SHILLONG: Music has the power to heal. It also has the power to show the way when one is groping in the dark and the four members of the music band ‘Light after Dark’ can vouch for that.
The band members have two things in common — first, they are all visually challenged, a disability that was never a deterrent for them to achieve what they want, and second, music that transformed their lives.
Having enthralled people in the state as well as outside like Kerala and Mumbai, the band will now perform at TEDx, IIT Guwahati, on February 10, guitarist Rimiki Pajuh told reporters on Tuesday.
At the event, the band members — Pajuh, Dilbertstar Lyngdoh Nonglait, Hilter Khongphai and Wanlamphrang Nongkhlaw — will be given 18 minutes to perform as well as share their experiences.
Saying that music has links with disabilities, their teacher Zoma Sailo said each of the band members have their own story to tell related to music.
Grabbing the opportunity to play in a school band, the members set their disability aside and put on the rockstar avatar. Having performed in many gigs, they belted out songs with panache with music giving them confidence, they told The Shillong Times.
“Music united us though we are from different parts of the state,” said Nonglait, the bassist.
Khongphai, the band’s drummer, expressed happiness at having met the band members.
Vocalist Nongkhlaw, who said music is part and parcel of his life, likes playing the drums and played it for the school band. He landed as the vocalist while trying to fill in the gap for one.
As for Pajuh, music helped him gain confidence and was overjoyed the first time he played the guitar.
Formed in 2013, the band does not restrict themselves to certain genres and sing both in English and Khasi. They mostly play music covers and have three original songs.
With most local bands going separate ways, Lyngdoh Nonglait hopes that the band will sustain as long as possible. “We hope to come out with an album and go on an album tour,” he said.
