There might not be a tanpura on stage, but Vandana Srinivasan’s sketch of ragaadana kanada is unmistakably classical, a fluid stroke of what she is best known for. As she pulls slightly away from the mic, the percussionist strikes the snare and the crowd sways to the groove . A voicebooms through the bar. Sunitha Sarathy’s vocals are recognisable, and yet, impactful . The confluence of styles is a testament to her Western training.The music works like a charm.
“We have varied unique styles, but the beauty is in how we blend them,” Sarathy says. For the singers who have known each other for almost a decade, years of performing together on ensemble live tours fostered a creative friendship that’s led to something Srinivasan calls “a fully experimental homage to what we love”. They’re incorporating everything from ghazals to R&B, throwing in a handful of their own Kollywood hits. It’s an interesting balance, but as Srinivasan puts it, their playback careers have coexisted with their innovations in the independent space. In fact, Sarathy says their identities on the silver screen foster the effort that the duo hopes to take worldwide one day.
“If there’s another talented woman, I believe it’s my job to support and uplift her and sing my heart out to make sure we take the stage and kill it,” Sarathy tells us. Their social media updates about their female duo collaboration have garnered attention from Chennai fans. However, for some, two female vocalists successfully partnering to produce a good show is too alien to comprehend. She says the possibilities are equally exciting, calling Sarathy a “livewire” and a “force to be reckoned with”, both on and off the stage.
Their USP is their mutual admiration, believes Srinivasan. Also the other band members like percussionist Krishna Kishor and renowned bassist Keith Peters, among others. And while it’s been a challenge to get the team out of their studios and onto the stage, it’s no secret that the artistes enjoy live space the most.
“At the end of the day, we love performing on stage and putting out music we believe in,” Sarathy says . It’s also the most challenging medium, sans auto-tune and other crutches that the industry is heavily criticised for. She calls it the true test of their artistic abilities. The singers even hashtag their Instagram posts with phrases like ‘no autotune,’ ‘real singers,’ and ‘live’ . “It’s emotionally gratifying though,” Srinivasan justifies, adding that the audience is equally responsible for getting them to give their best on stage.
. With plans to keep exploring and innovating, Srinivasan says that it’s now or never. “There’s a market for what we’ve put together. It’s time to tap into it.”
