There’s something different about this Naga Christian artiste who insists on giving a serious tone to a career in music. And his attempt has earned him the respect of music critics, even as Alobo Naga sways to the music of his own life by breaking away from the typical norms of being a mere performer.
Firstly, professionalism is something he religiously adheres to. His debut album ‘Roads of a Thousand Dreams’ launched earlier this year is proof to what he strives to promote, not only in terms of sharing his talent and faith but also how he made it professionally viable to the global market.
His first official presence into the world of music was so efficiently done, that selling off 1000 copies of his debut album within 3 days of the launch hardly comes as a surprise. One must say, the efforts and the passion he put into it all comes through in this album – consider this…..a total of 250 pictures were taken for the debut album, not forgetting the professionals - makeup artist and photographer – he works with.
“I believe in fashion,” he matter-of-factly states, adding that ‘it’s not only about what is in the market, but what you bring into the market and you’re comfortable with it’. “Presenting yourself is very important,” he also emphasises and explains that that it starts from the moment you walk up to the stage, how you carry yourself, how you move, talk and sing.
Combined with all these performing abilities and qualities, he has definitely shown what he’s got by also getting selected recently for the International Music Competition scheduled to be held at Montenegro from July 7-9, 2010. He will be accompanied by 6 backup folk singers and musicians.
He is understandably excited about attending the Fest but states wisely that ‘with success comes responsibility’ and further impresses that ‘sustaining is more important’. “To reach the top is not very hard but staying there is,” he says.
Talking more on the forthcoming event and the song he’s going to sing at Montenegro, Alobo says he has picked ‘Kumsujulo’, a patriotic song in Sumi dialect which also talks about the situation in Nagaland. He’ll be performing the song in a mix of English and Sumi rather than the pure Sumi track that is there in the album.
Written and composed by him, it goes…“everyday you hear there’s something wrong, full of anguish and pain, No hope to move on, hear the children crying out to you, reach out to them and give them hope…”
And reaching out to the people is exactly what he dreams to do with his music. “Music is my life,” he states, and adds ‘but that’s so simple……I breathe music, I live music, I have a music moment when I wake up and before I sleep’.
It may surprise some that somebody who took up a professional course from Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, New Delhi, and had a commendable job in hand would quit it all for music. When asked why he took up tourism, he says simply and rationally, “I was confused up to my graduation – like any other Naga”.
But having realised his purpose, he’s all set to go as high up the ladder as possible with a serious career in ministry and music. Just as his album personifies - ‘soulful, acoustic and ballad with a Christian message’ and also one which about worldly love, a husband singing a love song to his wife, about harmony and peace, he strives to continue using music as an instrument to tell people that ‘it is so fun serving the Lord and second thing, we Nagas should think beyond our limitations’.
He agrees that we have no shortage of good singers and musicians and says when it comes to talent ‘we are loaded with it but we’re still not there yet when it comes to performance’. However, he optimistically said ‘we’re coming up and almost there’ and feels that a little polishing and filtering would go a long way in producing accomplished musicians.
The post graduate from Delhi University also thinks that the ‘serious profession tag’ to music is lacking in Nagaland simply because “people are not taking it seriously, that’s why it’s not a serious profession”. He says that big Naga music names are earning even more than government servants because they are serious about their music.
Putting across the other side of his thoughts, he emphatically says that “life is not only about earning money but about joy, peace…” towards which end, being satisfied with what you do also deeply matters to him.
“Be original and don’t only dream but put your dreams to God” is a line associated with his success.
Currently learning music from Hope Centre, he is proud of his mentor Nise Meruno and speaks with respect for Theja Meru, Kashito and Methaneilie. He is also the Youth President of Dimapur Sumi Church and is constrained for time with people seeking him out to perform for concerts and events.
When you come to think of it, maybe this is what he was destined to do because he started very early in life and was already performing at the age of 5, joined a band when he turned 12, performed gigs for college fests, sang for the radio and other numerous occasions and has several notable recording experiences included in the albums- Yesterday Today Forever (2001), Summer Jam (2003), Achumis (2003), ICON (2008). He was also adjudged the best vocalist and best performer in a musical contest during the Summer Jam 2003.
One can look forward to his concert on June 19, 2010, scheduled to be held at IMC Hall, Dimapur at 4:30 PM. The fund raising concert organised on free will donation basis will go towards making his Europe trip a success. It will also see the performances of guest musicians like Dementia, Spark band, and teachers from Hope Centre, Furtado School of Music, Noah Kim, DG Sumika and many more.
Way in the near future, he also wishes to do something on “West meets East” in the genre he is in right now, ‘but in between I want to put the North East, Naga thing to keep our identity”. “I would love to make something very different, something soothing to the ear of the people,” he says. Already working on it, his dream of winning a Grammy someday doesn’t seem so far away with the kind of passion his music promises to give.
Firstly, professionalism is something he religiously adheres to. His debut album ‘Roads of a Thousand Dreams’ launched earlier this year is proof to what he strives to promote, not only in terms of sharing his talent and faith but also how he made it professionally viable to the global market.
His first official presence into the world of music was so efficiently done, that selling off 1000 copies of his debut album within 3 days of the launch hardly comes as a surprise. One must say, the efforts and the passion he put into it all comes through in this album – consider this…..a total of 250 pictures were taken for the debut album, not forgetting the professionals - makeup artist and photographer – he works with.
“I believe in fashion,” he matter-of-factly states, adding that ‘it’s not only about what is in the market, but what you bring into the market and you’re comfortable with it’. “Presenting yourself is very important,” he also emphasises and explains that that it starts from the moment you walk up to the stage, how you carry yourself, how you move, talk and sing.
Combined with all these performing abilities and qualities, he has definitely shown what he’s got by also getting selected recently for the International Music Competition scheduled to be held at Montenegro from July 7-9, 2010. He will be accompanied by 6 backup folk singers and musicians.
He is understandably excited about attending the Fest but states wisely that ‘with success comes responsibility’ and further impresses that ‘sustaining is more important’. “To reach the top is not very hard but staying there is,” he says.
Talking more on the forthcoming event and the song he’s going to sing at Montenegro, Alobo says he has picked ‘Kumsujulo’, a patriotic song in Sumi dialect which also talks about the situation in Nagaland. He’ll be performing the song in a mix of English and Sumi rather than the pure Sumi track that is there in the album.
Written and composed by him, it goes…“everyday you hear there’s something wrong, full of anguish and pain, No hope to move on, hear the children crying out to you, reach out to them and give them hope…”
And reaching out to the people is exactly what he dreams to do with his music. “Music is my life,” he states, and adds ‘but that’s so simple……I breathe music, I live music, I have a music moment when I wake up and before I sleep’.
It may surprise some that somebody who took up a professional course from Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, New Delhi, and had a commendable job in hand would quit it all for music. When asked why he took up tourism, he says simply and rationally, “I was confused up to my graduation – like any other Naga”.
But having realised his purpose, he’s all set to go as high up the ladder as possible with a serious career in ministry and music. Just as his album personifies - ‘soulful, acoustic and ballad with a Christian message’ and also one which about worldly love, a husband singing a love song to his wife, about harmony and peace, he strives to continue using music as an instrument to tell people that ‘it is so fun serving the Lord and second thing, we Nagas should think beyond our limitations’.
He agrees that we have no shortage of good singers and musicians and says when it comes to talent ‘we are loaded with it but we’re still not there yet when it comes to performance’. However, he optimistically said ‘we’re coming up and almost there’ and feels that a little polishing and filtering would go a long way in producing accomplished musicians.
The post graduate from Delhi University also thinks that the ‘serious profession tag’ to music is lacking in Nagaland simply because “people are not taking it seriously, that’s why it’s not a serious profession”. He says that big Naga music names are earning even more than government servants because they are serious about their music.
Putting across the other side of his thoughts, he emphatically says that “life is not only about earning money but about joy, peace…” towards which end, being satisfied with what you do also deeply matters to him.
“Be original and don’t only dream but put your dreams to God” is a line associated with his success.
Currently learning music from Hope Centre, he is proud of his mentor Nise Meruno and speaks with respect for Theja Meru, Kashito and Methaneilie. He is also the Youth President of Dimapur Sumi Church and is constrained for time with people seeking him out to perform for concerts and events.
When you come to think of it, maybe this is what he was destined to do because he started very early in life and was already performing at the age of 5, joined a band when he turned 12, performed gigs for college fests, sang for the radio and other numerous occasions and has several notable recording experiences included in the albums- Yesterday Today Forever (2001), Summer Jam (2003), Achumis (2003), ICON (2008). He was also adjudged the best vocalist and best performer in a musical contest during the Summer Jam 2003.
One can look forward to his concert on June 19, 2010, scheduled to be held at IMC Hall, Dimapur at 4:30 PM. The fund raising concert organised on free will donation basis will go towards making his Europe trip a success. It will also see the performances of guest musicians like Dementia, Spark band, and teachers from Hope Centre, Furtado School of Music, Noah Kim, DG Sumika and many more.
Way in the near future, he also wishes to do something on “West meets East” in the genre he is in right now, ‘but in between I want to put the North East, Naga thing to keep our identity”. “I would love to make something very different, something soothing to the ear of the people,” he says. Already working on it, his dream of winning a Grammy someday doesn’t seem so far away with the kind of passion his music promises to give.
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