Abhirami Menon- A Sweet Rahmaniac

INRODUCTION

It is such a pleasure when we sit here to write about young singers. They all are full of dreams and novel ideas and an unmistakable talent. Meeting with Abhirami was no exception. First of a big thanks to Amal Shankar, who always supported the efforts here and introduced many singers who are an asset to our features. Also we want to extent our sincere gratitude to all friends who help carry on this effort here.

Abhirami is one of the young singers we approached said she knew our blog. Thanks for saying that. Contacted for a face time chat Abhirami enthusiastically agreed talk about her music. Abhirami is from Kerala’s cultural capital ‘Thrissur’; this is the nth time we have covered singers from this city. There is definitely a reason we have found such great singers like Reji Radhakrishnan, Vipin Subramonian, Krishna Nair, Nimal Mukundan and there goes the long list of singers we have featured here.

Abhirami who is a second year medical student spoke to us from her college in Puducheri (former Pondicherry, Britishers changed the names of places in India, What a mettle, and dare, visitors change a land’s identity).

Called on a chat line Abhirami was running around her hostel lobby to find a quiet place to chat. Despite all her efforts, there was such a cacophony on the background and lack of a stable internet. Despite all the issues when camera was on we saw the most familiar clam and composed Abhirami on the screen. She looked all ready for the tough questions on her music life. Abhirami who loves outdoors and plants and such things of nature seem like a great musician of interest for us to speak with. Assured her that it is just a friendly chat over after fixing many technical glitches, we started off with a lot enthusiasm.

Tell us about yourself

“I am Abhirami Menon, hailing from Thrissur, Kerala.” Currently a second year medical student at famous Vinayaka medical college, Karaikal, Puducherry (Union territory of India, a separate status of a style of individual administration from states). She grew up along with her sister (whom she said she gets along most of the time!) and parents in middle east country, Dhoha. Abhirami started talking about her earliest memories of singing “I’ve always had music in me, right from my birth. As a toddler, I used to hum in my own way to popular songs of those days (that’s what my parents have told me)”

It was her Ammama (Grandmother) who recognized her talent and encouraged little Abhirami to sing always. “I’ve had some basic training in Carnatic classical music, but had to give all that a back seat because of my studies.” Abhirami we have to mention is among the second youngest singer apart from Aishwarya Krishna (youngest of all) to be on a feature.

How did you start singing again?

“I was completely out of touch until I came to know about this amazing platform of smule. Initially I was a little hesitant to sing because I hadn’t sung properly for around 2 to 3 years and didn’t know how it would end up like. But thankfully, smule helped me in nurturing my talent, and made me think about taking up music seriously. I’m ever indebted to this platform!” Smule Sing app is a revolutionary that triggered this effect on many singers.

Abhirami says she is a total “Rahmaniac”. She remember around time when she was in her pre-med time songs of Rahman was a sensation in India’s music scene for new age music and his influence in India’s music is partly made her started singing; constantly some of the romantic melodies he created. And if you know Abhirami’s singing and you all are going to see that her singing of many of Rahman songs is her identity as a singer. We have featured her song in Arjun’s feature if haven’t seen it click the link.

So, why such hesitation to learn classical music?

“I would really like to continue with my vocal lessons which I had to part from, due to my busy studies. Music and singing will remain my passion until my last breath and will never part from it whatsoever the consequences.”

It was time for tough questions what is your take on new age music? The disturbances on the background came to a peak and we had to cut the call and let Abhirami call us back when it is conducive. So break of flaw in thoughts here.

Got her back on the phone again

When continued later Abhirami was apologetic and also said she have to take a call from her dad from middle east. So we went apart for several hours and then later during the day we found a peaceful time. But Abhirami owe us big time for having us wait for this young celebrity interview. Just kidding.

Tough question timeThis time the question got more tougher “What is your take on new age music and importance of lyrics? This question in this interview was so important to ask a young singer like Abhirami

Answer came very quick and was profound. We are impressed here by her response, Listen “There are so many examples why new-age singers, music directors and lyricists are good. I want to bring up the names like Amit Trivedi.”

People here who haven’t known Amit Trivedi please know this young musician, lyricist from Mumbai, who started in jingles world whose debutant entry into Bollywood through movie “Dev D.” fetched him critical acclaim and National recognition as the best music director the same year.

“Music director Vidyasagar is another example. Yes, I see a lot of young new age people who value meaningful songs and good music. I am sorry I am blunt here, but I can not stand meaningless lyrics. Absurd combination of words no matter how catchy they are, it is not going to be remembered for anything. It lasts as long as a new trendy T-shirt. Period.” Such is the impressive Abhirami. Loved her thoughts here and support this young beautiful singer big time in her thoughts.

Do you think poets will come back to movies scene to make songs like the old times? “Hope , yes”

What genre of music do you like?

A Rahman fanatic replied giggling “Melodies. Blues and I also like Kuthu style songs at the same time.” A singer who listens to all types of music including western styles had a wide range of likes. ” I do not want to restrict myself by certain styles. I am still learning a lot by singing many different styles”

What do you want to do with your music? “Singing is my passion, Never will give up this passion”

A singer who like Irish music

What is your take on world music?

“In fact, I do like and listen to music from many different countries. I recently heard some Irish singers and songs.” Bloggers who are big fans of some Irish singers (close to our heart) like to write about some of our favorite Irish singers here. Enya is all time favorite. Sinead O’Connor, Bono, Van Morrison, Danny O’Donoghue (who is singing his heart out there these days, OMG, listen to him please at the link.)

Many time we have been thinking in mind during this interview, Abhirami, there is so much of her as a true representation of young singer who love all modern things in music yet know what is good and bad and have a unique and beautiful taste for music. This is what makes Abhirami our choice for a feature here. Listen to Danny (a Hot happening Irish singer) . He is known for the powerful thoughts and lyrics and melody of his music. Play here one of the songs of this young Irish success.

Favorite Singers

Abhirami like Bruno Mars and at the same time like Hariharan. Her favorite singer male is Haricharan, Javed Ali, Shaswath Singh (Wow, Abhirami’s tastes amazing, listen to this young singer if you haven’t heard him, we never until now, Listen to this. There is a young singer Manoj Sarma we featured here sound just like Shaswath Singh (a super success in Bollywood, Wat wat wat fame). If you haven’t heard him go here for a feature on him.

Female singers Shreya and here comes the Rahmaniac, becoming vocal about her award winning classic Mumbe Vaa. Shreya’s vocal range and so on so on.. Sasha Tirupati and Jonita gandhi. All perfect choices indeed. Also what we saw is so much about Abhirami and her taste.

How do you go about learning a new song “I have not learned a lot of new songs. But generally, for me lyrics and its meaning is important to sing it well. So I listen to songs with a lot of attention to the lyrics. Then probably it takes so many days before I am ready to record it. I hum it and listen to it million of times before I sing anything.” A very cautious singer who see her music so serious.

It was a long day for us finishing up this interview and lots of hours spend for completing a simple task (OMG). Yet, it is all worth, every bit of it.What a pleasure to have known a young singer like Abhirami. She is a career focused medical student, and like many other singers we featured here is sure multi-talented. At any stage in her career of a medical doctor if she is asked to sing, people will immediately will turn to her will wonder why she did not pursue a parallel career in music. Definitely time will prove this. Despite all that complexity of modern life, Abhirami as in her own words will keep her singing no matter in her life. Which is a beautiful thing, because it is such a part of her that we witnessed throughout the time we interacted with her. Sometimes, it felt like that she herself have her priorities set before get sucked into many things around her. All that challenges are in front of a very young Abhirami and sure she will learn all that in time. All the best and hope to see Abhirami sing for ARR soon.

Without delay let us get to her profile here. Our very first pick is a solo by Abhirami from the music director Keeravani sir and absolute commendable performance.Give a listen. Swetha who sang the original and here Abhirami with a lot more softness added to the lyrics and attention to details (STAMP OF ABHIRAMI). KUDOS.

Our pick for a second song is she sing with Arjun Muralidharan an ARR most melodic romantic hit Kandukonden Kandukonden

Our next pick is Abhirami singing with our own Malayalam’s super talented young singer Amal Shankar/ Another ARR classic from Talaivar movie Sivaji Music: A R Rahman Singers: Chinmayi, Udit Narayan. Typical Udit style and beautiful Chinamayi. Hear how Amal try to do a complete justice to the original, ultimately become Amal’s own song. Abhirami joins him on his invite and make it beautiful.

Abhirami singing a super song by Shreya. A solo. Abhirami in her all glory and typical stamps of her singing style.Enjoy this.

Next is a pick with Abhishekh Menon. Our buddy joins her to make a different style here. Song Madhuraiku; Abhirami said in her interview she like ‘Kuthu style’ songs and here is one if you don’t know what it is and she definitely seems to enjoy this song much. Great job by Abhishekh for such styles is his favorite too.

Abhirami joins Pradip Soman sir. A great singer mentor on Smule whose presence is cherished by all Smule singers. Uyirum Neeye. Enjoy this mash up

We want our young pick Krishna Nair join Abhirami on a most beautiful performance for a fantastic song from Malayalam song Premodharanyi. Asked which song of hers he would pick on her join, he picked it for us. A great support for Abhirami’s feature here as well.

Here Abhirami joins yet another young super talent Nidheesh. ARR and the lyrics of this song is literally out of this world. ‘Chandiraney’ It is all about love and lyrics go like this “Who touched the moon first is it Armstrong or me ? strongly feel that it rather me?” Enjoy this amazing lyrics made by Vairamuthu sir, an amazing Tamil Lyricist of our times. Originally sung by Hariharn and Sujatha madam. Amazing melody. Abhirami did a wonderful job again with Nidheesh right on making this collaboration all the more special.

We can not leave our buddy Hrishi when we are writing about a singer whose song choices are of melody and expressions. Here he join Abhirami in singing this beautiful hindi song Moh Moh ke Dhage. It is an absolute pleasure to add this here. Enjoy

Abhirami’s most favorite or may be the best invite so many men folks wanted sing along and look good on Smule as we see the enthusiasm on this invite of hers Munpe Va. We picked this singer Fasil Abdu for reasons for his many times noticed careful execution on many of her joins.

Lastly we leave you all with probably the best duet of this song on Smule, Poovasam purapadum penne. Abhirami said in her interview about Vidyasagar and his music. Again Vairamuthu sir lyrics amazing . We have this same invite by Arjun in his own feature and have to say Arjun’s version of this song is a very commendable one and Abhirami join this and made all justice to great Sadhana Sargam‘s original.

END NOTES

When we finish this episode of the young series we are so convinced that this series had been the very right thing to start here. We are so thankful to Abhirami that she came over as truthful as one can be and say about all her beautiful thoughts on young age music. We know you are at the intercollegiate competitions right now. Yet, enjoy every moment of this recognition. Make sure everyone know your recognition and hope you have a wonderful time.