“Ellathukkume inga happy dhaan,” says Deepan Fathima with a content smile, expressing the sentiment of Korukkupet when asked about Band Cooum’s choice of venue for their first public concert in Chennai. “In this area, most of us do not like sad music. Our tunes, songs… everything is happy, be it for a wedding, or for a death. Band Cooum’s music is happy too,” he elaborates.
Korukkupet, known for its love for joyful and upbeat tunes, will soon witness a groundbreaking performance by Band Cooum, a collective that focuses on folk, Carnatic, independent, and electronic music. This Saturday, at the heart of Chennai—a city that holds deep significance for all the band members—Band Cooum will present its first-ever live public concert. The band’s essence and music are intrinsically linked to the cultural vibrancy of Chennai.
The five-member ensemble includes vocalist Susha, violinist Shreya Devnath, and percussionist Praveen Sparsh, all of whom come with a robust background in Carnatic music. The lineup is complemented by Deepan and ‘Rocket’ Raji (Rajendran), parai artists from the Friends Kalai Kuzhu troupe, creating a unique musical blend.
“The kind of music and instruments the band will be performing with, be it the violin, mridangam, or the guitar… there hasn’t been a live music performance like this here. It is an opportunity for my people here to listen and experience this music, and we are excited about the feedback from here as well,” Deepan states with enthusiasm.
Debuting in 2022 at the G5A festival in Mumbai, Band Cooum has quickly made a name for itself. Earlier this year, they showcased a private performance in Chennai. For their first public performance in the city, the band has prepared an all-original set list that merges various genres and solid beats, encapsulating their diverse musical journeys and experiences. The band hopes the atmosphere will resemble that of a lively street festival, and to kickstart the event, Deepan’s friends from Friends Kalai Kuzhu will perform, setting the stage for an exhilarating evening.
“It has been a dream, to celebrate the musical diversity of this city, spanning gaana, parai, Carnatic music, and even gospel.
. The idea was to come together as people from different musical backgrounds and create original compositions that truly reflect our musical identities,” explains Praveen.
“Half the excitement of being in this band is the process of creating original music together. We have all come together knowing that the focus is going to be on free, safe exploration of music with no boundaries,” adds Susha. Having been part of different musical collectives and bands in the past, she describes their method as a completely different way of working.
Susha expands on the genres they explore, noting, “If I were to speak of the genres we dabble in, we come with backgrounds in Carnatic music and parai, but have also thrown in electronic music, a little bit of jazz, and a lot of emphasis on groove. We want the songs to be fun for us to perform, and for the audiences to experience.”
A testament to their innovative music style, Band Cooum previously released a performance video for their original composition ‘Drum Circle’. In the nearly eleven-minute-long performance, each member showcases their talents on various percussion instruments including the mridangam, konnakol, floor tom, parai, and satti, creating a captivating fusion of beats.
“Each of us have our core competence, but we double up as multi-instrumentalists. We get to explore ourselves as artists through the eyes of other genres. We get to place ourselves in unfamiliar musical settings, and we get to see what new things the space also teaches us,” Shreya remarks. She emphasizes that their creative process is inherently free-flowing and inclusive.
Band Cooum’s much-anticipated performance will take place at JJ Nagar, Korukkupet on June 29, Saturday at 6:30 pm. With free entry, the band is set to provide a memorable musical evening, blending the richness of Chennai’s diverse musical heritage while pushing the boundaries of conventional music genres. The group invites everyone to experience their unique sound and join them in what promises to be an unforgettable celebration of music. For more updates, follow them on Instagram @bandcooum.
