A Never Ending Musical Journey

It has now been more than a decade of creating music together. For Sanjo and Chandrani, the creative process is spontaneous, passionate and carefree. Except for their first round of compositions, they have not enmeshed themselves in a label’s contractual obligations. They write, compose and create whatever they want to – and that’s what listeners love about their music. It is meaningful, deep and evocative. This was, in fact, a recurring theme in the enthusiastic reviews that their first album, Barson Huey, met with.

This musical journey started in 2001 when Chandrani joined Sanjo for the first album (that is a story that has already been told in an earlier post on this blog). Prior to that, their musical paths were dramatically different. Sanjo is a self-taught musician. He learnt the tabla at the age of seven under the tutelage of the late Manik Das, an artiste from the rigorous Benares Gharana. Once the pressures of school, homework and exams set in, Sanjo left playing the tabla altogether – returning to music years later when he picked up the guitar at the age of sixteen.

In complete contrast, Chandrani is a trained Hindustani classical music vocalist. “My mother literally forced me into music at a very tender age against my wishes”, says Chandrani, “and I slowly started to understand and develop a love for this form of art; today I thank her every day for pushing me into music as a child.”

The contrasts don’t end with just their backgrounds – their approach to music as artistes is also markedly different. Sanjo prefers to take his music to a live audience, performing extensively in various cities across India. He likes to make a direct connection with the listeners; he wants to make eye contact with his audience during his shows. And for many of his own songs, he actually prefers the live version instead of the recorded version.

Chandrani, on the other hand, prefers the privacy and tranquillity of the music studio, its relative anonymity, and the silence that bounces off its heavily insulated walls. She believes that she sings best within the isolated confines of the recording room… just herself, her microphone and her songs.

And this is what we have grown accustomed to seeing over the years – Sanjo actively present on the live music circuit while Chandrani has been far away from the public gaze, writing and composing new material.

It is this new material – or to be more accurate, some of this new material – that forms their recently released second studio album titled Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab. This is a collection of songs on various social issues ranging from the preservation of the environment, drug addiction and women’s empowerment to the need to ease urban angst and the needs of children with disabilities.

To start with, four of the songs from the album have been released in India through the music portal OK Listen. Soon the songs will be available globally through iTunes, Amazon MP3 and several other mainstream digital music distribution platforms.

Right now the songs/album are available on OK Listen and you can buy them here:

Buy the Album/Songs on OK Listen

The four songs we mentioned are: Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab – the title track of the album, a song that postulates that since we are an integral part of the environment, wanton environmental destruction will merely serve to expedite our own end; Ham Chalein, a carefree, youthful anti-drug song brimming over with confidence and positivity; Yaadein, a “happy-happy” song which affirms that happiness is always within you, locked up in the happy memories of a joyous past; and Haathon Ki Lakeeron Ko, a song that takes the fear of failure head-on and asserts that with the right attitude, you can snatch success from the very jaws of failure.

Short audio clips of all the four songs are available here:

Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab

Ham Chalein

Yaadein

Haathon Ki Lakeeron Ko

This is powerful stuff – rousing lyrics by Chandrani, raising emotions that are exponentially amplified by inspiring, soul-stirring music from Sanjo. In Sanjo’s live concerts (as Sanjo The Balladeer), the songs have been received with immense admiration and appreciation. Songs like Yaadein and Haathon Ki Lakeeron Ko always attract repeat requests.

Last year, Sanjo was performing his iconic show titled Earth Eulogy, commemorating Earth Day. He closed the show with Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab – with the entire audience joining him in the chorus and then rising to give him a standing ovation.

Footnote:

Sanjo & Chandrani's first album, Barson Huey, is also available through OK Listen; buy it online here:

Buy the songs of Barson Huey on OK Listen