Make some noise for these indie projects

CHENNAI : Music lovers, you don’t have to look West anymore for rock and pop albums to get you on your feet. Here are two city-based music ensembles — Aatma and VadaChennai Paiyan — who address social issues and emotion through western tunes. The bands will perform at Trooze Gig today.Aatma: The band members met at the KM Music conservatory, jammed, and explored the different possibilities of music together before forming their music ensemble. The folk rock band has  Abhijith Rao (vocals), Ram Ganesh (vocals/lyrics), Parama Shakthi (guitars), Srinath Laksh (bass), and Kumaran Shivamani (percussion). “We realised that we shared a similar taste in music. We understood that each of us had so many things to say, and what best way to say something than through music,” says Ram. 

Abhijith and Ram are trained in Western and Indian classical, Srinath studied audio engineering, Shakthi is self-taught and Kumaran learnt from his father,  Shivamani.  “Our songs reflect stories that have affected us. You’ll find all emotions in our songs,” adds Ram. The band has performed in the city and but they feel that the number of platforms for indie music are less. 

VadaChennai Paiyan: Shivnesh Iyer was in class 5 when he discovered his love for music. He began singing Christmas carols. Now, he has his own independent music venture, VadaChennai Paiyan. “I started training in western vocals at ABRSM.  I explored different kinds of music and now I have been taking Carnatic music lessons,” he says. Shivnesh focuses on social issues and believes that music is the best medium to spread certain messages. 

He is inspired by AR Rahman and Pradeep Kumar, and calls their music ‘motivating’. “While Rahman’s music is everybody’s favourite and soulful, Pradeep produces folk-ish music and still gives it a different touch. There is so much to learn from them,” he says. He also plays the acoustic guitar and wishes to learn violin. “I feel, when you fit a violin piece into a song, it becomes magical. Violin tunes complete a song,” he smiles. A regular performer in the city, Shivnesh finds it challenging to get a platform, especially for an independent musician. “The music scene in Chennai is good, but the scope for independent musicians could be better. Other cities are open to listening to independent musicians, but the pay isn’t great. I hope it changes some day,”  he says.

Catch Aatma and VadaChennai Paiyan live at Trooze Gig today from 6.30 pm at Urban Desi House, Thoraipakkam. For tickets visit: trooze.typeform.com