National
Level of talent in India mind-boggling: Grammy-nominated artiste
New Delhi : The level of talented musicians in India is impressive, says US-based Grammy nominated singer Anjali Ray, who feels they are creating “true art”.
“The level of talent in India is mind-boggling. What the musicians here are creating is true art,” Ray, who is in the national capital for a string of shows, told IANS in an interview.
Does she believe that besides a niche crowd, music lovers in India are somewhat still obsessed with Bollywood tunes?
“While it has been several years since I lived here, I don’t think Bollywood is going anywhere. In fact, it is gaining serious ground in the United States! But I believe, based on what I have seen, that with the world becoming smaller and more connected, independent original music here will thrive,” said Ray, whose album “Indigo” was released recently.
The singer, who began her ‘Indigo’ tour in Delhi last month, also performed in Kolkata, and will play two more gigs here over the weekend. She said that she would love to return to the country in the future for more shows.
“This tour was at some level designed to lay the ground work for future efforts, meet people in the musician community, and introduce myself. So far, the experience has been better than I could have hoped, and I am definitely looking forward to returning in the future,” she said.
Ray, who was raised in the capital till the age of 10, has an eclectic range of musical influences that include Indian classical and jazz. Her album “Indigo”, she says, is based on her “experiences as a wife and mother, but also on leaving the tumultuous period of early motherhood behind and moving on”.
Musically, she draws inspiration from celebrated names like M.S. Subbulakshmi, Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan and Mark Knopfler.
Being an Indian origin musician living in the US, Ray said that she has both an advantage and disadvantage.
“Ironically, the biggest advantage is also the biggest disadvantage: you’re an outsider in both places. While it takes more open-mindedness and attention span on the part of the listener to get to know you, it’s easy to make a distinct impression because your sound is unique,” Ray asserted.
Talking about the current state of indie music in the US, Ray said that it is “alive and well”, but that varies in different cities.
“I think certain cities are more receptive to independent music than others. I don’t particularly think that Los Angeles is the best place to be a working musician. Everyone wants to be a ‘star’, and that carries with it a certain amount of pressure which turns me off a bit,” she stated, while adding that the Indian scene, although new, is a “much more welcoming place right now”.
“The community is close yet growing, as is the demand. From what little I’ve seen (and I say this without any real knowledge of the challenges here), it seems like a great time to be a musician here,” she added.
Despite the popularity of online streaming and digital downloads, Ray said that she still likes to buy CDs but finds downloading “convenient”.
“I actually still like buying CDs versus downloading music. But you can’t beat the convenience of the download. I think they serve two very different purposes,” she said, while mentioning that it would be a “trip” to see her album on vinyl.
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
Cheers and Cheers: Barzilla’s Joyful Ode to Inclusivity and Celebration
Casino Days Reveal Internal Data on Most Popular Smartphones
Meghalaya Reserves Legalized Gambling and Sports Betting for Tourists
IPL 20202 UPDATE: KXIP vs MI IPL Dream11 Team Prediction for Today Match, Update Point Table of all Team.
In a Live debate AAP leader Syed Asad Abbas hurls abuses to BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
‘India’s Most Wanted’ trailer out Arjun Kapoor on hunt of Osama-Bin-Laden
Time to move on: Sonakshi on Shatrughan’s joining Congress
