SRIRAM RAVISHANKAR
Monsoon Muse A song for every listener this monsoon .
The Score Magazine
26 highonscore . com
Nadishana
Pt . Vankatesh Kumar
Song of the Swan Natraj
Tajdar Junaid PC : Ronny Sen
U . Srinivas
For every artist , the rains have been a creative hotspot . Each artist has presented the rains in their own unique flavor adding more color and vibrancy to the season . Across genres , monsoon has meant different things and held a great place of significance . Usually musicians flirt around themes like introspection , waiting for a loved one , romance , sadness , joy , or painting contrasting imagery using the rain as a metaphor . However , no matter how overrated any of these themes maybe , every musician still yearns to sing about the rains in one way or the other .
This monsoon , here are some picks for every listener .
For an avid Carnatic listener , the Pallavi composed in raaga Varunapriya by U . Srinivas specifically seems to enhance the joy in experiencing the rains in a very subtle but beautiful way , ornamenting each drop intricately . Varunapriya as a raga is one of the most popular picks for monsoons besides raaga Amruthavarshini . Srinivas ’ s seamless journey across Varunapriya , Vasantha and Malayamaarutha ragas coupled with the rains are an indulgence of a different level .
An interesting raag Hindustani lovers can to listen to on a cloudy afternoon with mild showers is raag Multani by Pt . Venkatesh Kumar . His renditions in this raag create a contrasting soundscape with mild showers in the view emanating the Dharwad style of Hindustani music . Renditions by Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan , Pt . Mallikarjun Mansur , Kishori Amonkar are equally captivating in their own way .
Dear , Western classical music lovers , Maurice Ravel ’ s “ Jeux d ' eau ” is a personal favourite . The piece reflects the sounds water makes as it cascades , splashes , and bubbles through brooks . Water pieces in general impersonate the rains in different ways making each piece unique in its own way . Vivaldi ’ s “ Four Seasons ” and Tchaikovsky ’ s “ The Seasons ” are probably two of the most popular monsoon pieces , still remaining fresh and relevant .
For the younger , Indie music lovers , “ What color is your raindrop ” by Tajdar Junaid seems to convey the joy of rains in its simple humming and arrangement that really works for a comfortable listen , leaving a smile on your face at the end of the song . Its mild and earthy rhythms , simple guitars , and sensitive vocals just hit the spot for a rainy afternoon . Songs in the same soundscape by artists like Prateek Kuhad , or Norah Jones , or even Tom Waits just do the trick for a soulful comforting listen .
Filmi listeners are just as spoilt for choice like classical music enthusiasts . Be it Rafi ’ s classics , Ilairaja ’ s evergreen romantic songs , AR , Amit Trivedi , Vishal Bharadwaj , the list just goes on ! Picks - “ Shauk Hain ” and “ Munbe Vaa ” by AR Rahman , “ Pani Pani Re ” by Vishal Bharadwaj , “ Chaudhary ” by Amit Trivedi , “ Deewana Hua Badal ” by Omkar Prasad Nayyar , and an endless list of retro songs by the most loved male and female playback singers .
There ’ s so much clutter in the fusion music genre that picking well fused albums or tracks can get really difficult . However , Vladishwar Nadishana ’ s “ Shu Khur ” from his album “ Zero Density ” with Kuckhermann and Metz instantly makes you groove without wanting to change the song . The soundscape he creates is light and full of life . Another interesting band from Boston called Natraj feature a song called “ Kale Nutsu ” in their album “ Song of the Swan ” that plays contemporary jazz music with influences from African and Indian music . All the songs in their album make for a well-blended fusion jazz album .