Shillong (Meghalaya), Nov 14: City -based folk-fusion outfit Summersalt today released the fourth song and music video from their sophomore album. The release of the song ‘Survive’, opens a pandora’s box of creative surprises when eleven originals are being released out there, one at a time.
The release of ‘Survive’ is personally intense for the band, at times, bringing tears to their eyes since, this song is intricate to the physical loss of the band founding member Baiaineh C Shangpliang aka ‘Nah’, who passed away in May 2020. In a way, the song is being released to both commemorate and celebrate his life as an artiste, son, brother and husband.
Whenever the song is being written, the band knows exactly why it is written, for whom and for what. However, songwriter, Kit Shangpliang says, “That time I had no clue what I was writing ‘Survive’ for. After our member and brother’s passing away, utterly bitter but utterly purpose driven, Survive turned out to be one of those songs closest to us. The song still dwells on practical optimism and a way to celebrate life that was and life that will be.”
The idea of releasing one song at a time is to augment the attention of the audience, fans and well-wishers, who need time to digest the work of arts, for art’s sake. Besides, there has been so much love and effort given to the construction of each song from lyrics, melody and arrangement.
The storyline in the video reflects the interfacing music-culture of Shillong, with pianos, families get together, close-knit societal culture, children all around and chill time for children of all ages. In the music video, the production team used two baby grand pianos, two electric guitars, two acoustic guitars, one bass guitar, a Cajon and a drum kit, which fits easily.
The uniqueness of Summersalt’s folk-fusion identity lies in the fact that its cultural frequencies are swinging from pure folksiness to complete song writing styles of the world and vice-versa yet maintaining creative sanity and primordial identity along the way.
Summersalt believes, that the cultural coexistence is what it is blessed with. On one hand, seeking and preserving the traditional identity, on the other, evolving and progressing to truly represent the local culture as it is. That’s Summersalt.
The album’s title Kliar meaning summit, along with the album’s vision is to give the best treatment to the music of the hills and particularly of the Khasi hills, Meghalaya. “We have been in this journey for 15 years now, and have been given to understand that the music from Shillong and Khasi hills has reached a very seasoned stage that it deserves a world-class treatment, therefore, our plunge to record this at Yaj Raj Films Studios and mixed and mastered at Orbis Studio, both in India’s entertainment hub, Mumbai”, says key member Greg Nongrum.
In the words of Shantanu Hudlikar, the man behind the sound of Summersalt’s second album, “Hanging out with Summersalt and recording and mixing them has been probably the most rewarding experiences professionally.
Fusing the ethnic sounds along with contemporary sonic elements was so seamless, that it’s almost like it was a God foreseen. And when the lyrics came in, this spirituality became even more evident” .
He continues, “The musicianship, artistry and professionalism displayed by Suk, Kit, Ador, Greg, Weet, Nah and Dajied can be heard on every song. I am so happy the way these songs have turned out and sincerely hope the message of love and spirituality is heard by the masses, because that’s what was intended” The sound of the bass guitar throughout the album is the one which Nah played and it was simply spot on. “We still miss him dearly today onstage and off stage. We also know that Summersalt’s music as it is now, was largely contributed by the musicianship of Nah as the creative artiste that he was. Evidently, we know now that his works and legacy live on”, says guitarist Gregory Ford Nongrum.
