Sounds of blue skies, idyllic afternoons

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Papon is special and what makes him more special is his music and his journey. His music, often showcasing multifarious emotions, brings about an excellent blend of folk and Indie. Angaraag Mahanta (Papon) who grew up in Assam has finally come into his own. An album The Story So Far that took eight long years is a beautiful compilation of tracks that take you to the lands of mysticism, idyllic afternoons and blue skies.

It’s the kind of music that makes you happy, smile and sit by the window sipping on a cup of coffee. The album, which has songs in Assamese, Hindi and English, has received an encouraging response. “Assamese is my first language, but I’ve been singing Hindi ghazals for the longest time. My parents are eminent singers in Assam and music has always been around me,” says Papon.
Like any other musician’s struggle, Papon’s journey is not too different as far as getting a record to launch his album was concerned. “Well I don’t like to make it sound some sort of struggle as such. It was difficult, but there were so many experiences along the way that helped me shaped the kind of person I am today. My concern is that it shouldn’t be difficult to get a launch pad for the talented,” he says. There was a time when getting a live show for non-filmi songs was difficult, but with Indie music getting prominence and support, Papon thinks times are changing for better.
“I love to travel and it’s mostly on these travels that I find my music and my song,” says Papon, who was almost on his way to become an architect. “Somewhere I knew I would be making music. Nothing excited me more than music,” says Papon. But it was in Delhi while doing small gigs that he realised he wanted to create music. “People were happy after my gig and gave me great feedback. That’s when I was more confident about my music and had the conviction to go ahead,” he says.
Papon also clears the air and says that he explores other genres of music apart from folk too. “I love jazz, ghazals and other genres which are different and understated. Folk is something that is ingrained in me since I’ve travelled to so many parts of this country with my father,” he says. The earthy yet edgy nature of his folksy tunes that have been heavily influenced from Bihu to Baul, are lilting, haunting and at times trippy. “I’ve always found it attractive and stylish. The idea is also to modernise folk, which reaches out to people. Folk is really cool and while experimenting with it, I don’t want to ruin its essence. Folktronica is getting a good headway. I’m trying to revive it and in a way archive traditional folk music in its original form. It’s an attempt to capture the true essence of Bihu,” says Papon.
A true fakir at heart, Papon loves travelling and discovering sounds through nature. “It’s almost like conceiving the music in the midst of greenery, open skies, fresh air. In fact, Boitha Maro Re and the dream Chhoti Chhoti Baatein have emerged through this serene experience. I wrote the songs for this album when I was in the Himalayas, so it’s very influenced by nature. It’s a calming, introspective album — one that you’d listen to at the beginning of a long journey, or after you’ve dimmed the lights at home.”
The experience is something that Papon takes back to his studios where he teleports himself to the moment when he thought of the tune. “The moments when I compose are soulful and intense. My father had told me that if I ever make music, I must make honest music and that remains with me. I’ve definitely grown as a musician since then, but in a way, I couldn’t have reached where I am now if it wasn’t for those songs, and this album.”
That Bollywood is a big step to break into the big league is well-known and Papon isn’t shying away from it. He’s already sung for three films. Apart from that he’s worked with a host of interesting musicians like Karsh Kale, Trilok Gurtu, Rabbi Shergill, Sushmit Sen and many others. “Bollywood is now opening up to experimentation and I’m glad that I’m doing my kind of music even in a mainstream medium like Bollywood. Good music is always appreciated,” he says.