In the southern metropolis of Chennai, two distinct melodic paths were being charted unbeknownst to one another. Vivek Siva’s days were steeped in the classical strains of Carnatic music, while in a different part of the city, Mervin Solomon honed his craft within the soul-stirring realms of gospel. Fast forward to the present, and their combined musical vocabularies, under the moniker Vivek-Mervin, have become a hot ticket in the Tamil film industry, celebrated for their unique blend of two vibrant musical traditions.
Their partnership thrives on mutual learning, a process that has led to a plethora of hit tracks for movies such as ‘Gulaebhagavali,’ ‘Pattas,’ and ‘Sulthan.’ Breaking away from the conventional approach of collaborating closely with film directors, Vivek-Mervin instead draw daily inspiration from personal experiences, rhythms heard on the radio, or melodies that spontaneously manifest. With no set agenda upon entering their Virugambakkam studio, they navigate the creative waters, composing potential film scores or melodies that, while they may never reach the public ear, are invaluable steps in their artistic process.
Often, the emotion of the day is the catalyst for creation, leading to musical ideas that could eventually evolve into film scores or independent tracks. ‘Orsadhaa,’ a hit single released in 2018, and the catchy title track for ‘Gulebhagavali’ both germinated from such inspired sessions. At times, these creative sparks are revisited and meticulously tailored to breathe life into film scenes and characters, as was the case with their work on the Dhanush-starrer ‘Pattas.’
Their recent work in RJ Balaji’s ‘Singapore Saloon’ brought three new songs to the limelight, embodying the dynamic versatility of the duo. With upcoming projects like ‘Jinn’ and ‘Hitler,’ each film presents a fresh canvas, inspiring Vivek-Mervin to explore uncharted musical territories. A standout track from Jinn, entitled ‘Kutty Ma,’ an ‘Instagram-friendly track’ designed for virality on social media, exemplifies their adaptive creativity in an age driven by rapidly shifting consumption patterns.
Indeed, the phenomenon of social media reels and quick-hit entertainment has had a profound impact on the music industry. No longer are songs given the sprawling canvas of several minutes but are now distilled into minute-long packets of melody and rhythm, aligning with the ever-decreasing attention spans of audiences. Yet Vivek-Mervin navigate these shifting sands with discernment, recognizing that not all music can or should conform to such brevity.
Their career has been notably influenced by composer Anirudh, whose consistent successes in the industry inspire admiration from the duo. It was Anirudh who opened doors in the film world for them with the recommendation that led to their involvement in the 2014 movie ‘Vadacurry.’ Their enduring friendship since then has included collaborative efforts, with Anirudh lending his voice to tracks composed by the duo, like ‘Jai Sultan.’
Looking to 2024, apart from their film endeavors, Vivek-Mervin is set to release independent music under their ‘VM Originals’ banner, collaborating with vocal talents such as Sivaangi, Nithyashree, Adithya RK, MS Krsna, and Harsha Vidyasagar. They recognize that today’s audiences are genre-agnostic, showing equal enthusiasm for independent works as they do for film scores. Vivek and Mervin never aspired solely to be film composers but to be musicians in the fullest sense, a vision they continue to fulfill through their diverse and evolving body of work.
