Discovering great music often happens by chance, and sometimes, it can turn an otherwise dreadful evening into an unforgettable experience.
Another monotonous cocktail party. This one was particularly dreadful, filled with inebriated guests who were far from pleasant company. Typically, I would retreat to a quiet corner with a Bloody Mary, letting the music be my solace. However, the music that night was atrocious, making the situation even more unbearable. When my host, who was also the DJ, played Tera Suroor for the umpteenth time, I decided I had had enough.
I sought refuge in the room of my host's teenage daughter, Sonya. We shared similar tastes in books and music, making her room the perfect escape. And I was right!
Sonya had recently acquired an album by relatively unknown artists, Sanjo and Chandrani, titled Barson Huey. She confessed she was "haplessly helplessly hopelessly" addicted to it. Little did I know, I would soon share her sentiment.
As I entered her room, an upbeat song called Zindagi was playing. Sonya greeted me warmly and asked, "How do you like this song?" I listened intently. The voices were lovely, the harmonies exquisite, and the guitar accompaniment was particularly mellow. I was instantly captivated. "Wow!" I exclaimed, "Is that Silk Route?"
Sonya shook her head and handed me the cassette cover. "Check it out," she said, "the design is cool... like the music." The cover was minimalist, featuring a soothing blue light. No flashy visuals, just pure simplicity.
I asked Sonya to play the album from the beginning. She rewound the cassette, and we settled in for a listening session. What followed was hours of pure magic. We turned up the volume and lost ourselves in the beautiful world of Sanjo and Chandrani's music. The album contained ten songs, each a gem. We listened to them repeatedly, losing all track of time. Outside Sonya's door, the party continued, but we were under the spell of Barson Huey.
I left the party at 2 a.m., amazed at how these unknown artists had made my evening so special. The songs lingered in my mind, and the next day, I bought a copy of the album. I spent the evening listening to it until well past midnight.
By the end of the second day, I knew the songs by heart. I could sing along with total abandon. The themes of the songs were rich and varied—love, infatuation, nostalgia, positivity, life, joy, sorrow, friendship. The lyrics, primarily written by Chandrani, were sensitive and evocative. Some songs were credited to another lyricist named Gaurav. The words were masterfully crafted to soothe or stir emotions.
The cassette's inlay card mentioned the artists' website. I sent a fan mail, not expecting a reply. To my delight, a couple of days later, I received an email from Sanjo and Chandrani! I decided to push my luck and sent a short questionnaire for an online interview. To my amazement, Sanjo responded! (Stay tuned for the interview, which I will publish soon.)
I spent considerable time researching Sanjo and Chandrani online. Surprisingly, there was little information about them in newspapers and magazines. It was as if they didn't exist. Musicians this talented are usually talked about. I decided to dig deeper.
Sanjo and Chandrani are based in New Delhi, not New Jersey, as some websites erroneously claim. They have been collaborating on music projects for the past five years. Both come from advertising backgrounds and are creative professionals. They are night owls, preferring to work on their music into the early hours of the morning. Their debut album, Barson Huey, was created entirely during the graveyard shift. Chandrani is a tomboy, while Sanjo is boyishly charming. Both are immensely talented.
Chandrani is a trained Indian Classical singer with a natural flair for writing. She teamed up with Sanjo to provide female vocals and backing vocals on the album, eventually becoming the lead lyricist, singer, and project manager. One must listen to Palkon Pe Tha to appreciate her talent. Written and sung by Chandrani, this song is a masterpiece with a haunting tune, marvelous guitars, and heartrending vocals. Sonya and I listened to it more than a dozen times that night.
Sanjo is a musical powerhouse. Though I have never met him, his music makes me feel like I have known him for years. His photographs on the website reveal a charming, endearing personality with piercingly magnetic eyes. He writes, composes, sings, and plays various instruments, including guitars, keyboards, bass, mandolins, drums, flutes, harmonicas, and bongos. Now that's what I call a musician!
Discovering Sanjo and Chandrani's music was a serendipitous experience that turned a dreadful evening into a magical one. Their talent and passion for music are evident in every note and lyric. If you haven't heard Barson Huey yet, do yourself a favor and give it a listen. You might just find yourself as captivated as I was.
For more insights into the music industry, check out the IFPI Global Music Report and MIDiA Research.
