Decoding The Soul Of Folk Music

Why do people like any music at all? It taps into a part of them - they can empathise with the words; the music hits a spot. 

Folk music is a softer, perhaps more emotional, and personal, almost a one-on-one conversation through music. It's traditionally a form of music that was passed down through families and other small social groups. Typically, folk music, like folk literature, lives in oral tradition. 

When we first thought of creating a musical production, we wanted it to be folk heavy. While researching and curating the story line, we realised the depth and richness of what we call FOLK. Meeting the families of musicians where they have only played a particular folk instrument or been performing a traditional folk form, down the generations. We chose to make a Folk Musical Production and start with Rajasthan, as that is one folk sound everyone resonates with, and we felt people would be familiar with the instruments and detailing.

SOUNDS FROM THE DESERT happened and we had housefull shows. To be honest, we were nervous, as expecting audiences to sit for a 90 mins folk musical production seemed like a daunting task. We were very happy when we had our audiences come and say that they didn’t blink those 90 mins as they didn’t want to miss the nuances of the instruments and instances being related through songs. The music was Live and original with contemporary instruments support, but the original sound remained untouched. 

It was when senior music industry veterans, music directors, music journalists and many from the millennial generation came up and said they learnt so much more while being fully immersed. We were delighted, no doubt, but also sensed this big gap.

SFTD was done with immense cost restraints as we had no sponsors. If it had been done with full techs as envisioned, this would be a show one wouldn’t want to go out of.

Wish there was some way we could bring Folk music into a space of high esteem and respect. This is another subject altogether and I can write a book on it, but I won't go that route here.  

While researching for our Rajasthan show, we became very close with the music families in Jaisalmer, Pushkar, Barmer, Jodhpur, Hamira. We parallelly started our research on Punjab, Assam and Kashmir. The music legendary families in these states were eye openers. Songs like “Das Mein Ki Pyaar Vichon Khatiya” by Lal Chand Yamla ji or “Dachi Waleya Mor Mohar ve” by Surinder Kaurji have survived time and trends. The base for so many very popular bollywood songs is the folk tune. Take “Lamberghini” as one, the base tune is that of the popular punjabi folk song “Chitta Kukkad”. If you are a listener of Coke Studio Pakistan, that itself means you are a fan of folk music. Indian Coke Studio did a beautiful version of Sohni Mahiwal legends song with Shilpa Rao from India and the Pakistani band Noorie. A must listen: “Paar Channa de”. What about the absolute latest “Tu Jhoom”. Most of Begum Abidas music is folk based. You would remember the gypsy singer Reshma. Are we all not singing those songs? That’s the endearing quality. They resonate with your life, your mood, your emotions. How can this music not be popular or stay alive?

Assamese folk songs like “Phul Phulleli ki Hobo '', the Bihu songs and the very intriguing folk instruments tickled us to develop a very interesting yet traditional story line. Kashmir has its own music and sounds. The melody, playing techniques of the instruments everywhere is different and impacted by the local culture. The instruments and the possibilities with them are mind blowing. We delved a bit into Kashmir and the local folk artists there. The way they play the traditional folk instruments is very very absorbing. Their detailing of the sounds is such that one feels the instrument is communicating with you.

This detailing can never be captured or replicated digitally. The movement of the hands, their body, the breath control, and all with so much ease. All of this through no formal training, only the traditional oral route. I haven't even touched the music of the North-east or then Central India. Ah and of course Tamil Folk. The music created by Anthony Dasan and Haricharan Seshadri is finding its place globally. Needless to mention the contribution of A R Rahman, the maestro of fusion. 

A wake-up call for all of us before we lose all of it or most of it.

I realised that people listen to folk music for various reasons.  For some it may be a connection to their cultural heritage and for others it may be the storytelling aspect or lyrics that resonate with them. Listening to folk music can be a very personal and meaningful experience for each individual listener.

Folk music also started being called world music. The use of this term dates to 1982–83, when British and American promoters, record companies, distributors, and stores, as well as journalists and broadcasters, began to promote music from other countries, especially African music.

If you want to know what people think when they listen to folk music, then I’ll say they mostly think about life, love, emotion, time etc. Folk fans are pretty emotional people. 

It’s a connection with one's roots and that’s what makes it so endearing.It is not overproduced, pure, and uncorrupted by marketing. The lyrics reflect greater depth.

Personally, I listen to folk music because I like the simplicity of it. It allows a message to be conveyed and it gives me a sense of earthiness. It has a somewhat unique ancient air as compared to other genres. If I were to describe it, I’d say it is ethereal and has soothing qualities. Different cultures interpret folk music in a way unique to themselves bringing in a natural vibrancy with its diversity.

People perform folk music! That’s how it was meant to be heard.

An interesting thing I read: People who prefer folk music tend to be high in neuroticism, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. They are typically high-strung, friendly, and hardworking. They might also be traditional and convention-following.

With so many folk dances across India and so many hand-crafted Folk Instruments, how can one not be fascinated with this amazing genre of music…it's not just a genre but a complete LIVE life form.