Viveick Rajagopalan is an extremely talented musician and composer. He started his musical journey at the age of nine with the double headed mridangam.
Even though Viveick has trained under the Carnatic school of music but his numerous eclectic influences have helped him transcend genres with the music he writes. He has shared the stage with artists such as Shri Sriram, Richard Bona and Jethro Tull. Buoyed by his extensive training in mridangam and kanjira, Viveick stamps his music with his unique sound, which is a delectable fusion of Indian Classical, electronic, jazz, drum-n-bass and folk music. He has an uncanny ability to combine Indian music with international elements in his numerous songs and collaborations. “Nayya”, the song in question and a collaboration with songstress Sveta Kilpady, is another feather on his illustrious cap.
Nayya literally means a boat and from the second the song kicks off, you know you are set for an epic voyage. Sveta Kilpady invokes the power of prayer and pleads to her God as she croons “Maulaaa”. And then, well to present it in modern parlance, “the beat drops”. And what a beat that is. It transforms the song from a quiet gondola ride on the waters of Venice to water skiing down the Amazon while being towed by the world’s fastest river boat. Sveta Kilpady croons “Nayya padi majdhaar, ab maula laga de paar”. Is it a reference to someone having a midlife crisis, or is it about someone who is stuck in a moment they can’t get out of (thanks U2)?
We don’t know for sure and to be honest, it doesn’t really matter. The only meaning of a song that really matters is what it means to you. We are sure you will be able to relate to this fabulous fusion track at some level at least.
The musicianship is top notch, can’t expect anything less from someone of Viveick Rajagopalan’s calibre anyway. Shovon Mukherjee’s bass complements Viveick’s percussive beats very well and the combination produces a groove so infectious that we are still down with the sickness. On top of that, Sveta Kilpady’s vocals are there to take the song to the next level.
The music is awesome, the production is awesome and to quote the Lego Movie: “Everything is Awesome”.
Verdict: Come sail away on this epic voyage.
