Recently, NASA's release of space images taken by the James Webb telescope made us marvel at the astronomic wonder and the mystery that lies beyond. Hindus around the world were reassured by the surreal analogy between the 'Mystic Mountain' and the sleeping pose of Lord Vishnu as described in Vedas.
And a very timely release of British Indian Carnatic artist and mentor Supriya Nagarajan's latest music album, 'Posse of Fireflies’, strives to draw our attention to the wonders of the Night Sky.
As of 2022, roughly 90 per cent of the world's population cannot see the Milky Way from their home. Supriya Nagarajan, trained from an early age in Indian classical music, urges people to change this. She calls upon the public to turn off their lights and reclaim the Night Sky!
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The lead track of the album, ‘Moods of Madhukauns’ invokes her childhood memory of rural India's vibrant dark night skies in the UK. Set for release on Indian Independence Day (August 15), the album represents a first for World Music. Mixing traditional South-Indian sounds with electronic elements, the track captures Nagarajan's memory of 30-hour coal train trips illuminated by fireflies from metropolitan Mumbai to rural Madras.
"‘Moods of Madhukauns’ is the bridge between my childhood and my granddaughter's. My Legacy
for her is to pass on the closest I can get to capturing the light of my night sky, hoping it may guide her as it did me all those decades ago," said Nagarajan.
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Supriya Nagarajan also founded and is CEO of Manasamitra, following a successful international banking career. Based in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, the artist-led organisation brings Eastern musical traditions to UK audiences within a British context working with artists from all disciplines and styles. This work supports more than 40 local artists and runs a national PRSF-funded mentoring program for female artists and composers to help them overcome the barriers that Supriya faced years ago.
For her contributions to promoting diversity and accessibility to the arts, Supriya was nominated for Wonder Woman of the Year by Woman at Home Magazine and the Microsoft Diversity Nomination. Recently Supriya also toured her project, Lullaby Sonic Cradle, a project bringing together Indian and UK lullabies and soundscapes across the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, India, and Australia.
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As one of the most internationally sought-after Carnatic vocalists, Supriya has also performed across India, Thailand, Cambodia, Europe, and the UK, as well as having worked closely with Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Cultural Olympiad project 'Stanza Stones', the Yorkshire Moors, and the poetry of Simon Armitage.
With the album, ‘Posse of Fireflies’, Supriya Nagarajan calls upon listeners to turn off excess lights, put away mobile phones, and take in the night sky once more. This album inspires listeners to go back to their roots, think about climate change and sustainability and worship nature.
*Info: Manasamitra
