Fusion Captivated: My Quest for music was reborn

My Quest for music was reborn

Right from the young age, I had an innate interest in Music. I took to Mridangam at the age of 6 under the tutelage of Sri. Srinivasan of AIT, Chennai. I subsequently had the God fortune of being guided by the Ghattam Stalwart in Sri. Vikku Vinayakaram. With this fortune, I had accompanied on Mridangam on Kutcheries, AIR and Doordarshan from the age of 12. At the age of 14, I had composed a fusion programme which was telecast in Doordarshan, Chennai.

Due to educational and professional compulsions, my future advancement in music got stifled. However, the hunger in me for Music could never die. I completed an album called "Cascade", which was only shared to my family members just to satisfy my personal interest in music.

Buoyed by feedback from my family members, my quest for music was reborn. In the form of learning keyboard on my own, my Mridangam specialization (rhythm) helped me in a big way in furthering my success in keyboard playing and composing. This way, I ventured into a full scale album in fusion music..

My desire and enthusiasm in fusion music coupled with hard work and attention to details have given birth to a new born child christened "Fusion Captivated"

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Think music launches first non-film music album

By Indian Express 02 May 2009 12:03:00 AM It was a dream come true for Ramkumar RN as he launched his fusion album ‘Fusion Captivated’ on Thursday at Sathyam Cinemas. Speaking at the launch, Ramkumar who was a disciple of Vikku Vinayakram learning mridangam from the Ghatam maestro, shared his experience on how the idea of making an album came to him. "Once while I was enjoying a sunrise at the Elliots beach, a song in Boopal raga came to my mind. That has now translated to an album of songs," recalls Ramkumar whose album has a fusion of classical music and Jazz. The guests present on the occasion shared their experiences with Ramkumar. Sarath, who handled the packaging of the album, said, "We met just once. He liked the first design I made for him and we made no changes after that." Think Music, the audio division of Sathyam Cinemas has marketed and produced the album. "This is our first non-film audio. I hope it’ll be a hit," said Pradeep of Think Music. Yugi Sethu, TV anchor and cine artiste recalled how George Harrison started the trend of fusion music. In India the Shakti group started by Ustad Allah Rakka and his son Zakir Hussein popularised fusion music. "The film industry is now using fusion music a great deal," said Yugi. Music director Bharadwaj, who released the album explained how difficult it is to compose music. "He has correctly combined traditional South Indian music with modern music and that’s how music has to be created. I am sure people will accept it," he said, adding that music composing has become complex now, as there are various combinations of instruments as opposed to the basic ones decades back. Singer Meera Krishna with her husband Krishna from Sruthilaya and BV Ramanan were also present on the occasion. Ramkumar RN’s Fusion Captivated is available at music stores at Rs 99.

IT Exec's fusion music album

By Adyar Times Dated 26th July 2009 His album is called "Fusion Captivated" It was launched recently in the city and now that is doing the rounds of musicians and rasikas, Ramkumar Nilakantan must be a happy man. The executive of an IT Company and an Adyar resident has been passionate about music. The CD is a signature of Ramkumar's learnings in music. He began learning Mridangam and had legendary 'Vikku' Vinayakaram as his guru. Later, he learnt to play keyboard on his own. All through, his roots have been in Carnatic Music. Ramkumar says he admires Rahesj Vaidhya. The other artistes who have played on the new CD are Raju on the sax and flute, V.Sankaran on the violin, Venkat on persussions and tabla and J.F.Antony has done the music arrangements. Gomathi Sre, B.V.Ramanan and Hari Hara Subramanian have rendered their voices. Ramkumar has played on the keyboard and Mridangam. This album, priced at Rs.99 is released by Think Music, a division of Sathyam Cinemas.

An IT Man's homage to Music

By Newstoday May 04, 2009, 08:16 There are many IT professionals who happen to be artistes too but they go into oblivion simply because they don’t have enough time to spare for their art. But music composer and director Ramkumar R N is different. His desire and enthusiasm in fusion music coupled with hard work and attention to detail has given birth to an audio album christened ‘Fusion Captivated’. Speaking at the launch, music director Bharadwaj said that he is happy to know that the CD is a composer’s work. ‘It is a difficult job to be a composer. Every composer’s challenge is to think about new music and its new style. Ramkumar has come up with new music. Lets hope he’ll climb more steps,’ he said. ‘In India, fusion music started with Pandit Ravishankar. Then we had masters like Alla Rakha Khan and Zakir Hussain. After a long gap here comes another fusion artiste Ramkumar. He should be appreciated,’ said noted television anchor and cine artiste Yugi Sethu. Speaking about his inspiration, Ramkumar R N said it was during a morning walk that the idea of a fusion album emerged in his mind. ‘On the next level, I got support from many artistes and that resulted in the production of Fusion Captivated’. Singer and TV anchor Meera Krishna, her husband and actor Krishna, Pradeep of Think Music also spoke on the occasion. The album has five songs. Think Music, the audio division of Satyam Cinemas is marketing this album.

Artiste Chat

By Chennai Times, Times of India on 22nd May 2009

ARTISTE CHAT
M SUGANTH
An IT professional by day and a musician by night, RN Ram Kumar released his fusion album recently. A chat with the composer...

How did you get into music?
I started learning music at the age of six. I learnt the mridangam for about 10-12 years. However, I had to put music on the backburner to focus on my career. But the passion for music remained and I returned to it once I was well settled in life.

Tell us about your tutelage under ghatam maestro Vikku Vinayakram...
It was a scintillating experience to study under Vikku sir. He is not only a great artiste but also a great human being. Despite having achieved so much in music, he still appreciates and encourages young talents.

Why did you decide to do a fusion album?
Fusion music is a form of relaxation. I learnt this when I played some of my compositions to my colleagues abroad, who said that it relaxed their mind. That prompted me to take up fusion seriously. Being a percussionist, it was easier for me as I had a great exposure to rhythm. I could compose a song without disturbing the raga and the basic notations. I even came out with an album, Cascade, for my family that had all my musical influences.

Your Inspirations...
I’m a great fan of Rajesh Vaidya and Manikanth Kadri, the son of saxophone maestro Kadri Gopinath. I admire the works of violin duo Ganesh-Kumaresh, L Subramaniam and the band Shakti.

What’s special about your new album, Fusion Captivated?
The album has 10 songs, each based on a raga. Though I initially didn’t know about the different ragas, I started learning ragas through a friend of mine. I’ve used ragas like Shankarabharanam, Bhoopalam, Mayamalavagowla and Abhogi. I composed the tunes and went to an arranger, who guided me with the backgrounds. Later, I replaced the electronic arrangements with an orchestra.

Is fusion the only way to take classical music to youngsters?
To an extent. Many fusion albums that come out today are actually re-mixed versions of popular Carnatic tracks. That is one reason why I decided to compose myself. And, it’s a fast food life today.So,musicians too have to adapt to this world of the youngsters to popularise the art.

Fusion albums you’d recommend...
Indian Express by L Subramaniam, Beat IT by Selvaganesh, Temptations and Rampage by Rajesh Vaidya.

ARTISTE CHAT
M SUGANTH

About this Fusion Album

Fusion Captivated is my maiden fusion album where classical tunes blends with Jazz - a truly vindicated music

This Album contains five songs, running for a period of 36 minutes. Each of these songs has a theme by itself. The songs are as follows

(a) To My Valentine - This is a romantic song with Western Saxphone and Brass blending with classical flute, tabla and vocal support.

(b) Volcanic Bubbles - This is a classical song where one can have a feeling of volcanic bubbles post its eruptions. This has a unique blend of Western Jazz and a typical fusion feel.

(c) Morning Rise - This is based on the good mood he/she starts off on a typical day. The song captures the happy mood of the person as the dusk falls on that day seemingly giving an impression that all that begins well, ends well.

(d) Expect The Unexpected - This is the slogan of the Fusion album. It has a mix of classical violin giving one the feel of sound of symphony.

(e) Bliss - This reveals the ecstasy of the person that makes him/her feel the paradise on earth. This song captures Jazz and Sax that synchronizes well with classical flute accompanied by tabla and vocal support.

All professional artists who are currently playing for leading Music Directors have contributed immensely for this album.
Think Music which is the audio division of Satyam Cinemas', is marketing this fusion album.

The launch of the event was held at Sathyam Cinemas on 30th April. Mr.Bharadwaj, Music Director, handed over the first copy of the album to Mr.Yugi Sethu, a noted TV anchor and Cine Artiste. Other Members who were present during this occassion were Mr. Krishna, Sruthilaya, Mrs. Meera Krishna, noted play back singer, Mr. Charath Mohan, Elite Creativ and Mr. Pradeep, Think Music.

The album is available at all leading Music Stores in Tamil Nadu at Rs.99 only.

The feedback of the album can be addressed to ramkumar.rn@gmail.com

Profile of Artists

B.V. Ramanan

Ramanan has been in the film music industry for the last 26 years and has his own troupe called B.V.Ramanan & Party. He has sung for Music Directors like Mastreo Illayaraja, Mr. S.A. Rajkumar. He has his own Event Management Company called "SBOSS"

He has rendered 2 songs in the album " Morning Rise" and "Bliss"

Gomathi Sree

Smt. Gomathisree, daughter and disciple of veteran Malayalam Music Director Sri. V. Dakshinamurthy, is a film play back singer. Has sung in film "Shivaji" and in the Telugu movies She has also sung "Kural" in A.R.Rahman's private album "Connections" Sung more than 30 devotional cassttes. She gives carnatic concerts and bhajan performances. Running a Music School "V.Dakshina Murthy Vidyalaya"

She has rendered her voice in "To my Valentine" and "Volcanic Bubbles" of this album

J.F.Antony

Having born in the year 1986, has started playing keyboard from the age of 15. Was incharge of Schools and College orchestra where studied.Has done sequencing and arrangements for an album called Anbu Saral, before completing this album “Fusion Captivated” Looking for a break in the Tamil Movie World.

R. Hari Hara Subramaniam

He is the son of Mrs. Gomathi Sree. He is a singer and a Mridangam artiste. He is learning both carnatic and Hindustani Music and plays Mridangam for concertsHe has rendered his voice in "Morning Rise" and "Bliss"

Fan Following: Proof of Concept

My Quest for music was reborn

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Song: Expect the Unexpected Raaga: Maya Malawa Gowla

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Think music launches first non-film music album

Fan Following