News

The Hindu :

Suneeta Rao has gone digital with her music to touch base with her fans directly

Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.LONG-STANDING SINGER Suneeta Rao has survived a new generation of musicians, to hold her own

“The way people listen to music has changed. CDs were big when I started my career as a singer. Now people want to download music to their PCs and phones,” says singing sensation Suneeta Rao, who has gone digital with artistaloud.com.

Pioneered by Hungama Digital Media Entertainment, artistaloud.com aims at providing an opportunity for independent artistes to connect with their fans. It also attempts to combat piracy by making music directly available to fans, and appears to be a much-awaited solution for musicians who haven’t been able to get a commercial release for their original compositions.

Immediate feedback

Ask her why it’s important for an established singer such as her to go digital, and Suneeta explains: “When there is a medium that allows one to receive immediate feedback from fans, any artiste would want to use that.”

The alternative pop singer’s last release was ‘Waqt’ in mid-2008, which received an overwhelming response, and she thinks it is the popularity of the live shows she does between new releases that actually endears people to her. In an age when newer forms and genres of music take shape, Suneeta has managed to remain popular.

But she feels: “The word diva has been used to describe far too many qualities and attributes. I’d rather let my work and my fans stand as proof to the kind of artiste I am.”

Defeats the purpose

On reality shows and music talent hunts, Suneeta says: “Television is a great medium to get exposure. What does stand out about our country is the surge of talent.” However, Suneeta asserts: “There are drawbacks that come with such shows. What happens most often is that people trying to make it big in the music…More

The Hindu : y>

A traditional Irish dish, made with mashed potatoes, chopped cabbage (or kale), and milk/cream, salt and pepper. Though it is predominantly a vegetarian dish, it can also be made with meat, especially pork or bacon. The dish is closely related to the British ‘Bubble and Squeak’ and there is no one standard recipe; it can be done in myriad ways. It can be eaten as a side dish or consumed as a meal in itself.

<FONT …More

The Hindu : NIKHIL VARMA

A ray of hope for apartment dwellers, My Sunny Balcony offers to set up gardens in balconies, nudging the green thumb in you, finds NIKHIL VARMA

PHOTO: MURALI KUMAR K.GREEN MACHINES Reena, Shailesh and Sriram tried a do-it-yourself approach to make their venture a success

We live in times when millions of urban dwellers from across the country are turning to farming and gardening in a big way, albeit virtually via applications like Farmville on the social networking site Facebook. Many would feel that the concrete jungles we live in are incapable of providing us an opportunity to build and maintain gardens. This is the mindset that four youngsters from the city, who founded My Sunny Balcony, have been trying to dispel. The firm helps people set up gardens in their balconies.

My Sunny Balcony was born in the course of a random coffee table discussion by four gardening enthusiasts and IT professionals — Reena Chengappa, Sriram Aravamudan, Athreya Chidambi, and Shailesh Deshpande.

Sriram quips, “We were talking about how the green cover that the city once boasted was disappearing fast and the garden city was losing its greatest USP. We were talking about the need to create spaces where the greenery can be maintained.”

He adds, “We soon realised that balcony could serve as a great space for building gardens. It is one of the urban spaces that we often tend to ignore. I have heard many people complain that they live in high rises and are unable to create/maintain a garden.”

The group also realised that the idea would find favour with many people across the city. “Many people want to make their balconies attractive and green. However, they were forced to choose high-end decorators or local gardeners, who are extremely pushy. There are no options available at the middle level. That is the segment we sought to capture,” they contend.

Sriram was the…More

The Hindu : MUKUND PADMANABHAN

Wine apps provide the consumer with an easy and immediate way to negotiate a world in which there are too many brands to remember

The other day I spotted a young colleague demonstrating a wine app on her Ipod to some friends. She was showing them the tasting note of a wine she had recently drunk to approving squeals of “cool, isn’t it?”

It’s easy to understand why wine apps are becoming increasingly popular all over the world. They provide the consumer with an easy and immediate way to negotiate a world in which there are too many brands to remember and too many bottles with unfriendly labels that are lacking in information. Wine is also being increasingly sold in impersonal supermarkets manned by unhelpful staff. As for restaurants, the choice is often between asking an ignorant waiter or an intimidating sommelier.

Wine is possibly the only industry in which consumers are expected to fork out sums of money on products that they may know next to nothing about. In the face of such marketing apathy among wineries and retailers and the information deficit among consumers, technology offers a neat solution: ask your mobile.

Today, wine apps on smart phones — available free or at a small cost — can help you select a wine, pair it with food or cheese, and throw up a calorie count per serving. While some furnish tasting notes, others allow you to write your own and save a photograph of the label of a bottle you have just drunk as a reference in your virtual cellar. Searches can throw up best buy and most popular lists, and price comparisons between stores. And now, in some countries, you can also buy wine through iPhone thanks to specially developed apps by websites such as www.wine.com and the Tesco supermarket chain.

Wine apps are not useful only for the uninformed wine lover….More

The Hindu :

Arouse your senses. Enjoy your music and food, and see paintings as well, at this numerical restaurant

SETTING THE HOUSE ON FIREA combination of music and food

The biggest disadvantage of going to a pub is that you can barely hear yourself think, forget hearing anybody else. That is why 64, a new restaurant in Koramangala, will bring cheer to music and food lovers alike. The restaurant, which promises “delectable food and a great selection of music”, lays emphasis on music as evident by the name itself.

According to managing partner Tushar Chauhan, the name of the restaurant stems from the fact that the 64th note is the shortest musical note. The other reason behind the name is that 64 is the plot number. A house which has been modified, the cream walls, wood for the flooring, and the tables combine to give the place a warm and welcoming look.

Incidentally, 64 provides a platform for professional and upcoming artists and musicians to showcase their work. There is a space for musicians to perform and paintings of various artists displayed on the walls are up for sale.

The restaurant, which serves continental and pan-Asian food, has two levels, with space to sit outside as well.

As we sat enjoying Eric Clapton and Pink Floyd, we were brought the barman’s special, called passion green, which was an interesting mix of kiwi and strawberry flavours, though we wished they had gone a little easy on the ice.

I also had the wasabi martini, which was very good. Not too strong and it had quite a good effect on my sore throat! We then had a Caesar salad, which was fresh and crunchy with the dressing just right.

For starters we had the garlic-tossed prawns, grilled fish tikka 64 style, chicken lollipops, lamb teriyaki, pepper mushrooms and pepper honey vegetable tempuras.

My friend thoroughly enjoyed the lamb teriyaki, which was quite good….More

The Hindu : NEETI SARKAR

GREEN RETREAT The centre of all action

Global Academy Of Technology

The Hangout: The basketball court and the surrounding garden

The Location: Right in front of the main building of the college

Rush Hour: At almost any time of the day students are found here. Before college starts, during the lunch break and free hours, and even after college, this area is always crowded.

What’s to love: The best part about this hangout is that it is out in the open. Therefore, there is room for all. Students say there is no better way to chill out with friends than amidst nature.

One of them even points out that they like it here because the garden is well maintained and the entire area is kept clean through the day.

Here’s where the students gather when there is a match being played and also when a fest or outdoor programme is taking place. Then of course, this is where the last minute cramming happens before an exam. The ones who want to study alone find solitude towards the far end of the court.

The others come here to catch up with friends, eat, and relax in the shade of the broad trees in this area. Also, this place is buzzing with activity especially when a fresh batch joins the college.

What’s not to: When it’s too hot or when it rains, this isn’t the best place to be at.

Alternative: The new Gopalan Arcade Mall.

<FONT …More

The Hindu : y>

Bengaluru Fight Club offers you a platform to come and fight each other. It is non-competitive and has simple rules and is free.

Venue: Indian Heritage Academy, Koramangala

Time: 10.30 a.m.

Date: January 23

Contact: 98453-96360

<FONT …More

The Hindu :

French-Canadian Hughes has taken to the country and its people like fish to water

FLOORED By India

“I have made an attempt to follow cricket, which I feel is very similar to baseball. However, though a lot of my expat friends have become masters at the game, I have not been able to pick it up,” says Hughes, a French Canadian who has made Bangalore his home since December 2008.

“I stay with my wife and have enjoyed the stint thoroughly. The fact that we get almost everything that we were used to back home is very comforting,” he quips. Hughes does not miss the cold, snow-filled winters of Canada and feels that Bangalore has excellent weather. “You get a glimpse of moderate elements of all seasons, unlike Canada. The temperate climate does spoil you a bit,” contends Hughes.

However, he does miss winter sports and skiing a great deal. “Winter sports were part of my regular schedule in Canada. I miss it a lot. I have made many trips to the Himalayas and Ladakh, and also participated in a bike rally in that region.”

Despite initial apprehensions, Hughes did not face any major issues as far as language was concerned. “It took me some time to get a grasp on the Indian accent, which is a bit different. I have gotten used to it and face no problems for official communication.”

He has always been an aficionado of Indian cuisine and says that he does not mind the spice. “I am used to having a lot of Mexican food, which is fairly spicy and similar to Indian food. I enjoy tandoor food and all cottage cheese preparations.”Hughes is thrilled that his wife has adapted to life in India, without any hassles. “I was worried that she will not be able to find friends and would be bored. However, she is enjoying the stint and is…More

The Hindu :

American pianist Nancy Lee Harper executed some technically challenging compositions with a flourish

Photo: Sampath Kumar g.p.RESONATING Across genres and right through the audience

Dramatic, virtuoso and an irresistible creative force is how one would best describe American pianist Nancy Lee Harper. The maestro performed to a packed audience at The Alliance Française in a concert organised by the Bangalore School of Music recently.

A flurry of notes and a well-controlled chord progression began two pieces from German composer Felix Mendelssohn’s “Lieder ohne Wörte” or songs without words . The No. 3 Andante tranquillo in B-flat major from Op. 67 and No. 2 Allegro non troppo in C minor from Op. 38. echoed in the auditorium like an enchanting spell.Austrian composer Joseph Haydn’s Sonata No. 51 in E flat major Hob. XVI/38 followed the wordless masterpieces. A series of variations by German composer Robert Schumann under his famous 1834 symphonic études followed. From a virtuosic dirge-like march and a rolling nocturne to an intricately ornamented dreariness, Harper struck an array of swinging variations and tempos.

Following the interval, Harper shifted the scene to some strong Impressionistic music with French composer Maurice Emmanuel’s Sonatine No. 4 “Sur des modes hindous” Op. 20. Meaning “In various Hindu modes” the piece comes close to the tuning of a violin and is a strong abstract impression of Indian instruments.

“The Nocturne” in D flat major by Portuguese composer António Fragoso came next. The brilliant piece, composed when António was just 15 years old, resonated across the crowd as Harper’s intensity and dextrous fingers held them spellbound.

Harper exhibited her prowess with the next piece, Frédéric Chopin’s Ballade No.1 in G minor Op. 23. One of the most technically challenging compositions of the Polish composer, its varying time signatures, rapid scales, very fast and large chords, octaves, and difficult fingerings were skilfully delivered.

Her vibrant energy and talent were boldly exemplified as…More

The Hindu : y>

Genesis

Mama

There’s Genesis brilliant number in Mama. The original drums were given the pass and a drum machine used to produce the distant effect in the introduction. Phil Collins’ sinister laughter is one of the highlights of the track, which was a composition with considerable depth, when compared to their pop numbers such as ‘Follow You Follow Me’. This one had almost a single strain, and yet was so powerful in impact, that it is unsurprisingly Genesis’ anthem, and a studded addition to rock legends.

Pink Floyd

Dogs

This 17-minute track, originally to be named ‘You Gotta Be Crazy’, takes a grim look at businessmen who will do anything it takes to survive in the corporate jungle. You gotta keep one eye looking over your shoulder. You know it’s going to get harder, and harder as you get older, pretty much summarises the import of the number. In a masterpiece rendered by both David Gilmour and Roger Waters, Richard Wright’s solo intercession includes the sound of a dog barking, which was created by processing the sound using a vocoder.

David Bowie

Ziggy Stardust

Quintessential Bowie. The track from the eponymous album is listed in the top 500 songs of all time. The album ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust’ is supposed to narrate the story of Ziggy S, an alien who, in his last few years of existence, is endeavouring to spread the message of love and hope. The persona of Ziggy is known to have been wild, high on drugs and casually promiscuous and that’s where the paradox works. A masterpiece which re-affirms Bowie’s rock star status.

Jethro Tull

She Said She Was A Dancer

A marked departure from Tull’s characteristic infusion of flute into their compositions, ‘She said she was a dancer’ is easy on the untrained ear, and is reminiscent of Dire Straits, including Ian Anderson’s vocals. Surprisingly the track, along with others…More