“Ellathukkume inga happy dhaan.”
This is Deepan Fathima’s reaction when asked about the decision to host Band Cooum’s upcoming concert in Korukkupet. “In this area, most of us do not like sad music. Our tunes, songs… everything is happy, be it for a wedding, or for death. Band Cooum’s music is happy too,” he affirms.
Band Cooum, a collective that focuses on folk, Carnatic, independent, and electronic music, is gearing up for its first live public concert in Chennai this Saturday. This performance marks a significant milestone for the five-member ensemble, which resonates deeply with the city and considers it integral to their music and ethos. The band is composed of singer Susha, violinist Shreya Devnath, percussionist Praveen Sparsh—each with a strong background in Carnatic music—and parai artistes Deepan and ‘Rocket’ Raji (Rajendran) who are members of the Friends Kalai Kuzhu troupe.
“The kind of music and instruments the band will be performing with—whether it’s the violin, mridangam, or the guitar—there hasn’t been a live music performance like this here. It is an opportunity for my people here to listen and experience this music, and we are excited about the feedback from here as well,” explains Deepan.
Debuting in 2022 at the G5A festival in Mumbai, Band Cooum returned earlier this year for a private showcase in Chennai. Their first public performance in the city promises an all-original set list that blends various genres with solid beats. This set will unveil the members’ diverse musical journeys and experiences, aiming to infuse their audience with a desire to dance. The ambiance is designed to mimic the lively, open-air environment of a street festival, and the concert will kick off with a performance by Deepan’s colleagues from Friends Kalai Kuzhu.
“It has been a dream to celebrate the musical diversity of this city, spanning gaana, parai, Carnatic music, and even gospel. The idea was to come together as people from different musical backgrounds and create original compositions that truly reflect our musical identities,” says Praveen.
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Susha, who has previously been part of numerous music collectives and bands, describes their collaborative process as different and liberating. “Half the excitement of being in this band is the process of creating original music together. We have all come together knowing that the focus is going to be on free, safe exploration of music with no boundaries,” she says.
“If I were to speak of the genres we dabble in, we come with backgrounds in Carnatic music and parai, but have also incorporated electronic music, a bit of jazz, and a lot of emphasis on groove. We want the songs to be fun for us to perform and for the audiences to experience,” Susha elaborates.
In a performance video released by Band Cooum of their original composition ‘Drum Circle,’ each member showcases their prowess on percussion instruments. The ensemble includes a mridangam, konnakol, floor tom, parai, and a satti, all of which blend to create an 11-minute-long fusion of beats.
“Each of us has our core competence, but we double up as multi-instrumentalists. We get to explore ourselves as artists through the eyes of other genres. We place ourselves in unfamiliar musical settings, and we learn what new elements the space teaches us,” observes Shreya. “The process is very free-flowing and inclusive, just by its very nature,” she adds.
Band Cooum will perform at JJ Nagar, Korukkupet on June 29, Saturday at 6.30 p.m. Entry to this much-anticipated event is free. Keen followers and new fans alike can keep up with Band Cooum on Instagram @bandcooum.
