Our effort is to welcome the non-Carnatic audience: Vishnu Iyer
Musicians 72/35 Southern Street tells us about why they present different genres of music with a classical twist
72/35 Southern Street call themselves Carnatic Evangelisers, in that, they want to popularise the music form. Though they play genres as varied as alternative rock, Bollywood, folk, etc with Carnatic twist, they don't call themselves a fusion band. Guitarist of the band, Vishnu Iyer, says, “We play what the audience likes, highlight Carnatic in it and create curiosity.” He tells us more about the band (which also comprises B Anantharaman (Ravi), Hariharan Subramanian, KG Vishwanath (Sriram), A Shivkumar, Sridhar V, and Priya Ramnath) and the music they make.
How did 72/35 Southern Street come together and how did you decide on this name?
All of us are childhood friends and would have regular jamming sessions with harmonium and dholak for Hindi film music or with Mridangam and violin for Carnatic classical. We are a project with four MBAs, two Chartered Accountants and a Software Professional. However, a passion for classical art forms is what brought us together. Carnatic Classical has 72 main/ parent ragas and 35 talas and rhythmic patterns. Our effort is to welcome the non-Carnatic audience to our street. So, we decided to provide an address – 72/35 Southern Street.
The band endeavours to widen scope of Carnatic music. Is that why you blend it with Bollywood and other popular genres?
Carnatic music today caters to only a certain kind of listener. Our vision of widening the scope had two major missions: One, to create newer projects in authentic Carnatic classical form for its musicians. We respect all the great composers of the past, but we also need to create new products for the audience of today. This can happen only if the musicians understand the audience of today. This doesn’t mean that we bring down the dignity in this ancient art form. It only means that we should relate to the audience of today. Our second mission is to draw newer audience to these concerts. In this promotional campaign, it is essential to understand and respect the culture of Bollywood as well. Fusion provides the best formula to establish this mutual respect.
Have you faced criticism from purists of Carnatic music?
Never. We still perform across the world as Carnatic musicians. In fact, one of our products, The Purists, is based purely on Carnatic classical. We present our original compositions as well during these concerts. In our recent Europe tour, we were invited to perform at the prestigious Museum Rietberg at Zurich. This houseful show was authentic Carnatic.
You've said there's Carnatic in every kind of music. Tell us the unlikeliest song you found these elements in?
Even though we are all Carnatic musicians, we are born and raised in aamchi Mumbai. So we have been influenced by every other genre of music. We are as big fans of Kishore Kumar and inspired by Led Zeppelin, Beatles, and many musicians across forms. However, we see all these through the lens of Carnatic classical. So, we find a bit of it in every kind of music. Unlikely songs may include presence of raga Brindavana Saranga in Munni Badnam Huyi to the presence of raga Mohanam in John Denver’s Country Roads. The list is endless.
Any single or album coming up?
We are focussing on stage shows right now. Ours is an interactive presentation, and seeing a live audience excites us. Yes, we have a few album ideas. We will announce it at the right time.