Larger than Life and Over the Top

His love for music began when he was just 6 years old. He wanted to be a performer since childhood and imagined himself playing in front of hundreds while he practiced.

Talking about his journey in Music, he says Nicolo Odyuo was his earliest mentor after which he grew up learning from Margaret Shishak. It was basically church programmes where he first weaved magic with the keys. He has fond memories of playing "Am I a soldier of the Cross", it being the first congregational hymn he accompanied. And then he started playing for weddings and Christmas concerts. From there on, there was no stopping this young man whose prolific talent took him places earning kudos from a worldwide audience. He first took up vocational music as a Patkai student, then went on to Singapore to pursue a greater venture, after which it was back to Nagaland and Delhi where he worked part time in the American Embassy School, New Delhi. Today, he has made his mark in the music world performing in Singapore's best Concert Hall as well as Jakarta Festival Chorus called ‘Handle's Messiah’. His musical footprints are also evident in Malaysia and Hongkong and here in India where he has already been up on stage in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Guwahati and Jodhpur. The home audience here in Nagaland is, of course, never forgotten and we have had the pleasure of seeing him perform a number of times. As a musician, Nise Meruno has a special spot for opera and his childhood dreams of playing to the crowd have certainly come alive. He was part of two major operas - namely 'Pearl Fisher' and Carmen 'Latra Viata' - besides being a part of Opera Chorus, International Opera Ensemble, Delhi Chamber Choir and Capital City Minstrels. He was also associated with the Mumbai Chamber Orchestra and was a Guest Artist at the prestigious Tata Theatre in Mumbai. Moreover, he directed a musical, 'Cinderella', at the American Embassy as also 'Sound of music', 'Jazz Musical- Anything goes' and 'The Three Penny Opera.' He has over the years had the privilege (as he puts it) to perform alongside renowned musicians from across the globe whose names are highly looked upon in the Opera Circle - the likes of Sopranos Christine, Matovich (United States), Tenor Tenore Hur Chul Young (Korea), Base Baritone Dick Hollander (Holland), Mezzo Soprano Indra Sara Podevils (Germany) and most recently with Baritone Thomas Lehmkuhl. He is also closely associated with Marco Balberu, the Italian Conductor who always has Nise as his accompanist whenever he comes to India to perform. Our very own certainly mixes around in illustrious circles indeed!We get to talking about his album titled ‘Beloved’ and he tells me that it is a Folk Fusion Album where he attempted to blend Naga Folk Music with Western Classical Music. While describing himself as probably the last person to appreciate folk music, he said after hearing the Tetseo sisters (Mercy & Azi) perform he wanted to incorporate Chakhesang folk song and western classical music. It was in 2004 when he perceived the idea to bring in this new genre of music. Nise’s music is well known and loved and has been part of many a prominent occasion such as the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion week, Lakme Fashion week in Mumbai this year, 'Beloved' in Delhi, to name a few. And it is greatly deserving for someone who finished his Performers' Certificate both in piano and voice under Trinity Music College London that he was featured in Delhi Times (the most loved supplement of the National Paper-Times of India), also in National magazines, and ultimately was on the cover of ‘Timeout’ (an International Magazine) for the June issue.Meanwhile, here in Nagaland, he's involved with teaching music at Northfield School and with much enthusiasm he says "it is infested with talented young people" and added "every time I go there, it's so refreshing". He said that though the students were first shy, they eventually started to open up. He strongly feels that "Music is such that unless you are comfortable with yourself and with what you are singing, you just cannot force it and ultimately the beauty of that song/ piece will never be delivered."He also taught music at Baptist High School at one time and says that the experience there was worth mentioning because of the energy he felt with the students. He also helped out with Khedi Baptist Church and affirms that he is somebody who loves Hymns while putting across the fact that 'many people might think they are very old'. However, one reason he loves it is because hymns are written out of very personal experiences which he feels always refreshes the mind.Many of you would remember he was also one of the judges for Naga Idol, 3.08. He talks of his experience through the entire journey of choosing the ultimate star and felt encouraged by the fact that the contestants really took into account the thoughts that the judges put across. This he feels is important because he believes that true stars always have room for improvement. To him, a musician shouldn't just be one but should also grow to be a fine person which is also a reason why carrying oneself well and wearing the right attire plays equal role in being a star. He further talks about the ‘The Prodigal Son’ a Musical by R. Kevichüsa which was staged in June as well as during Hornbill this year. Although the two are slightly different, he says he is happy to have worked with ‘amazing’ singers where for the first time involved major male singing roles. And, of course, he's equally thrilled to have been part of the recent musical staged at State Academy Hall. And then, Hornbill Festival becomes a topic and this being the first for him he says "it was like going back to my roots" and further explains that even for a flower to bloom, you need good roots. Maintaining he was overwhelmed to see so many tribes coming together, he also confesses that this was a discovery of some tribal dances and culture and feels educated through the entire experience at the Hornbill Festival. He's grateful to God for bringing glimpses of his dream so near and when asked about his success, he's quick to say that his family in general have contributed a lot to it. He recalls that when he started out, Art and Music was not so encouraged but credits his families who are not all musicians but have supported him financially and morally and also feels glad that he grew up talking about dance and style with his cousins and insists that it helped him grow artistically. He further makes it clear that it's not just him, the Piano, the John Thomson Book in front of him but that he always tries and makes a story out of his music. A 'Fashion Icon' he sure is, but he says that he wears anything he's comfortable in and that he doesn't dress to impress but to make himself happy. "I merely say out loud what others are whispering,” he says and expresses his hope that when people see him or hear his music, they also get to know him better because he lives out the inner being that is in him. Now that we can have him around for a while he shares a secret and says that he has ‘Big’ plans for February. But he's quick to add that if he ever does a concert, it would be a major drama - 'Something Larger than Life and Over the Top'. He also expressed his interest in directing a musical and maybe that’s a hint that we can hold our breaths and look forward to ‘Cinderella’ come alive on our stage very soon. Here's to our very own maestro, one of the very best that we have, also one who ardently believes that success comes from above…"You may have all the talent in the world and work harder than anybody else but unless God is on your side, you will NEVER succeed". That's Nise Meruno.

Nise Meruno is a celebrated Musician who believes in being a full fledged artiste and doesn't want to confine himself to the Piano.