It’s about 4 pm in one of many hottest summers Bengaluru has seen shortly, however the artwork area Sabha BLR has a well-recognized sense of heat round it – a number of artists are milling about, some sat within the café space, whereas others are inside for soundcheck, and a few are simply catching up.
A complete of 24 acts got here collectively for the primary version of the 24 Songs Pageant earlier this month, an idea constructed round every artist performing only one track. Organized by native promoter BlrGrooveCo’s Shubhay Joshua, the present was tightly structured, with Joshua introducing every act in just some phrases to make sure the 10-minute efficiency slots had been used to their fullest. “We wished to get that feeling of a form of discovery playlist,” he tells Rolling Stone India.
There have been maybe a few hundred people in attendance, and that tracks contemplating no less than 1 / 4 had been performing artists and their mates. The pageant ran till about 9 pm, with a 30-minute break between the primary 10 acts and the final 14 performances. “We wished the expertise to be fast-moving and low-friction. Full band setups add soundcheck instances, and we solely had entry to at least one stage because the total occasion was experimental,” Joshua says about his resolution to incorporate largely singer-songwriters, duos and rappers with a DJ or backing observe accompanying them.
Simply as 24 Songs Pageant kicked off with performances by singer-songwriter Noel Emmanuel (with guitarist Vineet Braganza) and shortly after, ukulele artist Natauku, a creeping suspicion emerged that this might play out like an open mic or worse nonetheless, a college annual day program the place everybody leaves as quickly because the act they got here to observe was completed.
All through its five-hour length, the viewers was in a state of flux as folks got here and left, however many additionally stayed. Their reasoning was maybe just like mine: all you needed to do was hear to at least one track after which the subsequent artist was on. There was a unique sort of onus on the artist, although. Natauku says, “It’s fairly a job to decide on only one track,” she is fast to level out. Most artists ended up selecting both their favourite unique track or one they felt the viewers would resonate greatest with. “After a lot contemplation, I made a decision to play ‘Cavity’, one of many first few songs that I’ve written, and at all times has a particular place in my coronary heart,” she says. “Additionally it is one of many longest songs, so I felt it might be apt.”
By 9 pm, 24 Songs Pageant had showcased a spectrum of sounds, from Malayalam R&B from J2K (comprising producer Pina Colada Blues and singer-songwriter Jai Matt) to playful Kannada rap about Bengaluru from Gubbi, who performed his new track “Yerd Plate Dose,” and KK24. The lineup additionally featured poignant singer-songwriters like Praveen Bhat (taking part in “So Jaa Ab Tu Chanda,” a lullaby for when a job reversal led him to turn into the caregiver for his mom), Aanchal Bordoloi, Anami, Saroj Kashyap, Dayve and extra.
Storytelling in a number of languages by artists from completely different elements of India was clearly a thematic thread when it comes to curation. Singer-songwriter Abhilash Shet (beforehand identified solely as a part of the Tulu band Alva Kuuto) made his debut solo efficiency, whereas his fellow band member Praveen Alva was up quickly after to road-test a brand new Tulu track. Apeksha Pai effortlessly moved between Hindi and Konkani for a track devoted to her grandfather, Adhyaay rapped a catchy ode to Benaras in Hindi, whereas Uttar Pradesh-origin hip-hop artist FormalZone demanded vitality from the viewers, and rapper Sharlaine — amongst Goa’s few feminine MCs — held again tears as she narrated her journey of battling well being issues and parental pressures to pursue hip-hop. Nerves obtained the higher of pop artist Tanmay Gururaj, who, regardless of having a million-streamed track like “Ninna Notavu” out just lately, couldn’t precisely ship the efficiency he envisioned.
Some artists stored issues fluid of their strategy: Mumbai-origin artist Papabear stepped up and briefly launched three songs, asking the viewers to choose one. Tarang Joseph performed a plaintive acoustic track known as “Bungee Leaping,” however ended up taking part in a second, extra upbeat tune to steadiness the temper (Moreover Joseph, the violin-flute duo Prerna V and Aditya Rajaram additionally performed two songs, bringing the overall depend as much as 26 songs — if anybody was protecting rating). R.M.S. — the solo mission of rock band Simplemanradio‘s Sameer M. Rao — took virtually as a lot time to set context on his grunge-inspired track “P.P.P.” as he took to carry out it, all whereas synced to a music video projected behind him. Producer John On The Beat with rappers Yaaru and Shastra performed a track known as “Yaake” and devoted the remainder of their slot to doing a manufacturing breakdown of the observe.
The standout moments at 24 Songs Pageant had been masterclasses in efficiency: seasoned rapper Kata, who has been within the recreation since 2009, beckoned the gang to get off their seats and get down in entrance of the stage, luring them with the truth that it was the final set earlier than the break within the schedule. For only one track, it might need appeared like plenty of hype constructing, however when Kata started performing a track with the hook “I don’t give a shit,” the gang ate it up, whilst some dad and mom stood awkwardly subsequent to their youngsters.
Within the second half, singer-songwriter Vasu Dixit — additionally vocalist-guitarist with folk-rockers Swarathma — performed an ektara, an ambient loop, and sang simply 4 Kannada phrases that made up his track “Ee Daari Doora Daari” (This path is an extended path). It created a magically intimate second that the viewers was absolutely into, indulging the artist as they sang alongside, very similar to they needed to Kata’s give-a-damn, foul-mouthed hook.
The most effective songs on the pageant had been maybe these immersive, immediately catchy numbers that gave you first impression of the artist, and possibly even left you eager to catch their full set at one other gig. It’s a unique approach to uncover music, like a playlist on shuffle however dwell and with commentary. Joshua says, “It’s not nearly taking part in one track, it’s in regards to the story behind the track too. Recall can be an necessary a part of the pageant. The top aim of the present is to verify the folks need extra in order that they go and search for the artist, comply with them, and stream their music.”
Conceding that it was troublesome to persuade artists to only get on stage to play one track after which make means for the subsequent one, Joshua says that some artists “liked the format” when he pitched the concept of 24 Songs Pageant. “They had been completely into the concept all they needed to do was are available and showcase probably the most trustworthy aspect of themselves to a room full of individuals,” he says.
Like Sharlaine being openhearted about her journey to the stage, or Bhat asking the viewers to shut their eyes, or Bordoloi transporting listeners to a model of Bengaluru by way of her eyes, or Dayve saying up entrance, “I’m making an attempt one thing new, for the primary time,” it confirmed that an open-minded viewers was key.
Papabear, who additionally hosts gigs throughout the town, known as 24 Songs Pageant a “artistic thought.” He added, “I feel my preliminary response was simply intrigue – I’ve by no means actually heard of one thing like this earlier than. It’s fairly cool, and I really feel like newer codecs like this could really attract newer audiences too.”
Joshua says the primary version was meant to be a trial to see if he may pull it off. Now that it’s out of the best way and movies and photographs are circulating, he can decide again up on conversations he’s had about scaling 24 Songs Pageant to completely different “cities, themes, and genres.” He mentioned forward of the pageant, “So if this works the best way we expect it should, this could most positively turn into our recurring IP with possibly a frequency of greater than annually.”
