Manipuri Rock Vocalist Aims Bigger Contest
‘Recycle’ Biswajit’s aims Mumbai fest:
Imphal, Dec 16: Rock vocalist Biswajit of "Recycle", who was adjudged the best vocalist of this year’s Hornbill national rock contest at the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, said he and his band are now targeting the ‘Great India Rock’ contest, one of the prestigious contests of the country organized yearly by the Rock Street Journal.
"We have started preparing for participation in the contest scheduled in February next year," the 32-year old talented rock singer from Manipur, Tongbram Biswajit, the youngest of six siblings of late Bijoy and Bina Devi of Sega road Konjeng Hazari Leikai said today. He has two brothers and three sisters.
Inspired by the his recent success in winning the best vocalist prize of this year`s Hornbill national rock contest, Biswajit is excited about the new doors that have opened for his band with the success in Nagaland.
Biswajit was adjudged the best vocalist of the year at the contest which is part of the Hornbill festival which is celebrated by all the 16 odd Naga tribes and is said to be the mother of all Naga festivals.
Biswajit, who started singing rock from his early childhood under his father`s influence said his band "Recycle" with his own compositions is targeting to participate in the `Great India Rock` contest to be held in Mumbai in February next year. The GIR contest is held annually and the contest allows bands to perform their own compositions only.
"And I hope our band will be able to get a place in the contest which allows five self composed songs to be presented," Biswajit said.
Biswajit was inspired by his father but has not trained under a teacher. It was only his passion and own effort along with his inborn talent which made him into a rock singer from early life.
He first tasted success when his band "Illegal" took first position at the first state level `Drift Rock Contest` held in Imphal in 1995. Since then he has worked with different groups of the state. Currently he is with the Recycle band which was formed in November 2006.
He along with his band have toured the entire north east and also performed at contests held in IIT, Delhi and Kanpur in 1997 and also in Myanmar. His performance at the Water Festival, the biggest festival of Myanmar in 2005, is still remembered by the people of Mandalay, the capital city of the neighbouring country.
"I considered the success at the Hornbill national rock contest to be a great achievement in my life. I feel proud of my state Manipur," Biswajit said.
He feels worried by the present problems plaguing the state of Manipur and wants to bring a revolution in the north eastern region in general and in Manipur particularly with his self composed music.
According to him music can influence the masses while the songs composed could reflect the issues of the time.
"I hope to contribute in bringing a change in our society through music. I am always concerned for some change with my music. So my compositions are always focused on the issues of the state and north east for progressive change." Biswajit said.
His two self composed songs "Tell me why" and "Change" also focus on the hot issues of present day Manipur.
"The song entitled ‘Tell me why’ which had won great acclaim at the Hornbill contest reflects the present environment in Manipur like merciless killings, communal fights, extortions -- the list goes on -- it leads to anger, fear and hope for a better future," Biswajit said while talking about the song.
The lyrics of the song ‘Tell me why’ go like this:
I see no reason
To be blood and gore
Wrapping up the world
Sons weeping for fathers
Mother weeping for sons
Smokes and guns everywhere
Clouds of tears raining
Tell me why
You’re fighting to kill
Violence only hurts you and us?. the song goes on.
The other self composed song ‘Change’ which was presented at the Hornbill contest go like this:
Memories still lingers on
But I’m on my way through
Emotions not a reality
Trying to smile when you feel sad
At the concluding part of the chat he credited his success to his father, mother, and colleagues of the band Recycle for their priceless contribution to his success.
Mention may be made that the celebration of the Hornbill Festival at the state level began with full sponsorship of the Nagaland government since 2000 and consists of a seven-day rock contest.
This year`s special edition of the Aircel Hornbill rock contest which commenced from December 7 was held at Kisama in Nagaland and the Recycle band represented Manipur.
After getting through the preliminary round, the Recycle, an alternative, Grunge, nu-metal band of Imphal took part in the contest held at Kisama from December 4 to 6. Each band played for 25 minutes.
Recycle, in which Biswajit was the vocalist, played five songs including one self composition "Tell me why" in the second phase preliminary round on December 5.
At the grand final contest round on December 9 Recycle was given the second slot of the evening. The vocalist of Recycle band Biswajit started with a smart one liner- "Kineka ase" which means how are you all and the crowd replied "Bhal ase" which means we are fine in Nagamese.
In that round, Recycle played five songs inclusive of two originals and three covers namely ‘Tell me why’, ‘Change’, ‘Your time has come’ (Audio slave), ‘Helter Skelter’ (U2 version) and ‘Readymade’ (Red hot chilli pepper).
Biswajit was named the best vocalist in the individual category. He received an amount of Rs. 25,000 with a certificate and citation. Five members of the Recycle band of Manipur participated in the contest apart from Biswajit. They were Naobi on guitar, Bode on guitar and backing vocals, Michael on bass and backing vocals and Bungo on drums.
Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, Dec 16: Rock vocalist Biswajit of "Recycle", who was adjudged the best vocalist of this year’s Hornbill national rock contest at the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, said he and his band are now targeting the ‘Great India Rock’ contest, one of the prestigious contests of the country organized yearly by the Rock Street Journal.
"We have started preparing for participation in the contest scheduled in February next year," the 32-year old talented rock singer from Manipur, Tongbram Biswajit, the youngest of six siblings of late Bijoy and Bina Devi of Sega road Konjeng Hazari Leikai said today. He has two brothers and three sisters.
Inspired by the his recent success in winning the best vocalist prize of this year`s Hornbill national rock contest, Biswajit is excited about the new doors that have opened for his band with the success in Nagaland.
Biswajit was adjudged the best vocalist of the year at the contest which is part of the Hornbill festival which is celebrated by all the 16 odd Naga tribes and is said to be the mother of all Naga festivals.
Biswajit, who started singing rock from his early childhood under his father`s influence said his band "Recycle" with his own compositions is targeting to participate in the `Great India Rock` contest to be held in Mumbai in February next year. The GIR contest is held annually and the contest allows bands to perform their own compositions only.
"And I hope our band will be able to get a place in the contest which allows five self composed songs to be presented," Biswajit said.
Biswajit was inspired by his father but has not trained under a teacher. It was only his passion and own effort along with his inborn talent which made him into a rock singer from early life.
He first tasted success when his band "Illegal" took first position at the first state level `Drift Rock Contest` held in Imphal in 1995. Since then he has worked with different groups of the state. Currently he is with the Recycle band which was formed in November 2006.
He along with his band have toured the entire north east and also performed at contests held in IIT, Delhi and Kanpur in 1997 and also in Myanmar. His performance at the Water Festival, the biggest festival of Myanmar in 2005, is still remembered by the people of Mandalay, the capital city of the neighbouring country.
"I considered the success at the Hornbill national rock contest to be a great achievement in my life. I feel proud of my state Manipur," Biswajit said.
He feels worried by the present problems plaguing the state of Manipur and wants to bring a revolution in the north eastern region in general and in Manipur particularly with his self composed music.
According to him music can influence the masses while the songs composed could reflect the issues of the time.
"I hope to contribute in bringing a change in our society through music. I am always concerned for some change with my music. So my compositions are always focused on the issues of the state and north east for progressive change." Biswajit said.
His two self composed songs "Tell me why" and "Change" also focus on the hot issues of present day Manipur.
"The song entitled ‘Tell me why’ which had won great acclaim at the Hornbill contest reflects the present environment in Manipur like merciless killings, communal fights, extortions -- the list goes on -- it leads to anger, fear and hope for a better future," Biswajit said while talking about the song.
The lyrics of the song ‘Tell me why’ go like this:
I see no reason
To be blood and gore
Wrapping up the world
Sons weeping for fathers
Mother weeping for sons
Smokes and guns everywhere
Clouds of tears raining
Tell me why
You’re fighting to kill
Violence only hurts you and us?. the song goes on.
The other self composed song ‘Change’ which was presented at the Hornbill contest go like this:
Memories still lingers on
But I’m on my way through
Emotions not a reality
Trying to smile when you feel sad
At the concluding part of the chat he credited his success to his father, mother, and colleagues of the band Recycle for their priceless contribution to his success.
Mention may be made that the celebration of the Hornbill Festival at the state level began with full sponsorship of the Nagaland government since 2000 and consists of a seven-day rock contest.
This year`s special edition of the Aircel Hornbill rock contest which commenced from December 7 was held at Kisama in Nagaland and the Recycle band represented Manipur.
After getting through the preliminary round, the Recycle, an alternative, Grunge, nu-metal band of Imphal took part in the contest held at Kisama from December 4 to 6. Each band played for 25 minutes.
Recycle, in which Biswajit was the vocalist, played five songs including one self composition "Tell me why" in the second phase preliminary round on December 5.
At the grand final contest round on December 9 Recycle was given the second slot of the evening. The vocalist of Recycle band Biswajit started with a smart one liner- "Kineka ase" which means how are you all and the crowd replied "Bhal ase" which means we are fine in Nagamese.
In that round, Recycle played five songs inclusive of two originals and three covers namely ‘Tell me why’, ‘Change’, ‘Your time has come’ (Audio slave), ‘Helter Skelter’ (U2 version) and ‘Readymade’ (Red hot chilli pepper).
Biswajit was named the best vocalist in the individual category. He received an amount of Rs. 25,000 with a certificate and citation. Five members of the Recycle band of Manipur participated in the contest apart from Biswajit. They were Naobi on guitar, Bode on guitar and backing vocals, Michael on bass and backing vocals and Bungo on drums.
Source: The Imphal Free Press