Watchtower

Dirty Talk

by Swagata Panjari (January 25, 2013)

Imagine walking-in the pubs and getting thumped by high pitched blazing tracks like Bhag DK Bose, Kutta or the latest Halkat Jawani. Believe it or not, these are the quality of tracks that are being produced today in our … READ MORE >>

Posted in Features, Focus, Watchtower | Tagged Amitabh Bhattacharya, Bhag DK Bose, Can we stop people using abusive words while talking, Cheap lyrics are an easy way to achieve successful songs, Chu***, Dirty Talk, halkat jawani, have a raunchy song or a suggestive song, Irshad Kamil, Javed Aktar, Luke Kenny, Lyrics are penned by writer, Main Balatkari Hoon, Mehboob, music, New Bollywod, New Music, Salim Merchant, Sameer, Shankar Mahadevan, Shantanu Moitra, songs should not cross the level of public decency, Sound Box, sound box india, sound box india music, sound box mag, sound box magazine, sound box magazine india, sound box music, Sound Box Music India, sound box music magazine, sound box music trade magazine, Sound Box Trade Magazine, soundbox, soundbox india, soundbox mag, soundbox music, Swanand Kirkire, there should be a certain limit to it | Comments Off

“The Shimla music circuit is a young scene; the oldest band is eight years old!”

by Akhila Shankar (October 5, 2012)

United Shimla Musicians is an NGO dedicated to promoting local musical talent in Shimla. We had a talk with co-founder Saurav Chauhan to learn a little more about India’s youngest music hub. Tell me a little about how United Shimla … READ MORE >>

Posted in Features, Watchtower | Tagged Akhila Shankar, Anshul Kaushal, anti-drug campaign, Hollow Souls, Ispat, Moksha, National Rural Health Mission, Rosez On Ashez, Saurav Chauhan, shimla, Sones Aura, State AIDS control society, The Ear Split, United Shimla Musicians, USM | Comments Off

The hills are alive

by Akhila Shankar (October 4, 2012)

Shimla moves to the beat of pahari music, but rock bands are beginning to make themselves heard too Population: 1, 71,817 Major Languages: Hindi, English, Punjabi, Pahari Radio Stations: All India Radio Shimla, Oye FM, Dhamaal 24 Popular Television Channels: … READ MORE >>

Posted in Features, Watchtower | Tagged Ageless Yard, Akhila Shankar, All India Radio Shimla, Bobby Cash, Chauhan Music Center (Main Bazaar), Deathknell, Dhamaal 24, Ektara Chimta, Flute, Folk Note, Gaiety Theatre, Ghariyal, Ghunghroo, Hari and Sukhmani, Ice Skating Rink, Ispat, Mob Marley, Music in the Hills, Music World (Mall Middle Bazaar), National Highway 22, Oye FM, Ritz Cineplex, Soulmate, Tanya Music Centre (Lower Bazaar), The Ear Split, United Shimla Musicians, Valentine Shipley | Comments Off

“Youngsters are taking up music full time”

by Vijay Natesan (July 26, 2012)

Ritwik Raja is one of the leading young faces of Carnatic Music who presents the art in its purest and classical form. Excerpts from an interview – Tell us something about your initial exposure to music? I used to attend … READ MORE >>

Posted in Features, Watchtower | Tagged Avartana, Carnatic Music, Chennai, Interview, Ritwik Raja, T.M.Krishna, Vijay Natesan, YACM | Comments Off

Gateway to the south

by Vijay Natesan (July 26, 2012)

Chennai has always been an conundrum of sorts. Cosmopolitan and modern outwardly, it retains its touch with its roots with staunch determination. The music of the city reflects this ethos – while rock bands flourish, Carnatic music holds sway and … READ MORE >>

Posted in Features, Watchtower | Tagged A R Rahman, All India Radio Chennai Akashvani, Anuradha Sriram, Bharat Kalachar, Bombay Jayashree, Charsur, Chennai, Chitra, classical music, DD Podigai, film music, Flute Shashank, Giri Music, Giri Trading, Harris Jayaraj, Isaignani Ilayaraja, Jaya TV, K J Yesudas, Kalasa, Kamaraja Arangam, Kosmic Music, Krishna Gana Sabha, L.V.Prasad, Lady Andal School Auditorium, Lakshman Sruthi, local labels, M.S. Vishwanathan, Mandolin Shrinivas, music academy, Music Studios, Narada Gana Sabha, Narada Gana Sabha Main Hall, Organisations promoting music, Planet M, Popular Genres, Rani Seethai Hall, Ranjani- Gayatri, regional tv channels, Rock/Pop, Sangitha Kalanidhi, Sanjay Subramanyam, Sapthaswara (Indian and Western), Shankara Hall, Shruthi Musicals, south India, Star Vijay, Sudha Raghunathan, Sujatha, Sun TV, T.M.Krishna, The Alliance Francaise de Madras, The Music Academy, The Music Academy Auditorium, Unwind Centre, Vaali, Vairamuthu, Vidyasagar, Vijay Natesan, Vividh Bharati, Yamaha Music Store | Comments Off

“Corporate involvement is needed to push music scene here”

by Divya Naik (July 18, 2012)

While Indore boasts of a rich culture marked my renowned artists, Sachin Patwardhan is among the chosen few students to have mastered the sarod under the tutelage of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. He shares with Sound Box his views on … READ MORE >>

Posted in Features, Watchtower | Tagged Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan, Amir Khan Samaroh, chota khayal, Divya Naik, Gautam Kale, Hitendra Dixit, Nikhil Barodiya, niladri kumar, Pt Ravi Shankar, Pt. Jasraj, Rais Khan, rubaidar tarana, Sachin Patwardhan, Sangli Samaroh, Ustad Amir Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain | Comments Off

Abode in the Heavens

by Divya Naik (July 18, 2012)

Indore, located in the heart of the country – Madhya Pradesh – has always managed to exude an aura of bemusement and mystery, alike. The lofty city also boasts of hordes of world renowned artists who have their roots in … READ MORE >>

Posted in Features, Watchtower | Tagged 9X Ent, Advanced Institute of Music, Anakars Music School, Auxiliary Triangle, Avalanche, bands and musicians, Bansal News, Before Too Long, Big Magic, Blind Folds, Bliss, BTV Network, Club XI, Dhamaal, Divya Naik, Divya TV, DJ Academy India, Drumming Institute, eminent sitarist Ustad Rais Khan, Experiment 7, film music, Fire Ball, folk, fusion, Gautam Kale, Geoffreys, Ghazals, Indian Classical, Indore, karaoke, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeskhar, Level 3, Mech Music Pvt Ltd, metal, music, music venues, Nicotine, O2 Lounge, Paras, regional tv channels, rock, Sadhna News, Sandesh TV, Sayaji Club, Shiro, Slingshot, songwriter Rahat Indori, Swanand Kirkire, The Holkar Stadium, The Saregama Music School, trance, Trance The Pub, TV 24, TV channels, Unforbidden Souls, Yeshwant Club | Comments Off

‘The Grammy nomination is recognition of our Hymns’

by Aiyushman Dutta (May 10, 2012)

Tibetean Buddhist chants were first performed in front of the western world audience after the Dalai Lama escaped to India following the Chinese invasion of Tibet. One of His Holiness Dalai Lama’s followers, Geshe Ngawang Tashi Bapu has mastered the … READ MORE >>

Posted in Watchtower | Tagged Aiyushman Dutta, Best Traditional World Music, Best World Music, California, Carnegie House, Central Park, Chinese invasion of Tibet, Dalai Lama, Geshe Ngawang Tashi Bapu, Gilberto Gil, Hollywood Bowl, Lama Tashi, Mongolia, multi-phonic chanting, New York City, One Voice Chord, Pasadena, Sacred Music and Dance tour, Sydney Opera Hall, Tibetan Master Chants, Tibetean Buddhist chants, World Festival of Sacred Music | Comments Off

In the shadow of the rising sun

by Aiyushman Dutta (May 10, 2012)

Arunachal Pradesh, tucked away in the furthest corner of the northeast, is replete with its own music and musicians, like the rest of the region. Bollywood isn’t unpopular either Population:13.82 Lakh Major cities and Towns: Itanagar, Tawang, Ziro, Along … READ MORE >>

Posted in Watchtower | Tagged Aiyushman Dutta, Alien gods, All India Radio, Along, Arunachal Pradesh, Bobby Hano, Getem Apang, grammy awards, Guwahati, Hotel Ashok, Indira Gandhi park, Itanagar, Keey relations event management (Tawang), Octave record label, Octave Studio, Phoenix Rising (Itanagar), Phoeniz Event, Radio 91.9 FM, Rajiv Gandhi stadium, Sabtak Recording, Tawang, Ziro | Comments Off

“There is quite a brilliant underground scene here”

by Akhila Shankar (April 10, 2012)

BooN26 is a non-profit organisation that helps promote local talent in Nashik. The venture was started by siblings Reena and Rohan Soni. Akhila Shankar had a quick chat with Reena to understand the challenges faced by musicians and event organisers … READ MORE >>

Posted in Watchtower | Tagged Akhila Shankar, Boon26, challenges, Diabolic Lords, event organizers, Mrutyunjay, Nashik, non-profit organisation, Reena Soni, Rohan Soni, Trigamya | Comments Off

Heady mix

by Akhila Shankar (April 10, 2012)

Nashik, in the interior of Maharashtra, is well known for its grapes, and now also for the wineries it has spawned. A unique music culture is also being nurtured simultaneously, finds Sound Box Population: 1,585,444 Major Languages: Marathi, Hindi, English … READ MORE >>

Posted in Watchtower | Tagged Akhila Shankar, All India Radio, BIG CBS Spark, Boon26, Channel V, Diabolic Lords, Dongre Vasti Gruha grounds, English, fusion band, Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Hindi, Karsh Kale, Mahakavi Kalidas Natyamandir, Maharashtra, Marathi, Mrutyunjay, Mtv, Music fests, Music Hub, Music Stores, Nashik, Nashik Dhol, Nashik festival, Nashik Rock Association, Nitin Sawhney headlined the Sula festival, Paluskar Sabhagriha, Parshuram Saikhedkar Natyagriha, Popular Television Channels, Pt. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, Radio Mirchi, Radio stations, Red Fm, Samrat Music, Sare Jahanse Achha, Shankar Mahadevan, Source music studio, The Sula fest, the York Fest, Trigamya, Vedas | Comments Off

“We keep tradition alive through performances”

by Divya Naik (February 19, 2012)

The Manganiyars of Jaipur reflect an eclectic blend of folk and classical melodies. Of them, Anwar Khan Manganiyar – famed for his deep throated, Kargyraa voice is nothing less than a demi – God in the territory. Khan has had … READ MORE >>

Posted in Watchtower | Tagged Anwar Khan Manganiyar, Babu Khan, Bandish, bhajans of Lord Shiva, Divya Naik, Feroze Khan, Gafur Khan, Ghewar Khan, Jaipur, Jaisalmer- Bandmer, Janganpetha in Rajasthan, Kargyraa voice, Katchara Khan, Kete Khan, Kutle Khan, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman, Lord Krishna, Manganiyars, Meerabai, Rajputs, Sodha, Ustad Sultan Khan, Zakir Hussain | Comments Off

Treasure Trove of Tradition

by Divya Naik (February 19, 2012)

Jaipur is all of it – kalbeliya dancers, colourful attire, sweets, palaces and its enrapturing folk music Population: 3001256 Languages: English, Hindi, Rajasthani Radio Stations: In the past, All India Radio was the only radio broadcasting outlet, which was experiencing … READ MORE >>

Posted in Watchtower | Tagged 95 FM Tadk, 95 FM Tadka, All India Radio, Aman Music Center, Amer Hotel, Anwar Khan Manganiyar, Bagavathi Musicals, Bhagyashri Studio, Bharati Cassette Udyog, BJ, BM Birla Auditorium, Bollywood, brass band, C9 Planet, Café Cuba, Casio Gallery, Chaudhary Labels Pvt Ltd, Chic Musical Group, Choki Dhani, Crossword, Diamond Stuio, Divya Naik, FM Radio 7, folk, fusion, Ganapati Tabla Store, Gods Robots, Grunge, Gyan Vani, Harbhagat Ramdayal, Haseen, Hawa Mahal, Henry’s, Hindustani classical, Instrument Stores, Ish Swarangan, Jaipur, Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, Jaipur Virasat Foundation, Janata Music Shop, Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jharoka Restaurant, Johari Bazar, Kapil Studios, Khanna Musical Palace, King Studio, Kiran DJ Sound, Krishna Bhatt, Kumawat Music Center, Kutle Khan, Laxmi Music Center, Madhav Creation, Malviya Nagar, Marudhar Music Pvt Ltd, Mukesh Musicals, Music and Art, Music N Sports, Music Palace, Music Stores, My FM, Nad-Sadhna, nand Music Palace, Nathoo Lal Solanki, Orca, Pandit Daulatram and sons, Planet M, pop, Radio Banasthali, Radio city, Radio Mirchi, Radio stations, Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF), Rajasthan Roots, Rambaugh Palace, Red Fm, Reliance TimeOut, Ricky’s Video, S&A Associates, Sabrang books and music, Saransh Sound Recordings, Saraswati Music Center, Sharma Music, Shri Kalyan Music, Siyaram, Sound N Music, Super CD, Taquila, The India International School Institutional Network, V Resto Pub, Vandana Music Center, Vinayak Audio Vision, Yamaha Musical Instruments | Comments Off

“We need an attitude of acceptance towards musical experiments”

by Arushi Jindal (January 25, 2012)

Madhava’s is a well-known Sankirtan band from Chandigarh, which bagged third place in the third season of India’s Got Talent. They started as De Innovatives, a purely commercial rock band that metamorphosed into Madhavas a few years ago. De Innovatives … READ MORE >>

Posted in Watchtower | Tagged Bhangra, CGC Landran, Chandigarh, Divya Channel, hip-hop, IEET Baddi, IGT Season 3, Madhavas, MIMT Mullana, pop, Prerna -The Timeless, professional rock band, Punjabi fusion, UIET Chandigarh | Comments Off

Moving Beyond the Bhangra

by Arushi Jindal (January 25, 2012)

Population: 9,00,635 (2001) Languages: Punjabi is the most prominent spoken language, but Hindi is equally prevalent. Among the youngsters, it is typically Hinglish (mixture of Hindi & English) or Punglish (mixture of Punjabi & English). Radio stations: All India Radio … READ MORE >>

Posted in Watchtower | Tagged 7 Sea, 91.2 MHz Jyothirgamaya, All India Radio Chandigarh (AIR Chandigarh/Akashvani Chandigarh), Atul Sharma, Babu Singh Maan, Bal Bhavan, Big FM, Chandigarh, Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Academy, Channel 2, Cheema studio, CITCO, Cosmo Studio, Dada Studio, Dancing Videos, Deepak Radios, Didar Singh Sandhu, DMC music company, ETC Punjabi, Fastway Music, Film Theorist, Furtados, fusion, Get Punjabi, Ghazals, Gippy Grewal, Indradhanush Auditorium, Irshad Kaamil, Jaswinder Singh Bains, Jatinder Shaab, Jazzy B, Josh Tadka, Just Punjabi, Kalagram, Leisure Valley, Lyricist And Editor), Madan Gopal Singh ( Screenwriter, Mh1, Music Waves, Music World, My FM, North Zone Culture Centre, Planet M, Plasma Records, PTC Chakde, PTC Punjabi, Punjab Kala Bhawan, Punjab University’s Auditorium, Punjabi folk, Punjabi Hits, Pure Classical, Rinku Kalia, Rockstar, Saada Channel, Saffron Touch, Saraswati Studios, Sardool Sikander, Satinder Sartaaz, Speed Records, Sur Sangam, Tagore Theatre, Tashan, Vivek 90.4 FM, Wings Studios | Comments Off

“Thrissur has very few major musical events”

by Joseph Thomas (November 19, 2011)

Pradip Somasundaran is a multi-faceted person. He is a winner of the first music reality show in Indian television, Meri Awaaz Suno, and President’s gold medal winner in the All India Radio national level Light Music competition. He is also … READ MORE >>

Posted in Watchtower | Tagged All India Radio, Cochin, Dhanyam, first music reality show, IHRD college, Kerala, Kozhikode, Mazhanritham, Meri Awaaz Suno, national level light music competition, Pradip Somasundaran, principal, Sandeep Chowta, Thrissur, Trivandrum, winner, Yash Chopra film | Comments Off

Culture couture

by Joseph Thomas (November 19, 2011)

Sound Box takes in Thrissur, the culture capital of Kerala Major city areas: Swaraj Round, East Fort, Palace Road Population: 315,596 (2001 census) Main activities: Thrissur (also known as Trichur) is the cultural capital of Kerala. The city is known … READ MORE >>

Posted in Watchtower | Tagged A Anandapadmanabhan, A R Rahman, adhu Balakrishnan, All India Radio, Alphons Joseph, Anandraj Benjamin Paul, Avial, Best FM, Bharatham, Big Bazaar, Chetana Music Academy, Christianity, City Centre, Club FM, Corporation Stadium, Corporation Stadium hosts, cultural capital, Doordarshan studio, East Fort, Gayatri Asokan, Islam, Johnson, joseph thomas, Judaism, Jyotsna Radhakrishnan, Kerala, Lata Mangeshkar Award, London, Maharashtra, Malayalam, Mangalore Music Stores, Mejo Joseph, Melody Corner, Meri Aawaaz Suno, Mohan Sithara, Municipal Town hall, Music Park, Navaneetham Cultural Trust and MAT (Musicians Association of Thrissur). Thyagabrahma Sangeetha Sabha, Ouseppachan, Palace Road, pianist and composer, piano, Pradip Somasundaran, Radio Mango, Ravi’s Digital Studio, Red Fm, Regional Theatre, RPG’s Music World, Sai Musicals, Seven, Stephen Devassy, Swaraj Round, Tamil Nadu, Thrissur, Thrissur Pooram, Trichur, Trinity College of Music, Unni Menon, Vidyadharan master, Vivekananda Sangeetha Sabha, West Bengal | Comments Off

The Tasteful Bhel

by Divya Naik (October 19, 2011)

Touted to be the entertainment capital of the country, Mumbai is the city where music thrives – literally. The base of the Hindi film industry and host to quite a few international acts – this is the place where it … READ MORE >>

Posted in Watchtower | Tagged Blue Frog, Divya Naik, Mumbai, Shaair N Func | Comments Off