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Yupangnenla Longkumer
Morung Express Feature
Dimapur | January 9
‘Aluyimer’ and ‘O bendangtsu’ are two Ao Naga contemporary songs which became local ‘hits’ with no PR. The songs went viral even before launch, thanks to the songs being ‘leaked’ before the album was complete for release. However, the misfortune became a blessing for the artiste – Tiameren, yet another alumnus of Patkai Christian College.
Confessing on how he felt when his songs went viral, he said: “I was disappointed when my album got leaked but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. My songs became very popular and people love my song and I am glad that whatever happened was not that bad.”
Mission Possible
Tiameren is currently working on releasing his debut album with a number of other new songs. There will be 14 songs altogether in which one will be in English and the rest in the Ao Naga dialect.
The musician hopes to release the album before Nagaland’s scheduled general elections in a month now. When queried, he said to send a message to the Nagas through his song ‘Blame Game’, that the ‘game’ is between the political parties, organizations, tribes, clans etc. That conflict would lead to nowhere because it is a game where ‘neither side wins’. He supports Nagaland Baptist Church Council’s ‘Clean Election Campaign,’ though, and releasing his album before the elections would boost the campaign more. “…it is time to call black as black and white as white.”
Some of the other numbers that one may watch out for in his new album are ‘Künü ni angatetsü.’ It is about people yearning for peace but none to make sacrifices for it. Then, ‘Eta ya nungo’ – it is about a moonlit night and ‘Ne mapang ka lir’ – about parents loving their children differently, a sad rich man’s wife and poor people living more contended lives.
…the universal language
Like the saying ‘Music has no borders; no language barriers’, Tiameren’s songs remain an inspiration to many even for listeners who cannot understand the Ao Naga dialect. A group of Assamese recently requested the artiste if they may translate ‘Aluyimer’ to Assamese with his permission, of which Tia humbly said: “I think their version will sound better.” Tia said some of his friends, during their visit to Darjeeling, were shocked to hear a taxi driver playing “O bendangtsu”. In Shillong, the Khasi sing the same song as own.
‘Aluyimer’ is a song about how a farmer toils in his field and ‘O bendangtsu’ is about ‘judgment day’. Explaining more of ‘O bendangtsu’, Tiameren said that since childhood days his father always gave him advice based on the Bible verse Ecclesiastes 12:1-8. However, till date he has seen people doing only the opposite of what it says, the musician explains. So he wrote the song in allusion on the ‘reality.’ When loosely translated the song says ‘you can kill, cheat, hate but after the judgment day, hell shall be yours’.
A confession
Like any youngster, Tiameren too grew up singing cover songs of famous singers. However, he was not very successful in that venture. “I came to know that I cannot sing covers so that’s what made me to compose my own songs,” he said. He started composing songs during 1995-1996 with the help of his teacher. “When I think of it, it’s kind of embarrassing but gradually it gave me a platform.”
Also, the artiste has another interesting confession, he said: “Honest to myself, I am not very comfortable singing in English so I went back to my roots - my mother tongue. Yes, I had tried so many times but I failed miserably so why keep on trying in something I’m not gifted at all.” He learned a lot from the Mizo people who sing beautifully in Mizo, their native dialect, yet people listen even if they do not understand a word, he says of Nagaland’s neighbors.
When asked if he was interested in composing and singing ballads, he said: “I am not a love song person but more of a revolutionary - I want to convey message of truth to the people through my songs.”
Tiameren also said Wati of ‘Samaru’ and Rev. Dr. Tekatemjen Ao are his inspirations. He admires and respects Wati, who has composed more than 300 songs till date. “…sometimes I wish I am a rich man so that I could help him.”
Challenges
Like any Naga musician, Tiameren too faces many challenges, especially when it comes to sponsors or finance. Opining on the condition of many Naga musicians, Tiameren said: “Musicians when performing on stage, people give praises but once out of stage they are nobody.” If only people could extend help like the way they shower musicians with praises, the music industry in Nagaland could have been different and not like what it is now.
He also said Naga musicians should dream out of the box and not be contented with singing in functions or programmes. Most Nagas take musicians for granted, he rued, forgetting that musicians too need to ‘feed their belly’ and families.
He acknowledged that the government of Nagaland’s Music Task Force is doing a ‘good job’ in building a music Industry in Nagaland. However, he said, it would be ‘good’ if the government sponsors upcoming talented youngsters for further study in music outside the state or country.
Emphasizing more on enhancing the music industry in Nagaland, Tiameren said the more senior Naga musicians should encourage the ‘younger ones.’ T hat is how music will grow, he said. “When you help people and make them successful, you will live a contented life.”
