Origins of World Music Day trace back to 1982 France. Known as Fête de la Musique , it was started by the Minister of Culture, Jack Lang. Around 120 countries around the world celebrate it on the 21st June every year.
Music has always been in the DNA of Northeast India. Right from traditional folk to Rock music, one is bound to find all in this side of the country. On the occasion of World Music Day, let’s have a look at some names from Northeast who made it big in the field of Music.
K4 Kekho – Arunachal Pradesh
Young rapper from Arunachal Pradesh, K4 Kekho rose to fame with his revolutionary rap song “I am an Indian”. Born as M Kekhon Thiamkho in a small village near the international border between Indian and Myanmar, Kekho won the title of the first ever state level rap competition “Arunachal Rap Riot” organized by a Naharlagun based music band Fat Riot Muskets. He also became the youngest music director of Arunachal Pradesh till date after working in an Arunachali feature film ‘Orunasol Man’.
Zubeen Garg – Assam
Zubeen Garg heartthrob of the Assamese music industry, needs no introduction. Zubeen has lent his voice to several bollywood hits including the exceptional song Ya Ali from the Movie Gangster. He has sung songs in many different languages including Marathi, Bengali, Odia etc. Apart from being a singer, Zubeen is also an instumentalist equipped in playing instuments like mandolin, dhol, drums etc. Zubeen also appeared on screen several times as an actor. He was last seen in the movie Kanchanjangha in 2019.
Shillong Chamber Choir – Meghalaya
The Shillong Chamber Choir has this unique magic to instaly make you smile with their performance. The Shillong Chamber Choir, founded in 2001 by Neil Nongkynrih is a multi-genre choir which won the reality TV show India’s Got Talent in 2010. The same year also saw the choir being awarded three gold awards at the 6th World Choir Games for Musica Sacra, Gospel and Popular Music. They also performed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for visiting US President Barak Obama and Michelle Obama during their state visit to India.
Tetseo Sisters – Nagaland
Tetseo Sisters are four sisters—Mütsevelü (Mercy), Azine Vezivolü (Azi), Kuvelü (Kuku) and Alüne Tetseo (Lulu) who have been redefining the folk music of Nagaland. They sing in Chokri, the dialect of the region around Phek. From early days, their parents acquainted the girls with Li, the traditional songs of their home region. They first performed as a group in 1994. They are trying to keep the Naga tribal tradition of singing folk songs alive and in their songs, they tell the stories of their people and express their joys and sorrows, hopes and aspirations.
Sourabhee Debbarma – Tripura
Guiness World Record holder, Sourabhee Debbarma won the title of Indian Idol 4 in 2009 on Sony entertainment television. She is the first female winner of the show. She is also the record holder of Guinness World Records on Colors for singing non-stop suspended upside down for 4:30 mins. Sourabhee was nominated for the best popular music album in GIMA 2010 (Global Indian Music Awards) for her debut album ‘MEHERBAAN’.
Imphal Talkies & the Howlers – Manipur
Formed in Manipur, Imphal Talkies is a folk rock band from Manipur. It was shaped in 2008 by Akhu Chingangbam with Sachin Angom. The band released its debut album Tiddim Road in 2009. It was also chosen as one of the 33 bands from 33 countries for the music album compilation entitled “Album of the Revolution” released in UK by Un-convention and In Place of War. The band was tagged as the ‘Voice of the Northeast Eastern states. Apart from its founding members, the band comprises of Irom Singthoi (Percussion), Choaba Thiyam (Pena) & Karnajit Laishram (Bass Guitar).
Feature photo source: Kingart Music Management)
