different and your nutrition needs may differ accordingly. You need to chart down what suits your body the best. It is not always necessary to avoid all the things we singers have added to the “do not eat this if you want to sing” list. Eat healthy, eat right!

Get sufficient rest and good sleep.

Whispering is saving your voice - No just stop talking if you need to, steer clear from whispering and putting undue pressure on your vocal chords.

Varun Udayakumar is a Performer, Singer/Songwriter, and a Vocal coach. He has trained in Western Classical Vocals (Specialised Vocal Program) at KM Music Conservatory founded by Dr. AR Rahman. He has toured with AR Rahman as a soloist with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and was part of the KMMC choir which toured with the Bablesberg Film Orchestra(Germany). He has also ben part of the Opera Scenes productions produced by KMMC such as Pasticcio Madras, The Lobby, #itscomplicated directed by Dr. Gilles Denizot as one of the lead Tenors.

Breathy tone = Sexy voice - You are actually setting yourself up for a lot of trouble when it comes to your voice. Adding breath to your tone/voice will dry out the vocal folds leading to irritation. Water helps moisten a dry throat immediately - The vocal cords have to be hydrated through the water absorbed by our system. Simply drinking water washes down the mucus present as lubricants in our throat which takes a couple of

Eat as healthy as possible. Practice in multiple short intervals (20 min sessions) through the day. For all the reasons you can think of - Do not smoke!

Varun Uday

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INTERVIEW WITH

ASWEKEEPSEARCHING

Shubham Gurung, on behalf of the Gujarat based Modern Post rock band spoke to us about the band, their music, best performance and more in a quick interview.

How did the name aswekeepsearching come about? When we first started out, we were looking/searching for a bassist so we thought why not name the band 'as we keep searching' which later down the path changed to the now one word 'aswekeepsearching'.

What were you guys searching for? As mentioned above, a 'bassist' and also some soothing and calming music to fill our ears (at that point of time).

Tell us about your music and what makes it unique? Our music is very emotionally instrumental, following the footsteps of the 'post-rock' genre but we tried to make it a bit different by introducing ambient vocal layers in Hindi which compliments the instrumentation.

What is the story behind the formation of your band? This started out as just an instrumental studio project which surprisingly got very good online response from the people after we released 'The Tattva', in which we collaborated with various session musicians then. So we thought why not continue doing what we are doing and evolve this 'studio project' to a live one. Slowly but surely it grew to what we are now, a four piece act, aswekeepsearching.

Your band is known for expressing emotions and live experiences. Which has been the most special composition till date and why? The most special composition(s) for us personally would be the tracks 'Reminiscence' and 'Kalga' from our upcoming

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album Zia, since it perfectly describes the journey of the band and the emotional/physical ups and downs while being together so far.

Any artist/ band you guys would like to collaborate with and why? Caspian, 65daysofstatic, This Will Destroy You, Tycho since all of these artists have made a huge impact on the way we ourselves compose and listen to the whole 'instrumental' realm.

Which has been the best performance for you as a band till date? NH7 Weekender, Shillong.

As a band, which has been your best jamming session till now and why? Well there hasn't been a particular jam session that has stood out as being the best since every time we practice, it's like a stepping stone to improve ourselves as being a better band 'live'.

What inspires/motivates you to make music? Any or all the life experiences that we have, in general.

Tell us about your upcoming projects. As of now we are done with the production and will be releasing our new album 'Zia' on 28th of April, along with an album launch tour.

MUVEACOUSTICS By Zeeva Electronics

PORTABLE SPEAKERS Zeeva Electronics, launched their portable speakers for the music lovers. MuveAcoustics A-Star and A-Plus speakers are retreat for the people who like to keep handy speakers with them. Priced at Rs. 2,799 and Rs. 3,799 in India, the features of the speakers are built to suit the hearbuds of different people! Features of A-Star Indulge in a wireless audio experience via Bluetooth streaming Captivating sound with powerful bass Durable body construction including IPX-6 water resistance rating and integrated rotary strap for full mobility User-friendly design with intuitive interface Long lasting rechargeable battery that gives up to 6 hours of play time

Features of A-Plus Indulge in a wireless audio experience via Bluetooth streaming Powerful and inspiring sound with deep bass Compact body equipped with an industrial grade nylon strap Long lasting rechargeable battery that gives up to 7 hours of play time Connector Type: Bluetooth, Aux-In The products are exclusively available on Amazon & Chroma. Zeeva Electronics (Zeeva International - HK Company) has partnered with Virat Kohli for MuveAcoustics audio segment. For additional details: http:// muveacoustics.com/

About MuveAcoustics Launched in January 2017, MuveAcoustics is personal lifestyle audio brand for urban consumers,

introduced by Hong Kong-based global consumer electronics company, Zeeva in partnership with ace cricketer and youth icon ViratKohli. Offering an immersive audio experience, the brand aims to revolutionise the way users perceive and feel about sound and enables them to craft their own personal experience without limitations. The product line includes earphone ‘Drive’, wired headphone ‘Impulse’, wireless Bluetooth headphone ‘Evoke’, wireless speaker ‘A.Plus’, and water resistant wireless speaker ‘A.star’. MuveAcoustics products are exclusively available on Amazon store. Zeeva has launched an innovative and fresh digital campaign, #InsideIsEverything, to promote its exciting range of products for MuveAcoustics.

About Zeeva Launched in 1986, Zeeva is a Hong Kong-based global consumer electronics company that deals in audio, power accessories, and device protection products. Since its launch, the company has forayed into multiple consumer markets with its global clientele network spread across America, Europe, South Africa and Asia. The company is home to cutting-edge electronic products with the most innovative designs through high degree of manufacturing expertise and is known to create products that stand out for their emotional appeal by bringing about the perfect confluence of technology, innovation, and customer experience. The

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ROLAND GO: KEYS – Music Creation Keyboard If you’re looking for a fun and inspiring way to start playing music, Roland’s GO:KEYS is the answer! With its innovative Loop Mix function, anyone can build fully produced songs right away, even with no previous music experience. There’s also a diverse range of pro sounds to explore, plus an easy-to-use recorder to capture and share your creations. And with Bluetooth® connectivity, you can jam along with music from your smartphone or tablet and work with all sorts of great music apps. Compact and battery powered, GO:KEYS lets you enjoy the magic of musical creativity everywhere you go. Fun and inspiring keyboard for beginning musicians Loop Mix allows you to build songs by simply playing notes on the keyboard Manipulate the sounds of your loops with intuitive one-touch control Bluetooth audio/MIDI support for connecting with your smartphone or tablet

can intuitively construct professionally produced songs in real time with drums, bass, and various instruments. And with a simple touch of the performance pads, you’re able to manipulate your songs like a DJ, adjusting pitch, filtering, and more. Pro-Quality Sounds Make Your Music Shine

Play anytime with built-in speakers or headphones

GO:KEYS also functions as a normal keyboard instrument with over 500 ready-to-play sounds derived from Roland’s acclaimed pro synthesizers. With the category buttons, it’s easy to call up pianos, synths, strings, brass, and many other sound types. You can play the sounds over your Loop Mix jams, and use GO:KEYS as a high-quality portable synth as your playing skills improve.

Lightweight, travel-ready, and runs on batteries

Make Music Anytime and Anywhere

Create Music Instantly with Loop Mix

Thanks to its compact, lightweight design and built-in speakers, you can enjoy music nearly anywhere with GO:KEYS. Play in your bedroom, around the house, or at the office with the included AC adapter, or pop in six AA batteries to use GO:KEYS during camping trips, backyard parties, and other outdoor adventures. Plugging in headphones automatically mutes the speakers, allowing you to get lost in music without disturbing others nearby.

Over 500 pro-quality sounds: pianos, synths, strings, bass, brass, and more Built-in song recorder with USB backup

No musical experience? No problem! Anyone can start creating cool music right away with the Loop Mix function in GO:KEYS. Unlike accompaniment features in other keyboards that require knowledge of chords, Loop Mix offers a completely new approach that even beginners can enjoy. By triggering loop phrases from the keyboard, you

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ï&#x2C6;° /ZildjianCymbalsIndia

SUMIT SUVARNA

How India is turning out to be the dream destination for

Rock/Metal bands across the globe If I told you that India is one of the best places to perform for a rock band or that India is one of the places where just about every band wants to perform in, you wouldn't have believed me. You'd probably be amused and thought that I'm losing my mind. Fast forward to 2017 and you may still not believe me, but you wouldn't be amused. But you wouldn't believe me only because you probably don't know the music scene very well. India is home to over 1.3 billion people. Even though most follow only Bollywood and other commercial music, there are a lot of people who are into Rock and metal music. When I say 'a lot', I don't mean the majority. In fact, a very small minority listen to rock and metal music. And the numbers are much smaller as far as not-so-famous bands are concerned. But then again, we are 1.3 billion people. That's a huge number. And we're a huge nation. And regardless of how the economy is doing, India is a massive market for every business in the world. Rock / Metal music are no different. Even if less than a million people listen

and follow a certain kind of people, that's a big number. For, there are tens of nations whose population is less than one million! All of these contribute to creating a lot of interest for performers to visit India, at least once. How did it all start, though? Sure, we had Michael Jackson visit India in 1996-97. It was a huge thing back then. We also had several notable singers and other performers visit India during, before and after that period. But where exactly did things change? When did India become a hub of sorts for bands from overseas? It's all up for discussion, but in my opinion, it was when Iron Maiden made their made visit to India in 2007. That was a major boost. India had never seen a metal band with that kinda reputation in the world before. Iron Maiden headlined 'Rock in India'. The concert was a huge success and there was no looking back ever since. Iron Maiden returned twice in consecutive years since then performing sold out shows in Mumbai and Bangalore. Iron Maiden's maiden visit to India opened the floodgates for a horde of metal and rock bands performing in India. India has been one of the most 'must-visit' places for artists across the world. A gig or a tour in India has become somewhat of a necessity for most. Since Iron Maiden in 2007, we've had the greatest and the most obscurest bands visit India. From Megadeth to Machine Head, Guns n Roses, Metallica, etc and Meshuggah, Enslaved, etc. And it's not slowing down... Not anytime soon!

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So what caused this sudden change? What exactly makes India such an exciting and such an important destination? There are various reasons for that. It could all play a role in a certain band wanting to come to India and it may also be subjective.

Population: India is the second most populated country in the world. Even a small minority in a nation of 1.3 billion people is a huge number. So it becomes a very important market regardless of your product or services. It's a place of strategic importance. Because if you or your product does well in India, the benefits could be endless. So as musicians, it could very well mean more CD sales or digital downloads, bigger turnouts at your gigs, etc.

Reception: Despite the inflow of international bands performing in India, the number of bands performing in India is still pretty low compared to Europe or North America. So the audience isn't spoilt for choices all the time. So when the opportunity to witness an international band presents itself, they make the most of it. As a performer, that's what you want to see. An enthusiastic audience who enjoy the music, sing along or dance or groove or headbang, mosh etc is all that you want as a performer when performing live! And more often than not, this is what you see in India. What's important to be noted is the fact that it's not only the big, highly reputed artists who have India on their roadmap, but also the up and coming bands. In fact, India is one of the most important markets, if not the most important markets for newer bands. As Elias of the now defunct Swedish band, Deathember points out, "The biggest difference I experienced was that the Indian crowds seemed way more open minded about our music, and the crowd seemed more diverse (Than back home in Sweden). As pointed out before, Indian audience, in general, tend to be more appreciative of the music. Sweden is home to a lot of legendary bands. And the people there are spoilt for choices. That does not work very well for upcoming bands. They often end up playing for empty halls/clubs or mute crowds. So India provides them with an escape they would not forget easily. Sometimes, it's more than just these common expectations that make bands visit India. It could be something as deep as being able to be a part of a growing community. Johan Lund of Mindshift (Sweden) says, "India is really important for Mindshift because, first of all, we have gotten treated really well by all the organisers as well as the fans in India. And secondly we see a growing metal community there and to be a part of it from the beginning is a real honour. And the food is great! Haha". He is right. How could we forget about the food? If one has no other reason to visit this rather unique nation, then the food here should do the trick! India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. And India is home to over a billion people. And it's only logical to assume everybody wants to be a part of its growth. The

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SOUVIK CHAKRABORT Y

FIVE FANTASTIC

Dubstep has been predominantly a music revolution with its epicenter in London. The Jamaican influence and other experimentations and mixtapes turned out to be one of the most satisfying musical revolution of the recent times, so much so that BBC Radio 1 supported the movement and made it a compelling sensation. With the boom in the information technology, internet jetshot the 'neo sound' of the age like a wildfire and soon there was an instantaneous bombardment of content in the internet with respect to the kind of independent music that was being produced and the cultured environment ensured that there were a lot of blogs written and materials read and studied by the amateurs and enthusiasts of the upcoming trend of making music on the go and that lead to the spreading of the music to the countries which were so far not infused by the new wave. In India the independent music scene erupted grossly with different bands doing experiments in their backyard. This transpired to more alternative music as televised videos of music makers populated the minds of young sound designers and musicians. Thus, a microcosm was born which cared a lot about music which was pure, raw and uncorrupted, unlike the filmy music of the hard core mainstream music. Indian dub step artists took the lead with both variations and innovations. These own grown music had been successful in the national level by the grace of their talents and skillsets, but nevertheless the young and beautiful composers of the day, had a rolling mill with the help of foreign composers, bands and artists. These helped not only the composers in creating an emphatic track record but also being an international label holders. The future garage would reverb with an amalgamated fuselages of post dub step tracks, trance, house and heavy metal; all spiked in a drink of sound and magic and poured in a glitzy glittery glass of sparkling and rip roaring performances! Dub step artists are growing up in smaller cities and more and more are mushrooming with DJs toying their turntables. Here are some of the most happening artists from India, who are making all the right noises.

SICKFLIP, is best known for mixtapes and heavy duty synth over bass, a solo project of a 22 year old kid Sarvesh Srivastava. Sickflip is already making some veritable feast

The

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ARTISTS FROM INDIA of bass and instrumentation. Sickflip has mastered the art of throbbing speakers at a dance studio with his remarkable blend of contrasting musical flavours ranging from the melodious calm beats to the foot tapping heavy beats.

BREED, is a bass buster who has been working over the past

ten years out of Mumbai now, he has evolved from strengths to strengths with his popular dance riots. Their absolute rollicking tracks are Moon and Stars, Blame the Funk etcetera. The Sunburn and Supersonic stars are ahead in the race due to their impeccable combination of a two time DMC champion classical pianist and a prodigally gifted composer. They have already performed alongside international big shots like Skrillex, Dillon Francis and Major Lazer etcetera.

OX7GEN, has a popular crop of drum and base music, and is a big name in the international music community. His music has been widely circulated in various labels. Aditya Ashok has shot to fame as the ultimate glocal artist hailing from Mumbai. This Weekender rockstar, also plays for the color of compound. He is a chilled out music freak who has created his music on his trips to Goa. Sound Avatar aka Piyush Bhatnagar has been awarded the best

DJ producer by MyFav awards; just a couple of years back. His audio production techniques are far flung and super stylish when compared to the rest of his competitors. Hailing from Jaipur, but now settled in Delhi this young musicians' drums are certainly off the chains.

Su Real is an avant garde nano genre based DJ who is fast changing the indie scene with his transcendental music of oldy goldies fused with snackable disco beat and peppy numbers. Local artists have shot to great heights with the help from big names of the international arena. Seven and Seven's Nischay Sharma is another indie artist who got major boosts from the likes of Xilent and Nghtmre. The dub step artists herald a beginning of the age of an independent movement of music which does not have a dependence on the mainstream market to flourish and aspire to be accepted, rather it has created an orb of the beautiful flowers which could crown the best of the best of any other genres of music in the free soul experiments of the days to come.

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