On the midnight of November 8, after a month-long stripped-back duo tour in Europe, Lail Arad and JF Robitaille, singer-songwriters from UK and Canada, will land in Chennai, from London, to perform across South India, as part of the 13th edition of The Hindu November Fest. Independent musicians with a sound that resonates most closely with the indie folk world of the 60s and 70s, Arad and Robitaille can’t contain their excitement in being a part of the fest, and particularly, the opportunity to interact with audiences in India.
“India,” says Robitaille, “is certainly the highlight of our touring year, and we’re very honoured to have been invited to the festival.” Arad and Robitaille picked up their love for music, thanks to their childhood and growing years, in an environment where music was almost always around. Travelling with music allows them the possibility of soaking in local sounds and getting a flavour of the history and importance of music in a particular country — both traditional and popular. “I must confess,” says Arad, “that my exposure to Indian music has been limited; I studied it a little in school, and I’ve seen some fantastic concerts in London, but there’s nothing like actually being in a place and sampling its sights and sounds.”
The beauty of their music also stems from its honesty. Even though Arad and Robitaille are very serious about their music and their individual and collaborative pursuits in it, there is an air of laidback informality about the way they treat the music, and its actual unfolding. “We have a long list of songs that we sit down with before each show,” says Robitaille, “and choose the songs we feel are best suited for the occasion and the audience, no doubt.” Yet, there is a natural quality of improvisation that occurs.
Freely passing their guitar back and forth, and using the piano, on and off, Arad likes to think of a concert experience as a conversation. “For us, the idea is to connect deeply with our audience and allow them to get on board with us,” she says, “We like to tell a few stories and relay experiences that have to do with our songs, our touring life in general. Audiences that are curious and participate are the kind we really enjoy performing for.” Their banter, as Robitaille likes to describe their relationship with improvisation, “is not scripted; so it can go anywhere on any given night.”
The twist in their tale, this season in India, is the addition of Chennai-based percussion artiste and sound engineer, MT Aditya Srinivasan, who will add an interesting dimension to their music. Re-creating the vibe of NYC clubs back in the 60s and 70s, Tower of Song is also an ode to the music of geniuses in song-writing — Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell and Lou Reed, just to give you an idea. Robitaille, who was born and raised in Montreal, admits he always felt a close connection with Cohen: “We grew up on the same streets; we speak the same languages…”
In a sense, Tower of Song, as the performance is titled, will sparkle with a quality of minimalism — stripped to the basics with the focus on songs, poetry and the voices — and celebrate qualities of honesty, humour, poetry, and playfulness. Just the things we need for a good night!
Dates and Venue
CHENNAI:
November 9-12, The Music Academy
Sponsors:
- Powered by - Fiat
- Associate Sponsor – Hindustan University & Nova Life Spaces (Chennai)
- TV Partner – Doordarshan
- Hospitality Partner – Taj Coromandel (Chennai), Taj Krishna (Hyderabad), Taj Westend (Bengaluru)
- Radio Partner - Radio One (Chennai), Fever (Bengaluru & Hyderabad)
- Sound Partner – Zebronics
- Water Partner – Aachi
- Mall Partner - Ampa Skywalk
At a glance:
Tickets: Click >here to book tickets. Also available at:> BookMyShowTicket
Daily: Rs 300, Rs 500, Rs 750 | Season pass - Rs 2500, Rs 1500, Rs 1000
Help line: +91-72999-11222 (between 10 a.m. & 5 p.m.)
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