Meet Rida and the Musical Folks from Shillong, winners of the ‘Sparrow Award 2016’
Rida and the Musical Folks is a music group from Meghalaya who won the Sparrow Award by Wipro in 2016. The very unique group consists with members who retain their own individuality. The group was formed in 2011 and is much more than a music group but a brand with their shows being an experience in itself. They showcase not just the music of the region but also the arts and crafts which have been crafted by local artisans. They have curated and exhibited shows in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Goa and Bangalore which have been very well received.
They have played shows across with country and also performed at the very popular Ziro festival in Arunachal Pradesh. The group started the event "Earthy a Fair" to showcase Music, Art, Craft and Food from Meghalaya in Bangalore and Mumbai in 2016. They are currently working on taking the experience across the country and using the fair as a way to connect and share cultural experiences.
The group were also featured on the Discovery Channel in the show "India My Way" which puts focus on movements and groups who are making a difference. Speaking to TNT-The Northeast Today, they discuss their art and how the idea of the group came about. Here are excerpts from the interview:
TNT. Greetings from TNT. Could you tell us a little bit about the group?
R&TMF. The group is from Meghalaya and brings together artists from various backgrounds to create a unique sound. We folks are in search for the ideal way to create a meaningful experience while retaining a high degree of artistic integrity. The stories we share are open-ended making our interaction spontaneous giving us an infinite range of expression. An intimate exploration designed to reveal natural communication of music and art, highlighting a specific form of nature as a subject of celebration and inquiry.
All the instruments used by Rida and The Musical Folks (excluding the acoustic guitar) are hand-crafted by the musicians.
TNT. Tell us about the members in the group.
R&TMF. Well there's myself Rida Gatphoh. I am the founder, songwriter and singer. Then there is Peter Marbaniang who is a ceramic artist. Sean Menzies Nongrum is a Bom player , bass player and sound engineer. With many years of experience as a session musician and a live performer he is now a full time musician working from his 'Home Studio' in Shillong. Shaun Nonghuloo Morehead is a self taught drummer, artist and ksing player based in Shillong. He is a session musician and works with experimental sound and design. Then there is Amarnath Hazarika who is a composer and guitarist whose music spans an eclectic mix of sounds from Contemporary Jazz to Urban Soul.
We also have Risingbor Kurkalang who is a duhalia who has been making and playing the duitara, maryngod, sitar and other traditional instruments since his childhood. He has been travelling and performing with the group since 2013.
TNT. How would you describe your sound?
R&TMF. Our sound is experimental and we are always evolving and learning new things which we incorporate in our music. Our style of music is influenced by elements of Khasi and Jaintia folk music. For the Khasis, the fabric of their everyday lives, their festivals and ceremonies from birth to death is enriched with music and dance. The Khasis express their music through tunes, beats and use of various musical instruments like the male drum (Ksing Shynrang), the female drum (Ksing Kynthei), the traditional windpipe (Tangmuri) etc. The evolution of Khasi music is considered to be as old and antique as the community itself.
TNT. What has the reception to your shows been like in the metropolitan cities?
R&TMF. The audience has been very supportive and we have shows where a lot of people turn up and understand what we are trying to portray. People from Shillong living in the metros come out to support us and it is very encouraging as the only way we promote our events is on Facebook page and through word of mouth.
TNT. What are your plans for the group? Where do you see yourself say in 5 years?
R&TMF. We plan to keep learning and growing both musically and in our arts and crafts but there is no goal as such and five years from now is too far off and we don't plan that far ahead but we intend to keep making the music that we love and believe in and hope that our free flowing, easy going style is relatable to audiences.
TNT. Thank you, Rida and the Musical Folks for speaking to TNT-The Northeast Today, we look forward to you performing in Shillong soon. We wish you the best.
(By Jessica Passah)
