Aisa Lagta Hain - Echoes

Recently I did a very intimate concert at a friend's house. My generous friends hosted a bunch of strangers at their house, first during practices and then for the actual concert itself. As the weeks went on, we became close friends and now this musical journey seeks to be continued on. The theme was the songs of Sachin Dev Burman and I sang some pretty gems like Gaata Rahe Mera Dil, Tum Na Jaane Kis Jahaan Mein, Shokhiyon Mein Ghola Jaaye, Najar Laagi Raja, Deewana Mastana Hua Dil and Raat Akeli Hain. I will try to put up some version of this show on this blog. Here is the intro from the show:

Introduction to the SD Burman show

My musical compadres and I thoroughly enjoyed not only the practice sessions but also the actual concert, performed for a houseful of music lovers. The event was by invite only and only open to a small group since the concert was being held at home yet the creative yield for me and the rest of the performers was tremendous. Naturally, my voice gave out by me getting sick one week before the show (thanks Murali) and I had to somehow manage singing through the pain. The rest of the artists were so kind and caring of me, that they all decided to also get sick ;) The result was a fabulous show with a few moments of voices giving out. Mostly mine.

Well a few days after, it was still not in good shape. Yet at the request of some elders, I sang some ghazals in a home setting. A recording was made and I am actually shocked that it came out decently. This particular song is by Chitra Singh and is one of my most favorite ghazals. I have lost sur here and there, and I am aware of that. My voice dried out and I could just not get some notes out as well. I was so sick that I couldn't even sing a note till the day of the show, but somehow things managed to happen. Normally I don't put up such recordings, but I just thought it was not too shabby considering the state of my voice. Abhijit is a genius on the keyboards and I'm on vocals. That's it. The link to the recorded song is below in the player; tell me what you think.

Froggy Throat

RD Burman show in Sunnyvale, California on August 23rd, 2008

Come one, come all....

I am finally getting to do the songs of Pancham Da, a music director that has been close to my heart since I was a teenage girl. I am doing some wonderful Asha and Lata numbers which fill my heart with joy and I would love for you to come join me and share in this musical evening with all of us. From the fast-paced songs of Teesri Manzil to the gentle melodies of Aandhi, to the laughs of Padosan and the tears of Amar Prem, this show covers some of the best work Pancham Da ever created. I am honored to be able to work on some wonderful songs that my goddess (Asha Tai) has sung like the flow of a crisp brook of melodious notes...Needless to say, I am charmed with the content of the show as well as the chance to sing my idol's best work. I hope I do it justice.

Please join us and prepare to hear some of the most amazing musicians put their talents together to weave the musical history of Pancham Da's finest creations. Details about the show are on the accompanying flyer. I have my own quota of tickets to sell so please contact me via blog comments for details and tickets. Thank you for visiting my website.

With a warm and tender welcome,
Dhanno your abhinetri

Concert for a great cause

Hello everyone,

I apologize for the silence, I've been up to a lot of mischief, mayhem and music, not in that particular order. In April I did a cool concert with a local band named Eastern Winds based on the works of A.R.Rahman. I got some exciting song choices that challenged my voice quite a bit (and especially because I got horribly sick the week prior and lost my voice). Still, the music prevailed and somehow I was able to croak out some 'tunes' much to my own amazement. I'm now taking a still break but I have some wonderful musical plans that I'm cooking up. I realize I have not posted a song in ages but that's about to change. I'm planning an experiment which shall be posted on here over the next month or so. So please stay tuned.

Most importantly, I want to speak with you all about a cause that is very dear to me. Recently a dear friend's family member had a tragic happening take him away temporarily from his beloved wife and newborn infant daughter. He is hanging from a thread and just hearing about this will make tears come to your eyes. Anand is now in a coma thanks to a cruel twist of fate and the VSNA community of the Bay Area is raising funds to assist his family pay for the huge medical expenses spent in keeping up with the treatments.

To the rescue came Siva, an up and coming little-known percussionist who performs with some music director in India :-) Jokes aside, the great Sivamani is doing a benefit concert that will assist in raising funds for Anand. The goal is to continue the treatments and reunite Anand with his wife and little daughter. Please check out the following website that has all the pertinent information and come out to see Siva do his master work. Anand and all his loved ones would be very grateful.

The website will have the pertinent information but I am including all that in this blog post as well:

A.SIVAMANI Musical Concert - Taal & Time

Featuring:
Anandan Sivamani (Prince of Percussion)
Shriram Brahmanandan (Mridangam)
Mahesh Kale (Hindustani Vocals)
Jeanette Harris (Saxophone)

For more info, Please visit:
Taal-N-Time

When?
Saturday, July 5th, 2008
Promptly from 8:30 PM to 11:00 PM

Where? ((((Please note the change of venue))))
Dougherty Valley Perf. Arts Center,
10550 Albion Road, San Ramon, CA

Buy Tickets?
Sulekha or Taal-N-Time
Price: VIP, $50, $35

Questions:
408-274-8100
Taal.N.Time@gmail.com

Help us save a life with the gift of music. See you at the concert.

God bless,
Kaumudee

.....the Silence.....

Hi everyone,

Apologies for not having anything to report lately. After a huge musical high, starting with mid June to mid November, things have slowed down considerably. I think I can have a life during this time and work on things that are important. I wish to restart my music lessons, which I have been unable to do but have done a lot of voice exercises seeing that we had so many shows over the last few months.

Thoroughly enjoyed singing all the same old same old songs and now am looking forward to singing a fresh batch. Enough of the old. We singers get bored too. The band has dispersed for the holidays. Hibernation. Many members are in India and will return near February or so. I guess we need to start waking up around that time.

I have no musical news for you. Have heard some nice tunes here and there and I am making a list. Beyond that there is..............

the Silence.

Best wishes for the new year,
Moonlight Sonata

The Great Sivamani

Soooo...about last last week....I ran into a thunderstorm called Sivamani. The amazing percussionist graced us with his presence and spent one on one time with all the band members. I had the good fortune to eat food cooked by his own hand and also feed him some humble food of my own. Kind man, kind heart, humble celebrity and luminous inspiration; Sivamani has changed all our lives. God bless him and keep his star forever shining.

Speechless,
Me

Siva's boon....

The father the mother and the grandparent of most amazing things, happened this past weekend....Still feels like a dream which I hope no one pinches me out of....

Don't want to say anymore.....just want to give you a hint with the following photo:

....Lautaaye hue saamaan ki baatein....

The music practices are going wonderfully. The musicians are amazing; it's been years since I have performed with such a solid group and it humbles me. Makes one want to do better and better. There are dances, poetry recitations and the live band (us). The song selection is amazing. Something for the Palo Alto pseudo-cool Bhangra loving crew as well as for the die-hard Gulzar worshippers. The latter know the songs from Aandhi, Golmaal, Ijaazat, Bandini, to name a few, like the back of their hand. I have never been part of the formerly mentioned "cool" crew, so my delight over the newer songs is lesser; just give me my Gulzar poems like water droplets on a tender green shoot in the monsoons....I seep it up.

Chhotisi kahaani se....

The only thing missing in this show is the amazing Gulzar himself....That would be sone pe suhaga in terms of this show.

Have some changes happening in my personal life and those have been keeping me busy. I will announce the necessary information, when things start crystallizing. The changes don't have anything to do with music, so I refrain from posting on this blog as yet.

Thank you for your continued support......

~Anandagandha

The latest.....

You know that old adage; that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I loved this saying and frankly I used to live by it. Then you realize that it's just a sham and what it should be is: that which doesn't kill you makes you think you're not dead and reborn over and over and over again. Knowing my weird penchant for privacy, I may not even post this post until I'm out of it. All I know is, everything is currently a whirlwind. I'm getting more offers to perform now than I have ever received in the past and regrettably I just have no time to even attend rehearsals.

A show recently came up though; luckily AFTER August (Jupiter Retrograde, you kill me) and is allowing me to finally explore the works of one of the loves of my life: GULZAR. I have been fortunate enough to be allowed to take part in this wonder venture. Please stay tuned as I post updates about rehearsals. No more time for audio posts.

Bye,
Mohana

The show was..................

Simply put......................................................







MAGNIFICENT !!!!!! I can't say more, at least not now since I'm still on a cloud. Check out: http://www.jigary.com

Humbled Me

Been busy with singing...

Amazing how life has completely turned around. I am now completely embedded in singing. A few months back this was a dream which has now become a flesh and blood reality. I have a show coming up with the new band I now sing with. I am humbled and happy that this lovely band has accepted my singing so kindly and are giving me plenty opportunity to try varied singing styles.

Show is on June 17th. Stay tuned for post-show talk.

Drenched in Moonlight

A humble note....

My blog is my creative expression; I realize others would simply have me sing on it, but my artistic nature does not allow me to be a robot and simply add songs on here without explaining my link to the song. I do not choose songs randomly; I have a relationship with every song I sing and I enjoy sharing that with my listeners.

I like to write and this blog is very much a part of my creative expression. The photos, the songs, the tale behind the songs and the personal anecdotes are all my artistic expression. I appreciate your sentiments about how I should sing more and post more but please realize that life is busy for me as well (as it is for my listeners) and that I like to write/sing/create that which gives me pleasure at my own pace.....

Thank you and please do continue to visit as I post more songs and stories :-)

Kaumudee

In Ankhon Ki Masti Ke - Umrao Jaan

Can anyone looking into Umrao Jaan Ada's limpid eyes be able to look away at anywhere else....? Certainly not her paramours who are moths to the bright flame of Umrao's beauty, talent and charisma. The excellent Asha Bhosle sings the poetry of Shahryar set to the melody of Khaiyyam, thus giving voice to Rekha's exquisite persona in Muzaffar Ali's 1982 artpiece, Umrao Jaan. The winsome tawaif, Umrao Jaan, coquettishly welcomes Nawab Sultan, one of her many admirers, who, as the film progresses, becomes the love of her life.

This is one of my favorite films and to this date no one has been able to recreate the delicate nuances of Rekha's acting and Ali's direction. Add to it a perfectly created set, genuine Urdu dialogue and costumes that would make the begums of Lucknow swoon, Umrao Jaan, the film captured many hearts and audiences. The music is exquisitely timeless; though attempts have been made to copy it's essence, to those that are true worshippers of ghazal gayaki and Urdu shaayri, Ali's Umrao Jaan will forever be a masterpiece to be untouched by any other.

Nearly 13 years ago, a song from this film launched my humble musical career; years later I revisit it as an homage to my roots. I offer at your feet my simple song.

~ Rasika

The overwhelmed heart....

So thanks to a new friend I made via the Internet, I got the chance to feel the first bit of bliss that I have not felt in nearly 10 years. I had the chance to jam with a group of equally passionate musical minds who worship music and who are open and understanding to flaws of vocal chords that have the remnants of cobwebs on them.

My new friend, a talented musician in his own right, invited me to a jam session which went into the wee hours of the morning. I was exhausted and running on very little sleep from the previous night but the continual proverbial "musical drip" coursing through my veins, did not allow sleep to steal my eyes. My ears absorbed in melodies that I had not heard for years, bringing out memories and thoughts of the best times of my life. My friend is a dedicated, talented keyboardist and also a hidden singer that is now attempting to sing as well. Suffice it to say, I give him two thumb's up for starters and a "wooooohooooooooo" for good measure.

All that singin' sure inspired me. I have been using music as a healer lately; yes I know it is cliched since that's the obvious medicine for tough times, but it's something I'm actively practicing now. Music has healed so much and it promises so much more.......

I'm choosing the floral arrangements of notes as we speak to get some more recordings done...............

Mohana

Mera Kuch Saamaan - Ijaazat

This song is too dear to my heart - I fell in love with all the songs from Ijaazat, growing up as a teenager in Toronto. I had newly discovered the genius of Gulzar and I was obssessed with learning about every song he had ever written. For me this was post-discovery of the phenomenon called R.D. Burman, and I drank in the film with my eyes, to absorb every element of it. The combination of R.D. Burman and Gulzar remains as my absolute favorites, and this film's soundtrack is the perfect harmony of both their talents.

The seriousness of the film's theme escaped me at the time, but the impact of the lyrics and the beautiful composition remained etched on my soul....This song is a request for a return of the mementos and memories that went along with a very emotional relationship. Sung by none other than Asha Bhosle, Anuradha Patel emotes this tender reminder to Naseeruddin Shah's character. One of Gulzar's finest songs, I have forever wanted to sing this. I offer my humble presentation to you......

Maya

O Sajna Barkha Bahar Aayi - Parakh

Based on Raga Khamaj, Salil Chaudhary's musical genius is perfectly showcased in Lata Mangeshkar's rendering of this song from the Hindi film Parakh. The lovely Sadhana sweetly sings as the rain pours down outside her home...Smiling shyly she lets us view the pouring rain through her soft eyes and we too start swaying to thoughts of love and the romance of the monsoon....

Lata Mangeshkar has also sung this lovely song in Bengali, which is titled "Na jeo na" and became a huge Bengali film song hit. Salil Da has retained the same romantic soft mood in both songs. The mixing on this recording is my own attempt, as was the song before, so please give me your genuine feedback so that I may improve my work - both in singing and mixing. Thank you.....

Indrani....

I will update this song here once I've re-recorded it. I am not satisfied with it. Thank you.

Tauba Tauba - Mr. Natwarlal

When I was growing up, there were three things I loved dearly: playing, my Mother and of course...like all kids at that time, Amitabh Bachchan. During exams, I was banished to the nearby room and while my family watched Chitrahaar and Chhayageet, I was expected to stick my nose in a book and actually *gasp* LEARN ! My mind and eyes were always however on the crack in the door through which I could keep tabs on what song was playing. The only time my jailors pitied and released me for a breath of fresh air, was when Amitabh came on screen.......

Mr. Natwarlal was one of my all time favorite movies, but I didn't appreciate this particular song until I was much older. Featuring one of my favorite actresses, Rekha, this song was another silky rendition by Asha Bhosle. Rajesh Roshan created, I think, one of his best soundtracks for this film. I present this one to your kind ears....

Chhappan Chhuriwali........

On a roll...........

I recorded like 3-4 songs today...having them mixed soon and then going to post them here. This is a huge deal for me because I tend to take ten years to post any songs (as Murali will attest to) and I really need to get the ball rolling.

Anyways, stay tuned....

The Dark One

Dark One, hear me, I am mad with visions.
Eaten up by separation, I wander from place to place covered in ash and clothed in skins.
My body is wasting all because of you.
Distraught and desperate, I go from forest to forest.
Immortal and Unborn One, visit your beggar.
Extinguish her pain with your pleasurable touch.
Mira says: "End this coming and going. Let me forever embrace your sweet feet."

-Mirabai

OMG...new job started today !

Thank you God for giving me this. Thank you. I needed this. The music is coming back........!

Bhaage Re Mann - Chameli

When I first heard this floral song, I too wanted to run away somewhere, like Chameli's heart...Sunidhi Chauhan has expanded her repertoire and sung this delightfully ethereal song that gives one visions of running barefoot through a rain-drenched green forest...without a care in the world. She silkily glides through the lush greenery, pulling us with her and makes us hum without our own knowledge....

Suffice it to say, this is one of my absolute favorite Sunidhi songs. She gives a lovely voice to Kareena Kapoor's "flower amidst the dirt" aka "dhool ka phool" persona in Chameli. Again Shubho's wonderful mixing is at work here. I offer this geetanjali humbly to you....

Pundarika.....