Ranchi-based producer and rapper Sumit Singh Solanki, who goes by the name Tre Ess, has a banger on his hands with the release of his latest single ‘Wonderboy’. The song depicts the struggles of common man and his indomitable fighting spirit. Parallels are drawn with martial arts and the struggle that goes in its training. The song name is also inspired from martial arts fighter Stephen Thompson.

The song is part of his EP SoBo BonoBo and the sound he has brought to the fore with this release is being called ‘beat tape’. Indeed, the sound has a raw and edgy feel to it, which seems like it belongs to the world at large rather than the perfect world of inorganic computer generated sounds.

The organic sampling of sounds which has several Indian folk nuances is a fresh breath of air. Tre Ess draws from the cultures of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Meghalaya to inject lively flavours into the song.

The flute’s sound is especially endearing. While it brings some peace and serenity to the otherwise sonically dense track, it also acts as a link to the acoustic sounds of nature. The driving force of the song is a dribbling bass line, which underlines everything from the muddled vocals to the slow rhythm.

The track has been released under Mr. Babu, a new record label which exclusively pushes indie music. It is part of the industry giant Hindusthan Record.

The animated video, created by Arindam K Dutta, AddaytaBiswas and Kratika Sunkar, is a beautiful short film in itself. Set in an idyllic village setting in the mountains with picturesque sceneries and splendid waterfalls, the protagonist is shown taking on a group of bullies who are harassing a young villager.

Unfortunately, the protagonist is beaten up. But then he trains hard and finally returns to teach the bullies a lesson. His eventual triumph is an ode to the endurance of common man.

If ‘Wonderboy’ is any standard to go by, Tre Ess is surely changing the landscape of indie music by mixing the urban with the rural.

Verdict: Finding folk in New Age music