SHILLONG: The band Summersalt has come a long way from performing in the rock capital and to specific groups and now they are jamming their way to Bollywood.
The band will rock their way to Rock On 2, although the band is tight-lipped on the numbers for the movie.
The band that sings both in Khasi and English, is willing to experiment musically, their fore is crisscrossed genres, there is a touch of everything-from rap, rock, jazz and most importantly theirs songs awaken the Khasi hills and bring back the sayings of yore through their soulful music.
The band is also known for using home tools, like the traditional Khasi umbrella (knup) and other items used by the indigenous.
They call their music TransFusion.
As for the band name, they viewed that adding the word salt makes all the difference, “Salt is a preservative at the same time it adds taste, we want to revive the values and hopefully make a difference through our music.”
The band comprises of Baiaineh Shangpliang (Nah) on bass guitar, Adorbha Shangpliang on Duitara and keyboards, Gregory Ford Nongrum on electric guitar, Pynsuklin Syiemiong on Vocals, Dawad(Weed) on drums and percussions and Kitkupar Shangpliang on vocals/acoustic guitar besides being the song writer.
Their contribution to music has attracted The Rolling Stones magazine, GQ, The New York Times, The Week magazine, The Deccan Herald, The Caravan etc.
Excerpts from the interview:
The Shillong Times (TST): Were you guys approached or did you have to go through rounds of auditions for Rock On 2?
Kit: A close friend of ours linked us with the film crew a few months back. Few bands do what we do, and when we met the crew, we clicked and they asked us to perform and a spontaneous relationship was developed. They knew then that we are the band that they should work with.
TST: How was the whole experience of working with Rock On 2 crew?
Kit: It was a humbling experience.
Pynsuklin: It was eye opening too. We were exposed to different things, even the way they record also. It was a learning experience, coming to what Kit said, it is a humbling experience.
Greg: They made us feel so easy, there was no pressure.
Kit: We were not totally prepared; we went to meet them with an open mind. It was spontaneous, the lyrics fell into place. There were parameters of flexibility as we collaborated with other artists.
TST: How was Farhan Akhtar?
Dawad: We gelled very well, a new good friend.
Pynsuk: He even danced!
Kit: Chatting with him feels so at home.
TST: Can you describe the songs? Is it typical Summersalt or is there any diversion?
Kit: The instruments and the identity that we have cannot be taken away. We are glad that there was a professional respect from their side as well. The local colours of Shillong will be there. If you mix black and white, you’ll have grey. The mix is done with professional response.
It is no just one song, definitely it will have Summersalt element.
TST: The song “Kamai La Ka Hok” is a wake-up call song. What prompted you to write the song in the first place?
Kit: Music is music, music is a vehicle to art and it is relevant to talk about social challenges. The lyrics carry a social message traditionally, if our songs can change somebody’s world, we’d be very happy.
The world can learn so much about the good things happening in the Khasi Hills. We have to revisit the values of our forefathers; somehow, there is ignorance nowadays.
TST: Good things, can you cite an example.
Kit: Some of us may not be optimistic, but we live in a close knit society. There is a uniqueness that defines our society, where people can say ‘hi’, there are no strata.
Overall, the principals are held strongly in our society, for instance, the cleaning drives, whether in the villages or the urban areas, it is a practice that is still there.
People may blame the Government but there are people who perform their duties well.
It may take 2 percent of the people to change the world; we need to look at the reality of life.
TST: You started off as backyard band; tell us something about your journey.
Kit: We have come a long way; we started with conversations, mostly concepts, on how the band was going to be like and the purpose of forming the band.
Pynsuk: We were all brought up with different taste in music. Greg is more into blues.
Kit: I listen to every kind of music.
Pynsuk: We have a bit of everything.
TST: What you’re doing currently, do you think it’s a move to popularize Khasi music outside the Khasi Hills?
Kit: I can’t say that with a definite yes.
It is a moment of pride, to see that the music of the Khasi Hills gets its foothold in Bollywood or Hollywood.
But then if we talk about the music of the Manipuris, Tripuris, Nagas, Mizos, each has its own contribution.
In fact, it is a representation of the minorities’ music making their way to Bollywood. Bhangra music found its place in Bollywood, AR Rahman took the music in South to Bollywood and now it’s time for the North East.
Pynsuk: It’s mostly experimental at the moment.
TST: Your debut album is set to be release this winter, what are your expectations?
Kit: It takes time; there is still the need of fine edit and tuning of the videos.
We hope the people will like it.
TST: There is a mix of traditional and modern instruments in your music. Where do you draw your inspiration?
Kit: Musically we draw our inspiration from across the board. Culturally, our inspiration comes from our ethnic identity – as we subscribe to the belief that ethnicity is a divine gift. Conceptually, we’re inspired by our faith – we grew up playing in Church, after which, realizing the relevance of the message embedded in those songs, we decided to try it out in the outside world.
All these variants worked together for good.
The mix of traditional and modern instruments is a natural phenomenon that stemmed from the concept of inclusivity – which is based on what Summersalt stands for ….the music, the message and the ethnic culture. (Interviewed by Daiaphira Kharsati)