RaagaTrippin', an A Cappella group based in the suburbs has gone far and wide and has indeed, made us proud
Mumbai is brewing with talent and it's high time that we step up and recognise the talented folks. Music has always been an integral part of our day, and undoubtedly, there's a never-ending list of artists, who are surfacing. One such band is Raaga Trippin', an A Cappella group that has taken Mumbai by storm.
The first time I heard them was when I was surfing YouTube. I even remember what song it was—All About That Bass. So, it only seemed fit to speak to these musical veterans and find out what makes them tick. “The main idea behind RaagaTrippin' was to push the boundaries of the voice and to put Bollywood A Cappella on the global map—presenting Bollywood to the world in a way that has never been done before,” says Suzanne D'Mello, one of the six members of the vocal group.
It's all about co-ordination
Along with D'Mello, the other five members are Alan DeSouza on Beatbox, Gary Misquitta on vocal bass and Gwen Dias, Keshia Braganza and Thomson Andrews, who along with D'Mello, do the harmonics. It was in June 2012 that the six talented artists joined forces and haven’t looked back since. Like all bands, they too started from scratch. When you listen to any of their songs, which you should, you'd wonder how all their voices blend in and come out so powerfully. Well, the answer is practice. “We would meet at each other’s homes, sometimes at an unearthly hour to practice, and it was tough. However, with our perseverance, we gradually went on to practising in jam rooms,” D'Mello quips.
What started out as just a regular choral arrangement, RaagaTrippin' has transitioned into a well-known band today. While talking about how the group is different from other A Cappella groups, D’Mello adds, “The magic that we as RaagaTrippin' are able to create because all six of us have very different textures and singing styles, is definitely one of the main reasons why our collective sound stands out. This is what sets us apart from other ensembles.”
Proud moments
The three-year-old band has come a long way and have amassed a lot of proud moments that they cherish and look back on. “One of our proudest moments was when we watched people's jaws drop when we performed at Google’s prestigious event in Delhi,” says Dias. Reminiscing the good old days, Misquitta, the bassist, points out, “Performing live with A. R. Rahman and Sivamani on Star TV’s Saath Hai Hum and performing our first international gig was definitely a cherished memory.”
RaagaTrippin' has also had the honour of performing at the IPL opening ceremony. Another noteworthy achievement of the Mumbai-based A Cappella group was singing a song for the film Bajrangi Bhaijaan. And if that’s not all, one of their latest milestones has been recording for their first original live album with Artist Aloud.
Into the future
RaagaTrippin' has great potential and we expect a lot from them. When asked what the future looks like for the group, DeSouza responds, “Well, I guess as a group, our goal is to raise Bollywood A Capella to a global standard and push the envelope in terms of what people think is impossible. Folks here in India still cannot believe that we can perform a 60–90 minute live show just by using our voices. Well, we’re going to change that!”
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