From Kerala’s ‘Avial’ to Egypt’s ’Arabian Knightz’ and Chattisgarh’s ‘Bastar Band’ to Ireland’s Bob Geldof, a myriad of unique and diverse artists are coming together to create a platform to experience a day of non-stop music from around the world in New Delhi.
Noted musicians and artists who have been giving voices on various social and political issues, will use their ‘activist music’ to celebrate the right to freedom of expression and to spread the awareness on various issues through music, art and poetry.
Artist-cum-activists like Irish singer Bob Geldof noted for his activism especially in Africa, the duo ‘Loknaad’ and contemporary indie rock band ‘Indian Ocean’ are some of the voices at the ‘Sounds of Freedom’ (SOF) Festival on March 23.
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“Most of our songs are either related to the corrupt system or the peoples’ agony in daily lives. It talks about the discrepancy in the system. Our last gig in Delhi was in 2008 and now performing here after a long time means our home coming,” says vocalist Tony John from ‘Avial’ band.
Tony feels that his band’s music is best suited for the festival, and Delhi is the best ground for ‘activist music’
The Indian alternative rock band from Thiruvananthapuram, which depicts a common man’s plight in Kerala, have lined up tracks like ‘Aranda’ and ‘Nada Nada’ which speaks of the message of walking alone.
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“One of the problems that developing and under-developed countries face is the issue of freedom. We have a tendency to ban book, exile authors, ban paintings. SOF is a platform for performing artists to express anything they want without bondage or restriction,” says Sanjoy Roy, Managing Director, Teamwork, which is organising the festival.
Roy hopes to make the festival an annual event. “We must realise that freedom must not be taken for granted. It must be enjoyed,” he says.
The event is being organised at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in Okhla.
Indie pop artist Kailash Kher, says the festival signifies a “step towards openness in our expression.”
“For me the festival (Sound of Freedom) refers to the creative freedom; meaning when you want to express things through art, you express better. Music and painting are two such examples of expression through which we say whatever we feel like,” he says.
“Delhi has heated with the climate of elections this year, and youth is becoming extremely impatient to make themselves heard. The concert is a realisation that they have the basic tool with them— the tool of freedom of expression, which could be used to convey their anger and frustration,” he adds. MORE PTI ISH ANS ANS 03211352
Other artists like Anusheh Anadil will address gender issues, whereas Egyptian band Arabian Knightz say it will rake up issues on Internet freedom through their music.
Manipuri artist Rewben Mashangva, the soul of Naga folk music, is set to sing about issues related to the North-East.
Singer Sonam Kalra says her ‘Sufi Gospel Project’, the SOF platform aims towards a different perspective.
“Our constitution gives us the freedom of expression without being labelled. To be able to have the voice on what you feel is the most important thing,” she points out.
“Her project talks about sufi poet and humanist Bulleh Shah’s message ‘Take me, my friend, to an ideal place where everyone is blind.’ To be blind about religions and believing in the humanity is what the saint had to say,” she says.
Bengali folk artist, Saurav Moni, famous for rejuvenating the instrument of Baul a one string musical instrument will perform at the festival with a different agenda altogether.
“I am coming to the festival with a lot of questions in my head. I want to ask them where have our originality lost? We are totally unaware about our roots; about our own India,” he adds.
Moni, hailing from the rustic village-side of Bengal, believes that the “feel to sing near the river beds, under the trees with the Iktara or the sitar at hand” is a whole different experience.