The sultry-voiced diva can hold you in a trance. Her music has a strangely enigmatic quality about it, a quality that one would be tempted to call hypnotic, even intoxicating. Sona Mohapatra is emerging as one of the new-age artistes who are taking India's non-film and rock music scenes to new horizons.
Sona the engineer and MBA chose to leave her lucrative job as an FMCG manager to sing her dulcet tunes full-time. She says, "You don't choose music, music chooses you." As you pause, mulling over this much-used explanation, she adds, "I was always doing music. (She has trained in Hindustani classical for over 12 years.) But I realised that I had to devote myself completely to it and not try to juggle both. There is no escape button."
So began her journey and she has been singing strains of rock, folk, Sufi, balancing and experimenting with the genres. "My music is fusion but its bedrock is essentially Indian. I believe in soul music. Instead of strict adherence to genres, my music is an absorption of different cultures. I imbibe as I move on. I think there is good music and bad music. I just want to be part of good music, music that is timeless."
Her first album was eponymous and her second album 'RAAT/DIN' is in the making. Sona has found a unique way of releasing the songs from it though. "Instead of cribbing about free downloads and all, I think we should use new media." So, the first single from 'RAAT/DIN', Diljale, was launched via Nokia Digital Music Store, and a new song will come there every two months.
But there is one song of hers you could not have missed. Remember 'Paas Aao' from the Close Up ad? That is a part of Sona's upcoming single actually, and the singer has sung all the 13 language versions (including Kannada). She also has another Kannada connection, in a funny sort of a way. "My first single 'Bolo Na' has a Kannada version. Actually, it was just ripped, but when they came to Sony, the company told me about it. So now, you have a Chitra version and a Sona version in Kannada," she laughs.
She has had her stints in Bollywood too, like a duet with Shreya Ghosal under Vishal-Shekhar and more, but playback singing does not enthuse her as much as non-film music, and especially live performances. "I love to face my audience," the artiste says.
The singer has recently been a part of MTV Rock On and you will catch her performing on the show today (November 16) with Palash Sen. She praises the show effusively, calling it a "refreshing change". "I am glad that MTV is back to concentrating on music so intensively. India is waking up to live shows, where magic can happen impromptu, and a show like this helps."
Sona has been wowed by the number of talented bass players that Rock On has discovered, and has even taken one of them, Keshav, on board. Although she is very impressed by the instrumentalists, she has a slight regret. She says, "There is But although dressing up and being a 'performer' as they say is more of your individuality and personality in my opinion – I mean, to each his own -- I do believe that a lead singer needs to be the frontrunner and to hold the stage together. This is the area where Rock On has lacked."
Rock On, album, live shows, and a collaboration in London and a project with a French DJ on dance music in the offing -- Sona is busy creating original expressions and genuine music.
(A hacked version of this interview appeared in Expresso, The New Indian Express on November 16, 2009)
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