Recently when we were in Benaras for Mahindra Kabira Festival, we first time listened to The Tapi Project band and through this blogpost we will share The Tapi Project, how it was connected Kabir or not and what kind of music they do, along with some interesting findings about this band.
Mahindra Kabira Festival is a cultural and musical event held annually in Varanasi, India, to celebrate the life and teachings of the 15th century Indian saint and poet Kabir. The festival features a variety of performances, including music, dance, and poetry recitations, as well as workshops and talks on Kabir's philosophy and ideas. The festival aims to promote Kabir's message of unity and harmony and to bring people of different backgrounds and cultures together to celebrate the diversity of Indian culture.
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Kabir is closely associated with the city of Varanasi, also known as Kashi, in northern India. According to legend, Kabir lived and died in Varanasi, and it is said that he spent much of his life spreading his message of spiritual wisdom and social equality to the people of the city. Kabir is revered as a saint by many in Varanasi, and his tomb, known as the Kabir Chaura Math, is a popular pilgrimage site for devotees. Additionally, many of Kabir's poems and songs, known as "dohas," are set in the city of Varanasi and reference its landmarks and people. The Mahindra Kabira Festival is held in Varanasi as a way to celebrate Kabir's life, teachings, and connection to the city.
I am writing this blog after some back and tried asking ChatGPT "Who is The Tapi Project" and it couldn't answer. I changed the question by adding other keywords likes 'music' but no luck. Then I reached the website of The Tapi Project and here is how they define their band -
"TAPI echoes the contemporary India and its new gods & demons: urban life, money, lost roots, alienation, etc… and the challenges faced by the common man in a modern world...
TAPI's music is woven like a fabric, organically grown on Yogi’s poetries. Through Swati's powerful and sensuous voice, the lyrics are coming alive, swallowing us in an ocean of emotions, singing stories about rivers, cramped up life, lost values, and in essence, the universal search for the self ...
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The group’s sound is a mix of funk and folk on a hypnotic contemporary tribal groove. Following is the Official Video of the song Paigam (The Message) which is the highlight of the eponymous album The Tapi Project launched in 2016.
The song is about meaning what we are saying, and how despite modern modes of communication (or maybe because of them), we are more and more estranged from each other…"
When I was listening to this band, I couldn't understand how their music was connected to Kabir. May be it's my problem that I couldn't relate but no one around me could help me understand that. So it was little disappointing to listen to the music which is not even related to Kabir and specially you had travelled from Delhi to Benaras for 'Kabir Festival'.
Having said that I still had to enjoy my evening, so I kept this thought aside and started focussing on the music they had to offer irrespective of the fact that they were playing in Mahindra Kabira Festival. and I must admit that I found the music quite enjoyable.
The Tapi Project band has 4 members and they surely create magic on the stage. They know how to engage with audience and create a vibe where audience feel that they are with them to enjoy music.
I could sense that music style of The Tapi Project is very different and interesting.
The Tapi Project is primarily a collaboration between Yogi Saniyawala (Music, Lyrics, instruments) and Swati Minaxi (Lead Vocalist). The team behind the curtains of The Tapi Project includes, Anand (Guitars, Keyboards, Backing, Vocals), Nihit (Recording & Mixing), Osmanbhai (Surando), Julien (Violin), Vinayak (Drums), Tuheen (Tabla) and Dhruv (Sitar). The debut video has also been featured on MTV and has been abuzz since then. Yogi also helms the role of director for the bands videos. Must say, they are quite a self-sufficient bunch of music makers! (found here)
On the name of "Kabir", one of the lead singer of The Tapi Project was sharing some narrations at the beginning and the end of each song they performed. Again, I doubt myself that probably I wasn't able to link that narration with the music or I don't understand the music genre they are into.
If you watch the videos I attached in this blogpost, you can sense that the Tapi Band is pretty good at engaging with audience. Whenever I listen to these videos, I keep humming or whistling 'o oo oooo.. o..oo..o..' :). and that's the real power of a good music, which you can relate to and it's different for different people.
This festival happens in Varanasi every year and Benaras/Kashi is a special.
Varanasi, also known as Benaras or Kashi, is a city in northern India that is considered one of the most popular destinations for foreign tourists. There are several reasons why Varanasi is so popular among foreign tourists:
Spiritual significance: Varanasi is considered one of the most sacred cities in India and is a major center of Hinduism. The city is home to many ancient temples and holy sites, including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, which is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
Cultural richness: Varanasi is known for its rich cultural heritage, which includes music, dance, art, and literature. The city is also famous for its silk saris, traditional music, and classical dance performances.
Ganges river: Varanasi is situated on the banks of the Ganges river and is a major center for pilgrimage and ritual bathing. The sight of thousands of devotees taking a dip in the holy river is a sight to behold.
History: Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The city has a rich history and is believed to be more than 3,000 years old.
Photography and Cinematography: Varanasi is a photographers paradise, it is a melting pot of culture, tradition, and spirituality. The city is also a popular location for Bollywood and Hollywood movies, which adds to its allure.
All these factors combined make Varanasi a popular destination among foreign tourists, who come to experience its spiritual and cultural richness, as well as its historical and scenic beauty.
From music standpoint, I certainly enjoyed their music but it was certainly disappointing to see that there was hardly any relation to Kabir and that's more of a feedback to festival organisers that the music band.
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