Music and Family

In this blog I interviewed my mother and she answered all of my questions regarding this topic.

Snigdha: Hi mom! I have some questions for you to help me with my blog “Music and Family”. So, my first question is... What sort of music-culture did you grow up in?

Janani: I grew up in the Tamil Carnatic Music Culture.

Snigdha: Where did you grow up?

Janani: I grew up in Tamilnadu, India.

Snigdha: What kind of music did you grow up with? What did it mean to you and the people around you? Did music have any particular function? When and where did you listen to it?

Janani: Most of my lifetime I was learning Carnatic music which was the base for all singers during my time, because I had a passion towards singing. Carnatic music helps us groom the vocal in a better way. However, I listen to more Light music of Tamil Film Industry which are more melodious in nature. I hear them mostly when I’m stressed, feeling lonely, while working out in the gym and while driving my car or while traveling

Snigdha: Was the kind of music you listened to growing up popular at the time, either in general or within your friend group?

Janani: Certainly, the Tamil Film Industry music and songs were most popular in general by the music lovers as well as amongst my friends’ group during my days and now as well.

Snigdha: Were you involved in any music groups at school or church or anywhere else? Your garage?

Janani: Yes, I was part of my School and College Music band, where I used to sing Tamil movie songs, mostly melodious in nature. 

Snigdha: How did you listen to music? What kind of technology did you have?

Janani: I listen to music now through my Mobile handset, where I get my favourite songs downloaded from the Internet and also through FM Radio channels.

Snigdha: Did you go to concerts? What were they like? What was the first concert you went to?

Janani: I do attend many concerts, they were mostly Light music concerts, exhibiting Tamil Film songs. However, the 1st concert I attended was a carnatic concert about 35 years back. The singer was MS Subbulakshmi.

Snigdha: Have you ever met any famous-y musicians? 

Janani: Yes, I have met the famous Musician Ilaiyaraja, who conquered the Tamil film Industry with his exemplary melody songs during those days.

Snigdha: Has any musician inspired you?

Janani: Yes, The world famous musician Ilaiyaraja was my inspiration.

Snigdha: Did you play any instruments or sing growing up? How did you feel about that? Do you still play/sing? Do you regret anything?

Janani: I don’t play a instrument, however I grew up singing, I used to feel so rejuvenated and motivated when I hear people appreciating me while I’m singing. I do regret at times that I didn't take singing as my profession or career, or haven’t taken singing to any higher level in my life  

Snigdha: How did your parents influence what you listened to? 

Janani: My parents were always been a great support towards me taking music as my extra-curricular activity. They helped me by buying good audio player, audio cassettes which are almost extinct now.

Snigdha: Was music a priority in your family? How so?

Janani: No, Music wasn’t a priority as far as my family is concerned. 

Snigdha: What is your first memory of music?

Janani: I remember a music teacher who used to come to my school to teach vocal singing for the interested students. This was about 35 years back. He was such a talented musician, who picked a regular poem from my Tamil reader, composed the music for it and taught us to sing the poem with a beautiful composition. The music was composed so beautiful that I loved to sing them whenever people ask me to sing any song.

Snigdha: How has your relationship to music changed over the course of your life?

Janani: As I grew up, I started concentrating more towards the studies, and music had taken a step back. I started to participate in live band shows in any event organized during my school or college days.

Snigdha: Do you still listen to the same kind of music you listened to growing up? How is it the same or different? 

Janani: Yes, I still love listening to the old melody songs which I used to love during my young age. However, there were many new musicians who had come up with their own style of composition. I like them too. On the whole, my love towards listening to slow melody songs haven’t changed. 

Snigdha: What sort of music do you listen to now? When do you listen to it?

Janani: I love listening to slow moving melody songs. I used to listen to them during my workouts and while driving.  

Snigdha: If you’ve done any traveling in your life, did you hear any interesting music along the way?

Janani: I do travel long and certainly love to hear to such slow moving melody collections during my entire travel time. 

Snigdha: Do you like the music of any other sort of culture?

Janani: Yes, I loved hearing to some recent English or Spanish melodies, which I got to know through my kids.

Snigdha: Did you push your kids to be involved in music? Why or why not? 

Janani: Yes, I made my daughter to learn the carnatic music for about 6 years during her young age. Did not push her to continue as her area of interest started to diversify in other fields.

Snigdha: Are there any special pieces of music in your life? What’s your favorite piece of music or artist?

Janani: Romantic tamil melodies are my favourite and special piece of music. My favourite singers are Ilaiyaraja, S P BalaSubramaniam, P.Chithra, S.Janaki. And in recent times, A.R Rahman, Shreya Ghosal.

Snigdha: If you had to describe your life in one song, what would you choose?

Janani: Recent romantic song in a Tamil Film “Theri”, Song - "Jeevan”

Snigdha: What does music mean to you?

Janani: Music is a therapy that can heal any pain or bad moments, It is a stress reliever. Calm the hyper-active brain. I feel good melody songs or music will be soothing to both heart and soul.

This song is one of the popular songs that was composed in 2016 and it is a favorite song for all of us in our family.