Where have all the lyrics gone?

Gone are the days when good lyrics dominated and made a song a great success. Today, songs are more musical and lay a tremendous emphasis on the sound track and special effects. The poetry and words with meaning have been given the back seat. Are words no longer important to a song?

In Memory of Jazzman Carlton Kitto

The death of Kolkata-based guitarist Carlton Kitto on November 28 comes as a huge loss to the western music scenario in India, especially to jazz. Considered one of the technically most brilliant virtuosos of his time, he earned huge respect not only as a musician but as a teacher.

Should we ban Pakistani musicians?

Musicians and singers speak to Monarose Sheila Pereira about banning Pakistani artists Anup Jalota, singer says "Yes Pakistani artists should appeal to Pakistan Government to stop exporting terrorists to India if they want to work in India. Art connections will not work anymore. Recently in Pakistan one top qawwali Sufi singer was killed by some terror group. Now peace can be brought only by replying in the same manner. If they can kill musicians in their own country there is no way that music and art can contribute in bringing peace any more."

Sufism is a state of Mind

Sufi music is the latest trend in the music scenario today. However, its roots go back many centuries. What then is Sufi music? Kavita Seth informs, "Sufismin originated with the spiritual poets and singers like Kabir and Meera Bai. Sufism is beyond religion. It is the core of beliefs. For example, the main fruit is like Sufism and religion is the peel."

Bi lingual Bengali album that bridges the gap from Bengal to Assam

The name Neha Bhasin is immediately connected to India’s first all girl pop band Viva, the band that made an entry in the Limca book of records. For those who were around that time (2002) and remember the four member band, that consisted of Anushka Manchanda, Pratichee Mohapatra, Mahua Kamat and Seema Ramchandani, the first all-girls band group of India came into being when Channel V as part of reality show Coke [V] Popstars decide to host a reality show.

Music of the East Indians

The wedding season is at hand. Jedi Music, a front runner in discovering local talent, brings out 4 new titles this season. The CDs come packaged in simple cardboard inlays that are very eye catching, well designed, very tempting, just like their music. Priced at an affordable Rs. 100 each, the collection consists of medleys, mid – tempo songs to evergreen classics.

Qamar Jalalabadi – A loving tribute written by his daughter

“Ik dil ke tukde hazaar huye, koi yahan gira koi wahan gira…..bahte hue aansoo ruk na sake, koi yahan gira koi wahan gira…” My father wrote this unforgettable soulful song in 1948 for the film ‘Pyar Ki Jeet’. This was one of his personal favourites, and went on to be the lament in his life as he kept losing people he cared for one by one; and was forced into a final quagmire of loneliness as he weakly wrestled with the agonies of old age as well as a nondescript existence.

The Rise and Rise of Indie Music in India

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Indipop had fizzled out and DJ remixes of Bollywood classics ruled the charts, a revolution was brewing on the sidelines. In garages, pubs and shady clubs across the country, a new generation of musicians was emerging – one which chose artistic freedom over commercial viability.

Sounds from the Heartstrings – Rajeshh Thaker

Meet Rajeshh Thaker, an engineer turned Hawaiian guitarist, as he shares with us his life journey of love and passion for an instrument that is almost human for him. His signature favourite line is “My Music is what I am, more than what I do”.

“The world can be approached with goodness” Sonu Nigam

Culture Machine, has always created waves in the digital world with its cutting edge, quirky and experimental content. Be it ‘The Printing Machine’, a poetical satire by Kalki; Radhika Apte voicing against body shaming through ‘You’re beautiful’, or ‘The Indian’ series describing the Indian Sikhs, Muslims and Dalits amongst many other, there is always a social message in Culture Machine’s content. And now, once again, the digital media company has pushed the envelope by doing something extra ordinary – a social experiment titled “The Roadside Ustaad” featuring Bollywood’s most loved singer Sonu Nigam in a never seen before avatar.