A Grammy award nominee, Abiogenesis, is a “multi genre act” that hails from Nagaland, India.
With “folk-fusion” as its unique specialty, and creating indigenous and tribal sound in the most modern way making it exotic and beautiful to listen to, a sound never heard before. Each and every song or music explains the untold stories of Nagaland.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
Recalling that an album “rapture” being released in the 90s, paving a route for the ‘Unleash’, the very new wind instrument “BamHum” is creating a “sensation” in the music scenario of the northeast including Nagaland.
Moa Subong, a dare to death musician with support from his wife, Arenla Subong, who had travelled wide across the country and beyond have shared a glimpse on the wind instrument “Bamhum”.
Talking to this Correspondent, the Bamhum frontman, Moa Supong, now 57, who also made a niche himself with support from his team in the music scenario in the State, Supong, who has developed a musical instrument called “Bamhum”, a new wind musical instrument made out of bamboo.
The name “Bamhum” is derived from the two words, bamboo and humming.
Playing the Bamhum is simple; one has to simply hum a tune into the hum hole that produces a melodic tune. Asserting that he was successful making the “Bamhum” presence felt with support from his wife a “music guru”, Moa Subong, who also teaches music to pupils in a cultural centre said both were folk fusion artistes, improvising and contemporizing traditional music and songs.
Adding that that being a vocalist, she face problems while making music as the traditional instruments were beat or percussion based, playing various notes was not possible.
A Grammy award nominee, Abiogenesis, is a “multi genre act” that hails from Nagaland, India.
With “folk-fusion” as its unique specialty, and creating indigenous and tribal sound in the most modern way making it exotic and beautiful to listen to, a sound never heard before. Each and every song or music explains the untold stories of Nagaland.
It is not only entertaining but also a learning experience, their exploration and experimentation
resulted in evolving a new form of world music “Howey music”, a fusion of Naga and other Indian folk with various forms of modern rhythm.
A rather another special feature of the “band” was the invention of a new wind bamboo musical
instrument called “bamhum” by Moa. This (the bamhum) novelty brought about a huge change to how Abiogenesis sounds today.
It became the leading instrument of the band with Arenla playing the lead Bamhum, and Moa playing the harmony.
Moa received the National Award from the President of India for his invention of the Bamhum, Moa has invented another Bamboo percussion called Tikzik which is a bamboo percussion with multiple sounds.
Abiogenesis has Performed in eight countries including Finland, Estonia, Thailand, India, Russia,
Bhutan, Tunisia and Myanmar and an exclusive performance for Bhutan’s Royal family on August 15 and other invites and to 160 Consul Generals at the Raj Bhawan, Mumbai on November 16, 2011.
ACHIEVEMENTS
* The Nagaland Governor’s Excellence Award for Distinction in Folk Fusion Music on January 26, 2017 at Raj Bhawan, Kohima.
* Moa Subong of Abiogenesis received the National Award from the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on March 4, 2017, for his invention of the Bamhum, a new wind bamboo musical instrument.
* Pride of North East Award from Assam Royal Global University on February 7, 2020, song of “Substance Award” at the Music Malt Online Fest 2016 for their music video ‘Voices In Kisama.
*Abiogenesis album ‘Aeon Spell’ released by Saregama in 2007 was pre-nominated in the 50th Grammy Awards in the Best Contemporary World Music album of the Year.
* Certificate of Commendation in the field of Music on the occasion of Golden Jubilee of Nagaland Statehood on December 1, 2013 by Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung District.
* ‘Up On The Mountains’ winner of the Best Alternative Song Category in Akademia Music Awards September 2017, Los Angeles.
* Certificate of Recognition for Pioneering Contribution Towards Promotion of Indigenous Music on the occasion of the 125th Anniversary of Mokokchung in 2015 by Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung.
Current Band members included Arenla Subong – vocals and lead Bamhum, Moa Subong
Bamhum: New bamboo musical instrument that can be played instantly
The ‘BAMHUM’ is a wind musical instrument made out of bamboo invented by Moa Subong of Abiogenesis from Dimapur, Nagaland.
The Bamhum draws its name from the basic roots, the Bamboo and the effect of humming into this instrument. Receiving the National Award from the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on March 4, 2017, for his invention of the Bamhum, Moa while reminiscing on the “new bamboo musical instrument”, he said that Bamhum is a medium sized bamboo musical instrument that a player hums any tunes into the “bamhum” which resonates with a captivating effect on the listener.
A rattle is assembled on the other end of the knot which works as a resonate chamber that converts the tune of the hum into the unique sound of the Bamhum.
The simplicity, with which the player can play the Bamhum is an added advantage, since all it takes for a player is to simply hum a tune into the hum hole unlike other instruments where one undertakes the long trail of learning the technicalities of playing musical instruments. No theoretical lessons are necessary to play the “Bamhum” and one could easily progress from a learner to an exponent through practice.
It can be played as a solo instrument, back-up or supportive role in a band/orchestra or played in an ensemble with many Bamhum players playing various parts of a song. It can be played in any kind of music- classical, folk, rock, jazz, blues, gospel, pop etc. Many say that the Bamhum is arguably the only musical instrument invented in the past 100 years, other claimed ones being improvisation or re-invention of existing ones.
Formation of ‘ABIOGENESIS’
Before the advent of Abiogenesis, Arenla Subong, and Moa Subong, use to perform as husband and wife duo. Stating that it was when they were recording an album at Studio Vibration, Kolkata, the Regional Manager, Shashi Menon, Magnasound, came to know about it.
He approached us and insisted that “our album” be released through them thus releasing the album “Rapture” released by Magnasound, one of India’s major music label at that time and also making it the first English album by an Indian Artiste to be released by their label.
Backed by musicians including Shiva, a well-known Indian band way back then. It may be mentioned that Magnasound made the Dou tie up with 5th Dimension of Kolkata for an East India tour to promote the album in 1990.
During the recording and the tour, it was realized that “rehearsing” was a big hurdle when the “backing band” and others have to be stayed in different places.
Thereafter, it was decided by forming a band comprising of musicians from Nagaland and thus Abiogenesis originated, said Moa Subong.
Also sharing the band’s feedbacks on the genres of music being listened, Moa Subong, shared that he and his band stands for its prime aim which is “making and promoting music”.
Moa Subong said, “Necessity is the Mother of all inventions. When my wife Arenla was appointed Guru to teach Folk Music and theatre by North East Zone Cultural Centre, MOC, we looked for a Naga traditional musical instrument to play for her compositions but we couldn’t find any that could play all notes and most were percussions only. Guitar, violin, piano etc. were sounding too western. This triggered and gave me the idea that I should develop something that could be played instantly with an indigenous sound. Thus with many trials and errors, Bamhum was born”.
The Bamhum is a wind bamboo musical instrument and it was unveiled by the then Governor of Meghalaya MM Jacob at the International Bamboo Fest on May 3, 2005, at Shillong.
A recipient of national award from the then President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, the same “wind pipe” instruments could be played instantly even by a novice, said Moa.
On the song title that Abiogenesis professionally first used in the implementation of the Bamhum, professionally, Moa reacted on it by saying that “Saramati Tears” which they played was one of the most regular songs listened by people across the world while also “Aeon Spell”, the first song featured in “Howey Music Album” and released by SareGama was also acknowledged across the world.
Moa also shared that “Saramati Tears” was also played during unveiling programme and was featured in its first Howey Music album ‘Aeon Spell’ released by Saregama.
“We were so enthralled with the outcome that we decided that Bamhum should be the leading instrument for the band,” Moa later said.
Also stating that “Bamhum” is a signature instrument of the band, Moa said they are lucky that evolving “Howey Music” and invention of the Bamhum happened simultaneously while also adding that it totally transformed everyone to another level in attaining “musical Nirvana”.