Wednesday, January 18, 2012

And a year later...



So things have seemingly gone silent. Yes, I must admit openly I have not sung so much since last year. I had a few shows coming my way, but I was so busy on the personal front, it was virtually impossible to accept those. To my credit there were about 6-7+ gigs I had to refuse. Regardless, I haven't sung in a few. 2012 will bring more performances surely and this is just a hibernating period.

On the musical front, minus the performing, I've started doing things that are definitely putting me on the right track. I will post some songs soon; the problem with having a good studio set up these days, is that every errant note and mistake is amplified. This makes for a great learning experience but not always for getting product out. Bear with me.

First, with the advent of 2012, I started my own music company called Moonlight Sonata Productions, Inc. I will elucidate you on what this company will do as the months roll by. There are certainly some amazing things coming up, which I cannot discuss on an open forum such as this as yet. Let's just say www.kaumudee.com is heading for a revamp!

Second, I have enrolled myself in Berklee College of Music's online school to strengthen my music business acumen. This is something I never thought I'd get a chance to do at such a point in my life - study further - but bit by bit it's coming together.

Third, I'm attending the 2012 NAMM Show in Anaheim. Will get to hang out with some musical heavyweights and soak it all in. So much of learning happens by osmosis; we don't realize that value at times. Plus this show is a great place to learn everything there is to learn about the Music biz. I'm attending seminar after seminar - not quite a musical experience in many ways, but keeping me close to what I love best. It's a full schedule.

Those are the updates in my musical life right now. I will update this site soon with some new material.

El Jefe
Moonlight Sonata Productions, Inc.

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Phir Dekhiye - Rock On




This song has a special place in my heart as it led to a huge change in my life, on the personal front. This song was something I just did on the fly to some extent, but it turned out ok, minus an errant note here and there. This was my first collaboration with Jayswami, who has created this track from scratch. He played all the instruments, mixed and polished this song into the creation that it is now. Thanks Jay! :)

Initially I resisted this film and this song quite a bit; the former because I just didn't think I could get on board with the theme (I was pleasantly surprised) and the latter because everyone seems to have gotten this track from Jay and worked on this song. I decided to put my name in the hat as well, finally. The end result was what you hear in this rendition. Thanks for listening!

For further information on Jay's music please see: Jay's Music



Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Live Show Recordings from Private Event



Hello all,

I have some recordings here from a private show I did a few weeks ago. This is a live recording, so please forgive the mistakes. The talented artist who is on guitar and is singing with me is Subhen. I am very lucky to have met such a good consummate musician and I hope we continue to work together going forward.

Subhen has done some creative work on a couple of songs, namely Tere liye palkon ke jhaalar and Do lafzon ki. I wanted to post these up here since they are songs I love very much and luckily got a chance to perform in front of people. Please provide your feedback. Thank you.

Krishnapriya

Do Lafzon Ki Hain Dil Ki Kahaani

One of my all time favorite songs from The Great Gambler, this song has never ceased to lose it's freshness and beauty to my ears. I have always wanted to sing it in an informal setting where the true artistry of RD Burman's music could get proper love. I have tried to sing it to the best of my ability, naturally with a few notes here and there, as is my forte ;-)



Milkar Juda Huye To

Enjoyed singing this one as well. I seem to really take to Chitra Singh songs and truly feel close to her vocal melancholy. Please give your comments.



Tere Liye Palkon Ke Jhaalar

This is one song I have been waiting for years to sing and finally recently Subhen kindly obliged me by allowing this wish to come true. He added his own musical take to this song and I think the result is actually pretty. This song is from the film Harjaaee



Thank you for listening to these songs. They were recorded live using a M-Audio recorder; a small recorder with big power. This show was following two other consecutive shows, which left me tired and musically blissed out! Please do give your feedback in the comments section. Thanks!

Monday, May 31, 2010

Aao Huzoor Tumko - Kismat



**Sorry about the dimmed vocals - try hearing with headphones for a better sound for now. I will make adjustments with other recordings.

After a 3 year hiatus, I decided to record something. I went on a marathon recording spree and the songs that I just loved to record turned out to have bad karaoke tracks. I'm now looking for a clean and smooth track for Tune O Rangeele from Kudrat.

Back to this song however, I have recorded a song that I shied away from for years. The thought of attempting drunkenness in a song, while tiptoeing over notes and maintaining hiccups and giggles, seemed overwhelming back then. Now, of course, it's a treat. I am sad that this track does not have the original starting of Aao Huzoor (Humse roshan hain chaand aur taare...) which truly is a test of a singer's fluidity of voice if balance of sur perfection and timing is maintained.

I have tried to ooze as much drunken appeal into this song as I could while sipping on saffron-scented chai; quite contrary to the many glasses of madira the actress and the singer seem to have imbibed to maintain the mist of intoxication in this song. Naturally Asha Bhosle is one gifted singer and does not require tea or alcohol to make her silky voice glide over this song. If we mortals could only sing like her, we'd all be quitting our day jobs.

In the song's prelude, an intoxicated Babita reminds her Krishna that if he breaks her heart, his Radha will never again be the same. Babita slithers over the dance floor with her gorgeous dress managing somehow to hold her balance while infuriating and taunting Biswajit with her song. I love the juxtaposition of Eastern morality versus Western influence, in this song, as is dramatized by the increasing disgust on the hero's face. It's funny how so much has changed and yet remains the same, from a cultural perspective. Please provide me with your feedback. Thank you!

Meera

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Upcoming Show: Best of Laxmikant Pyarelal @ Cubberley Theatre, Palo Alto on May 15th, 2010




I'm part of an upcoming show which promises to be a treat for Laxmikant-Pyarelal fans. Growing up, I didn't appreciate them as much as I should have, mainly due to my RD Burman fixation, but really, they have created some of the freshest music that has spanned many decades. Appropriately utilizing the crystalline and immaculate voice of Lata Mangeshkar as their choice female vocalist for most songs, LP have truly explored many different genres of world music, ranging from jazz, disco, latin jazz and ultimately married them to homespun Hindustani classical, regional and even dhinchak street music.

The result of their musical toil was of course, complete innovation and unexpected genius. We have attempted to choose a sample of songs, which of course will not even scratch the surface of their incredible repertoire, since there really is so much to choose from. Please see the details below and try to attend to support local artists, who would appreciate your encouragement and patronage!

Organizer's Ticket Sale Information:

Date: Saturday, May 15, 2010
Time: 8:30pm - 11:00pm
Location: Cubberley Theatre, Palo Alto
Street: 4000 Middlefield Road
City/Town: Palo Alto, CA

Tickets : $20 General, $25 Preferred, $35 VIP

Kids 12 years or under, $15. Over 12 years, must buy standard tickets.
Groups of 25 or more get group discounts. Check the website below for details.

Food : From 7pm, Tasty snack-ables & beverages available to keep you full, at reasonable cost. Please arrive early to avoid long lines.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Live performance per request

Per a previous request by a kind patron, I'm putting up some videos of a performance at the ILP Fest 2009 on March 8th of this year.



and



and



The last one is almost silly and confusing, but I thought after so many years of yakking and just putting up sound files, I should put up some videos as well. Hope you like.

Thanks,
Kaumudee

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Melodiens in concert on May 30th @ 8 pm at the Golden Peacock Restaurant in Fremont


Every now and then an opportunity comes along where you are just stunned at the sheer grace that is bestowed upon you. Being in the company of stellar talent humbles me, and I think brings out the best in me. I'm about to be involved in such a concert that's coming up on May 30th @ 8 pm in Fremont's Golden Peacock Restaurant. Please see the details in the included flier and try to make it out there!

Dhanyawaad,
Your Abhinetri