By Imna Longchar
Dimapur(Nagaland), April 19 : If music is a wonderful gift from God, it has to be recognized or appreciated by everyone, especially those who have a heart of gold.
Nagaland is, without doubt, a hub of talented musicians as music thrives in this beautiful place — once a land of fierce head hunters — like nowhere else.
5 Minutes band- members comprising of different tribes from the Eastern part of Nagaland has already taken the social media by storm ever since their original Hindi song “Udaan” was released last year.
Formed in 2017 after serious talks among their circle of friends, some of whom are childhood friends on possibility of working together which included Akup Ezra Noklang from Longleng, currently employed as a teacher in a government school in Dimapur, Hentick Konyak, a musician and an entrepreneur currently based in Dimapur, Akun Wanghum-working at a music production house in Mumbai,and also continuing his course on Music from Mumbai itself, Yenwang Konyak and Joseph Konyak, whose love for Hindi music has brought them together and eventually found their way to success through their original musical video “Mongken” and followed by “Udaan-A Flight” which narrates about a dream to be followed, on the social media .
Talking about their journey in forming the group as a “band’, Joseph Konyak, a member of the band, told South Asia Views , that all the band members were childhood friends while some of them were picked up from various reality shows in the state.
Disclosing that as friends they often meet for a jamming session and during that the idea of naming their band “5 Minutes Band” came into being as most of the band members had excuses for being late for almost five minutes for their practice session.
Having said that, Joseph also shared that though most of the band members are song writers and composers, most of the lyrics and composition of their songs has been mainly contributed by the band members including the song “Mongken” (Beloved), the lyric of which was written by him while the lyric of “Udaan-A Flight” was written by Hentick Konyak.
He also said that other projects are in the offing which are composed by the rest of the band members.
On being asked about Nagaland being one of the non-Hindi speaking state within the country as well as in the northeast, despite the many factors including the “language barriers”, what drew the band to musically inclined towards belting Hindi songs in fluent “accent”, Joseph said that though there are many great musicians in Nagaland who are into Western Music but there aren’t any well known band which croons Hindi songs in the state for which the band took it as a challenge to write songs and compose Hindi songs by themselves.
Stating that “5 Minutes Band” had already collaborated with Indian Idol-3 winner, Prasant Tamang, live on stage at a musical concert held in Mon years back, Joseph also disclosed to this correspondent that the band armed with different awards, are also the recipients of best Hindi Song under Pop category last year and also recipient of Music Awards of Nagaland and Music Safari and so on.
A sensation made in YouTube (followers) who liked the bands’ song specially “Udaan-A Flight,” Joseph on the concept of the of the song said that the song itself gives motivation to anyone who at some point of time lose hope and to just keep going towards their destiny and never to keep up on their dreams and aspirations.
Also on being asked that belting out Hindi songs by a Naga (s) are or were hardly heard except the veterans or luminaries like Chuba CJ and Methanielie Juthakhrie, who had brought a revolution in the state by belting out Hindi songs since the 80s, Joseph complimented that today in Nagaland, there are many upcoming solo artistes or bands who are making a niche for themselves in Hindi music scenario, and are also the true and genuine supporters of 5 Minutes band.
“We just love all of them and are always thankful for what they’re doing and it’s our hope and prayer that they keep on loving and supporting us the same way , Joseph said.
Sharing the bands’ thought on rating their fan’s enthusiasm about the songs they belt out while keeping in mind their diction and also the professionalism in presenting their video and the location (s) where their videos are being shot, Joseph was in all praise by stating that the band is so “blessed and fortunate” to have many people loving and supporting them and termed that they are the true and genuine supporters of the band for which the band is thankful to them.
“We work with one the finest music directors in town like Alem Alia and Wangching Vamnokhul, and Charles Crezen (videographer) who is managing the band at the moment”, said Joseph when quipped about their production of their music videos and its related issues.
When asked about the band’s music and also the main inspiration behind forming it, Joseph said that each one of the members has musical inspirations which could be termed as “unique” and they keep their music simple yet soothing to listeners.
