Heights of subjectivity in music

September 21, 2014 by Soumya Radhakrishnan

Music, just like any other art form, is subjective. That's what we've been told and many a times, I've felt it too. The subjectivity is typically, associated with the emotions generated in us when we listen to a piece of music.

The other day I happened to realize the heights of subjectivity in music when one of my friends posted a status update on Facebook saying her kid goes to sleep only after listening to the National Anthem on a loop. How weirdly hilarious is that?

The piece of music that is supposed to induce pride in people induces sleep in kids. Talk about subjectivity in music! I found this really amusing and couldn't help wonder why.

So, let me test this theory now. Readers, do listen to this original composition from my studio band, The Cocoknot Theori and do share what you felt in the comments section below or via here.

Outlived by The Cocoknot Theori from The Cocoknot Theori on Vimeo.

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Hey Krishna - Music Video

September 14, 2014 by Soumya Radhakrishnan

Theme: Contemplation

Contemplation, pathos, despair, tension, and an eventual hope are some of the emotions that raaga Charukesi can evoke in you. I've tried to portray them in this music video in the best way possible. I've also, included a new template for Sou's Voice videos at the beginning of this music video. Do check it out and let me know your thoughts.

Meanwhile, you can download the .mp3 version of this song for free here.

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Onam is a Utopian concept

September 07, 2014 by Soumya Radhakrishnan

Onam is not just a festival. It's a concept similar to Utopia, a belief and a hope that keeps all Malayalees going. Because its a concept, it could be followed and practiced in a grand manner no matter which part of the world you are in.

What matters the most is the takeaways of Onam and whether we live up to what the festival is actually intended for. If only we could live up to atleast 1% of what Onam is all about, the world would eventually become a Utopia. That's the least we could do to felicitate King Mahabali.

On that note, here's a small 'Ona sammanam' (read Onam gift) for you - a song. Enjoy!

How are you celebrating this year's Onam? Share your thoughts either in the comments section below or via here.

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P.S: Here's a beautiful illustration and write-up regarding Onam and the anatomy of Kerala Sadya. MUST CHECK IT OUT.

I said NO to the Ice bucket challenge & YES to the Charukesi challenge

August 31, 2014 by Soumya Radhakrishnan

It has been a week since I've been watching the ice bucket challenge videos on my Facebook feed. While I support the ALS cause and also, think that the challenge is a great way to grab people's attention to contribute towards the cause, I have to say the message conveyed is kind of contradictory.

On one hand the challenge supports a great cause while on the other, it tends to encourage people to waste water. The creators of this challenge could have come up with a more creative approach for this cause. I know it's easier said than done but, its definitely something worth thinking about.

Because of all these reasons, I decided to take a slightly different challenge which I would like to call as the Charukesi Challenge. What I did was I took one of the difficult compositions in raaga/mode Charukesi and made a cover version out of it using my vocals. Here's the popular Malayalam song, Hey Krishna from the movie, Kizhakkunarum Pakshi composed by the late Raveendran maash and originally, sung by K S Chitra. Do listen and let me know what you think.

Also, do check out the following mixtapes I created on Raag Charukesi.

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The emerging need of becoming 'independent'

August 14, 2014 by Soumya Radhakrishnan

As India celebrates its 68th independence day, the significance of the word 'independent' has become more relevant than ever. From a national level to a personal level, the feeling of becoming independent has given rise to different possibilities in our everyday lives.

With the advent of globalization and the rise of start up and entrepreneurial culture, the number of independent jobs and job roles are increasing day by day. The internet and social media has only aided this emerging trend. If you are wondering about the relevance of this in music, just take a look at the millions of YouTube channels and social media profiles of various independent artists/musicians, including mine.

I became a part of the Indian independent music scene in the year, 2007. That's when I officially started audio blogging and I got a major exposure through this initiative called, Blogswara on which a case study was conducted by a student in University of Alberta, Canada.

Here's a link to the interview (Malayalam) of some of the Blogswara team members, aired in Manorama channel in the year, 2009. Try to spot me in the video :)

How important is the feeling 'independent' to you? Share your thoughts either in the comments section below or via the contact form.

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You can download the slide share version of this post here.