By Nikhil D and Nidhi Jacob. Photographs by Hari Nair. Interviews by Ameta Bal

opening story

marie claire june 2012 39

On Our 6th anniversary

we bring fashiOn

and music tOgether

tO celebrate yOung wOmen

artistes

meet the indian musicians whO are riding a new creative wave pOwered by variOus internatiOnal genres

Pinstripe trousers, Salvatore Ferragamo; printed polo shirt, Lacoste

Cropped T-shirt, American Apparel; embroidered pants, Namrata Joshipura

Monica has won the Jack Daniel Rock Awards for Best Vocalist twice and was presenter of music show The Dewarists on Star World. The band has performed at Glastonbury among other music festivals. I sing because: Music connects me to a higher vibration – God, the universal spirit, a life force. Music idol: Mozart. Style icon: Bjork. I’d love to hang out with: Ani DiFranco, over brunch, talking about poetry, life and survival. And Jimi Hendrix, because he’s dead sexy.

monicadogra, 29singer, sOngwriter (shaa’ir and func) genre: electro-rock, spoken word

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Alisha has played at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender festival twice and is now collaborating with MTV Coke Studio. Original song: Follow. I sing because: It’s liberating. Music idol: Ani DiFranco. My city and inspiration: I shift base very often. I think I thrive on the change. I’d love to hang out with: Patti Smith, she seemed like fun. When I’m not singing: I find myself watching films unceasingly. I have this fascination with volcanoes, so I like to read about them.

alishaBatth, 23singer (with middle sister; sOlO)genre: urban and folk-rock

Vintage custom T-shirt, 11.11 CellDSGN; bandeau top, Roberto Cavalli; trousers and hat, model’s own; spectator pumps, Marni

Jewelled neckline T-shirt, Marni; Taffeta maxi skirt, Blugirl

Samara has introduced local audiences to ska, the Jamaican musical genre that combines Caribbean music with jazz and R&B. She has also hosted TV shows and is currenty anchoring Yoga Sutra on NDTV Good Times. Original track: Rough N Mean. Style inspiration: Phoolan Devi. My city and inspiration: New Delhi. It is a dynamic and volatile place. I’m too young to... have experienced the vibrant cultural life of Delhi before the British wreaked havoc in 1857.

miss samara c, 28singer (the ska vengers )genre: ska and Jazz

Nush has self-produced three ‘bedroom’ singles and performed at Live From The Console. She is also a part-time teacher at the Furtado’s School of Music in Mumbai, where she teaches basic level piano and a choir project. Original song: Spilt Milk. I sing because: It’s my expression. Music idol: Janis Joplin. I’m too old to... be doing cartwheels! Really wished I got that down as a kid. I’d love to hang out with: Ray Charles, without a doubt. He was true to his music and there was beauty in the simplicity of his sound.

nush lewis, 24

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harpist, singer, sOngwritergenre: acoustic

Alisha has played at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender, Live From The Console and Blue Frog, Mumbai, and hopes to record a new set of songs this year. Original song: Reflections. I sing because: Nothing makes me happier. Music idol: Beth Hart. Style inspiration: The ’90s mostly. My city and inspiration: Mumbai. Chaos can be quite inspiring. I’m too young to... drink legally. When I’m not singing: I work with kids, groom other people’s dogs, walk for miles and sleep a lot.

alisha Pais, 20singer (with middle sister; sOlO) genre: folk and alt-rock

Breton T-shirt, Jean Paul Gaultier

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This four-member, all-girl band that came together two years ago, has been featured on MTV F1 Rocks and performed at the Tihar Jail Benefit in April. Original song: Ready Set Go, and also our own version of a cover we do of Rat is Dead by the Brazilian band CSS. Our city and inspiration: We all moved to Delhi a few years ago. Even though it is a very cosmopolitan city, it’s still in the heart of a very male-dominated area in the conservative regions of northern India. And having an all-girl band in the city is a very new concept for people here.

the Vinyl recordscheyyrian bark, lead vOcalist; mithy tatak, drummer; banu Jini, guitarist; minam tekseng, bassist. all are 22 years Oldgenre: indie rock, post-punk

On mithy: Striped top, Marni; beaded shorts, Namrata Joshipura. On minam: Bow T-shirt and rings, all *White; tiered skirt, Y3; metallic jazz shoes, Clarks. On cheyyrian: Heart-sleeve jacket, Moschino; T-shirt, Rag & Bone; circle skirt, American Apparel, rings, *White; shoes, model’s own. On banu: Printed T-shirt, Roberto Cavalli; beaded skirt, Moschino; shoes, model’s own

Marilyn skull T-shirt, Impure; wrap skirt, Tsumori Chisato; earrings, Moschino

T-shirt, *White; skinny jeans, FREECULTR;

Watch, Swatch; belt, Esprit

Tritha has performed at the India Fashion Week 2010, and has composed music for a UN documentary, Dawn of Hope, for awareness on HIV. Original song: PaGLi aami PaGLi. “A friend in Paris told me to sing gibberish in Bengali and I imagined myself as a madwoman on the streets of Kolkata when I sang it.” Style inspiration: Madonna. My city and inspiration: I am based in three cities – New Delhi mostly, Kolkata in winters and Paris in the summers. I am sensitive to extreme weather; I prefer that extremeness in my music! I’d love to hang out with: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

trithasinha, 29singer, sOngwriter and music directOr (with space, tritha electric band)genre: indian classical, electro-fusion

Mentored by Oscar-winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla (Brokeback Mountain), Sonaluna does scores for short films and TV shows. Two of her compositions were recorded by the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg. Original song: Drive. I sing because: It’s fun. I like it so much that I overcame terrible stage fright. Music idol: Producer Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange for being the Willie Wonka of ear candy; and Trent Reznor for making chaos sound so sexy. Style inspiration: I love how Valentino and Alaïa dress women. But I wear sneakers and pants, so where my style cues come from is a mystery to me! I’m too young to... write an album’s worth of songs that tell life stories.

sonaluna, 32singer, cOmpOser and prOducergenre: electro-acoustic

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Besides singing, Rachel Varghese has won Channel V’s Get Gorgeous in the past. She has recorded ad jingles and participated in Project Lotus, a search for the first pan-Asian girl band, produced by Grammy Award winner Peter Gabriel. Original song: Brighter Star. I sing because: Music makes me feel like I’m part of something bigger. Music idols: Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, and Erykah Badu. Style inspiration: Erykah Badu and Woodstock boho. I’d love to hang out with: Jerry Garcia of Grateful Dead.

rachel Varghese, 23singer and sOngwritergenre: pop

Voctronica is India’s first all-vocal ensemble, consisting of eight members, created by Guinness World Record holder and beatboxer Shlomo and the British Council. They’re set to perform across India and the UK this year. I sing because: (Meghana) It transports me to a completely different universe and makes me feel like I have superpowers. Our USP: We use nothing but human voices, no instruments at all. But if you closed your eyes, you could bet there’s a drum kit hidden somewhere.

Voctronicasushma JOseph, 27; meghana bhOgle, 22; megha manvi, 15. all are beatbOxers genre: beatboxing

On megha: Printed tee, Fables by Sanchita; mullet skirt, Rag & Bone; sunglasses, Waiting for the sun; sneakers, model’s own. On sushma: Jacket and shorts, Ermano Scervino; T-shirt, Calvin Klein Jeans; sunglasses, YSL at Safilo; sneakers, model’s own. On meghana: Wolf T-shirt, Just Cavalli; shorts, Ermano Scervino; sunglasses, Esprit; sneakers, model’s own

Poncho T-shirt, Esprit; pleated pants, Cue by

Rohit Gandhi Rahul Khanna; jewellery,

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Tipriti’s band performs around the world, and has played alongside blues greats Buddy Guy, Johnny Lang and Shemika Copeland at the Mahindra Blues Fest in Mumbai. Original song: Lie. I sing because: I feel good, it’s like therapy. I wish to play at The Crossroads Guitar Festival one day. Music idol: Bandmate Rudy Wallang. Style inspiration: Jimi Hendrix, ’70s fashion. My city and inspiration: My hometown Shillong. I’d love to hang out with: B.B. King.

tiPriti kharBangar, 28singer (sOulmate) genre: blues

Jersey tank top, shorts, tights, all model’s own

Bookings editor: Akrati Fulwadhya;

fashion interns: Valentina G. Ottobri

and Puja Kale Pho

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