Our music is not political: Tetseo Sisters

With their distinctively fresh sound, the Tetseo Sisters from Nagaland are redefining folk music in the country. Sisters Mercy, Kuvelu, Alune and Azine sing in Chokri, the dialect of the region around Phek, but that hasn’t proved a deterrent in taking their music across different states and countries. And now, three of them, Mercy, Kuvelu and Alune will perform at the Ragasthan music festival to be held between February 23 and 25, and they have something special planned for the show. “There will be original songs but we will throw in a few covers as well,” Mercy tells us. The musician also lets us in on their plans for their next EP and releasing singles...

You formed the band in 1994 and since then have played at many concerts. What was the turning point for you as a band?

When we started out, we didn’t think we would become a band performing folk/fusion. We just got together as we enjoyed singing and being on stage was an additional perk, plus the pocket money. When we first started representing our state and country at events with international presence, we felt that we were doing something special. In 2006, pulling off a concert singing only folk songs in Chokri Naga and receiving a great response from a multinational audience in Bangkok made us sure that we were doing it right.

You are often seen as cultural ambassadors of the North-East. Do you wish to highlight the issues faced by people there through your music?

As India is a big and diverse country, we are just vaguely aware of our fellow countrymen and neighbouring states. All of us carry stereotypes and bear them too but they also, in a funny way, help people to identify and if we are all curious enough, perhaps understand each other better. Too often, the seven states of the North East of India are clubbed together and referred to as just North East — for we are usually left out of the mainstream interest or focus and few bother to learn about the varied tribes and cultures that make up the seven sister states and Sikkim. Our music is, however, neither political nor with an agenda to highlight issues or protest. Our music is to connect, create interest and curiosity and show a glimpse of one of the beautiful states that is part of the North East — ie Nagaland. Through our music, we get to talk to people, share our views and also discuss the cultures of Nagaland and the other sister states. While we don’t sing about such issues, we get to start a dialogue about our part of the world and that is such a privilege. 

You sing in your local dialect Chokri. Has that ever been a hindrance when it comes to communicating with others?

When people learn that we are a band from Nagaland who sing in the local dialect, it seems to create more interest. So that’s a huge plus for us. Music speaks a language of its own and our music has always been able to find a place wherever it has taken us. On our part, we can always explain what we are singing about and share the tale behind it but in the end, the melody speaks to the listener and takes it from there. So far, it has always worked. Thank God for that.

Are there any other covers and album on the way?     

We have been in the studio working on an EP and a second album. For now, we have a few singles coming out soon and a couple of music videos. The songs are about celebrating life, taking the time to reflect on it and feeling alive.

Are you interested in playback for Hindi films?

It’s important for every artiste to be heard and Bollywood is a great platform to spread your music. As far as covers go, we have been getting a lot of requests from people, so yes, we will definitely do something.