What grabs one’s attention with the Kerala-based band Oorali Express is not just the bus they perform on or the varied-genre music the members present, but also the theme of their music. Oorali Express will perform as part of a pottery festival hosted by The Humming Tree. Oorali members are looking forward to be part of this unique space where the five elements of nature would be represented at the pottery fest.
“When we got a call from The Humming Tree to perform at a pottery festival, we were only too glad as our songs are close to the earth,” says Saji Kadampattil, lead guitarist of Oorali over the phone.
Explaining the meaning of oorali and their music Saji says, “Oorali is the collective conscience of the community. It is the name of a character in the ancient art form, Padayani , a soothsayer who questions injustices in society. The temperament of this personality from Malayalam mythology who discusses the wrongdoings appealed to us, and so Oorali was born, initially with theatre. Oorali Experience is about what happens around us, what affects us and how we express it through melody and conversation.”
Since water, conservation and soil make up a large part of their nature songs that “go back to earth” the Bengaluru performance will be on ground, and not in a bus this time. “With earthy elements around, we thought we also have to be grounded in music, personality and make up. The Pottery Festival is called Centered as the potter moulds a lump of clay on the moving wheel.
“The potter’s hands mould the clay and he finds harmony in the design. Creation and destruction are in our hands, this is what is reflected in pottery, and in our music too.”
Describing the gig as music, theatre and conversations Saji says their performances are interactive. “In this performance we will talk and sing about the importance of water bodies that make the soil get its strength and character to make a difference to pottery and so to ecology and the eco-system of life.
“The world in its inorganic, concrete structure of corporate life is shunned. One of our songs, ‘Adbhuta Lokam, Adhisheya Lokam, Anantha Lokam,’ brings out the world in its entirety, its infinite character.”
While Oorali’s songs are mainly in Malayalam and English, they also use Spanish words as their vocalist was in Latin America for seven years.
“Spanish gets in a beautiful texture that lends another identity to us.”
And speaking about their style and genre, Saji says they don’t stick to any genre but offer a platter as many can relate to it.
“Oorali’s music is generally a creative mix of theatre, visuals, poetry and original compositions,” says Saji. They use traditional percussion instruments from all over the world. Their sound swings from folk, reggae, blues, theatrical music to rock and pop. The six member band often performs in their tour bus and living space modified to open up on the side, like a stage.
The performers in Oorali include Martin John C on vocals and percussion; Saji Kadampattil on guitars and vocals; and Sudhish Velur on percussion.
Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan and Shaji Surendranath pen poems and lyrics, while Sudheesh takes care of the visuals.
(The Oorali Express performs at the Pottery Festival at The Humming Tree , July 8, 6 to 8 pm)
