Musical Instrument

Archive for July, 2009

Even before “queen of all media” Perez Hilton took the stage and proclaimed her “the new princess of pop,” Lady GaGa showed she’s a serious contender to Madonna’s crown Friday at the Wiltern. She might be a relative newcomer, but the artist born Stefani Joanne Germanotta commanded the stage with a royal air during her hourlong set, at times even sporting a glowing scepter.

With two chart-topping singles to her credit and her debut album, “The Fame,” climbing the upper reaches of the Billboard 200, GaGa’s first theater tour is a hot ticket — and the Lady did not disappoint. Borrowing from Madonna, Grace Jones, David Bowie and Daryl Hannah’s “Blade Runner” replicant, GaGa put on a compelling show revolving around her mysterious persona, a trio of leather-jacketed dancers, multiple costume changes and props and a lone DJ providing musical accompaniment.

Old-schoolers might bemoan the lack of a live band, but GaGa’s eye candy and an onslaught of beats delivered by DJ Space Cowboy filled the void effectively. Opening with the dance-pop basher “Paparazzi” trapped in a platform that complemented her angular modern ensemble, GaGa focused on the beat-heavy pop that comprises most of “Fame.”

Indian bands have successfully made it on the Internet, gathering even more enthusiasts through specialized websites such as My Band. Possessing musical knowledge or not, these listeners have become true fans of Indian music and they visit the web regularly to discover new songs. Filled with melody and rhythm (Raag and Taal), Indian songs are unique and they definitely represent a gateway into the Indian culture. They allow one to expand his or her imagination, impressing with their distinct qualities and melodious tunes.

If Raag represents the melody, Taal is actually the rhythm of any song created by Indian bands. The rhythm comes from the musical instruments used for the making of Indian music, with one of the most illustrative examples that could be given being the tabla. Indian artists are trained in the secrets of percussion and they make sure that each and every song posted on My Band has both melody and rhythm. Improvisation is a very important part of making Indian music, most artists engaging in such practices and creating subtle improvisations for their songs. It takes a trained ear to discover such modifications but the end result is definitely fantastic.

When making music, Indian bands bring vocals, instrumentals and improvisation into the picture. They choose a professional and experienced melodic performer, they search for the perfect rhythmic foundation and they always work with a good percussionist. You cannot even begin to understand the hard work that is found behind one simple song, one that you’re humming all day and repeating the words. The performance of Indian bands is appreciated by people of different ages and occupations, coming from all corners of the world and influences by the most diverse cultures. My Band represents the portal where Indian music is offered to the entire world, whether we are talking about rock, pop or Indie.