Music is something the world would be lost without! We feel it, we breathe it, we love it! Eastern Mirror’s - Rhythm of Love- connects our readers to music through conversation with artists as they share their experience with their love …… MUSIC
Music moves us, opens our emotions - passing all barriers. Music is a piece that we can all connect to so Readers get connected with your favorite artists every Friday with Rhythm of Love.
In light of the slow progress of the music industry in our state it is indeed a great achievement to have produced a Singer like Ato Yimchunger. Ato has an amazing sense of music, capable of creating amazing originals! With more than 2000 downloads of his first debut single at www.Indihut.com, the rising star is off to a great start!
Many opportunities have passed his path but he is one lad who is not easily impressed by opportunities, he firmly believes in creating quality music. In a chit chat with ‘Rhythm of Love’ Ato is upfront with his thoughts on music; read on to hear what this inspiring musician has to say....
EASTERN MIRROR: Tell us about your early phase into the music industry.
ATO: Youngest in the family my source of inspiration for music was instilled by my elder brothers and sisters who were very active in Church and other social activities as lovers of music. My parents believe that I have an inborn talent for singing. Even as a child I was more comfortable with my original songs than doing covers. So from my childhood itself I began writing my own lyrics in my mother tongue (Yimchunger) and started composing music with the basic guitar chords I knew then. Today I have composed around 50 songs...some of them I can’t recollect...I regret not preserving those.
EASTERN MIRROR: As a member of Patkai Christian College ‘Patkai Voices Choral’, how has that helped you with your music calling?
ATO: Unlike contemporary, classical music is so complicated with many rules. One with a good teacher needs a lot of vocal training with the variety of singing techniques in classical music. As a part of ‘Patkai Voices Choir’ I am very fortunate to learn from two wonderful classical teachers, Miss Nohunuo who is currently the singer of the ‘Voices of Hope’ under Nise Meruno and Miss Azeena, the judge of Naga Orpheus Hunt 2015. They both are also the vocal teachers in Music Dept. Patkai Christian College. Good musicians know the value of classical singing techniques and I am thankful to God for bringing classical music in my life.
EASTERN MIRROR: What was the first instrument that you played?
ATO : Guitar
EASTERN MIRROR: How do you balance your music with other obligations as a student?
ATO : I love music and I am a responsible person. Along with music, I try to do best with other activities too. Because of semester system, we have endless academic activities throughout the year. I am also the secretary of Evangelical Union, Patkai Christian College. In fact, all these make me the busiest man in the campus. However I can manage enough time for my music because I am an organized time keeper. I don’t waste time.
EASTERN MIRROR: How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
ATO: Every musician makes mistake sometimes while performing but a good musician is one who dwells on mistakes. He hopes to do his best next time in a way that proves his excellence and all the mistakes committed in the past are shattered and forgotten about.
EASTERN MIRROR: Do you think singing contests are providing better avenues for music lovers? Did you ever intend to be part of singing contest?
ATO: Mostly no. This might hurt a few maybe but many such contests are not based on actual public voting but money voting. Organizers create platforms with good judges with good motives to promote talents. However behind the scene, we never know whether a contestant is actually voted by the responsible voters or his/her father’s wealth or he/she is not voted because he/she is from another part of Nagaland. In this case such contests do not serve its real purpose. Anyway, the good thing also is that one attains popularity participating in such contests and popularity is what every artist dreams of.
No. I have never regreted letting go of opportunities to compete in such contests which are based on public/money voting. But I have always been the winner of almost all the singing competitions whichever I have participated from church, school and district level especially during my high school days. Those singing competitions I participated were based on the judges’ points and not based on such voting system.
EASTERN MIRROR: Talk us through your single debut “Sound of inspiration”.
ATO: Today we live in a corrupted society. There is an irony in the things we do. We love to do what is wrong even though we know the better ways. As a result we wake up everyday to hear about war, killing, robbery etc. Look around and truly, we have lost the essence of brotherhood. Thus, there’s no sound of inspiration, not at all a smile to dream peace.
Deep down the aisle of corruption, there is a section of downtrodden who are tired of struggling to get out of the mess of life. They think that they can neither create good nor good things will ever happen to them. Life for them is a tragi-comedy. One of them could be me or you. Our society really has a hunger for the sound of inspiration. My “Sound of Inspiration” is just a tiny drop of it.
At this juncture, I can do nothing for them but to cry out from the bottom of my heart so that one may hear to it at least. I need no big attention but just a pause hearing my cry will make my hardwork all worth it. I just want to remind people that we came in this world for a pupose. We’ve got message inside each of us which is yet to be heard. The moment one among us breaks out of the coocon and makes a sound I am sure, thousands who are weary and thirsty can be inspired to sing a melodious song. There is an old saying that says ‘one is not just a face in the crowd but he is chosen by God precious in His sight for him to make a sound- the sound of inspiration.’
EASTERN MIRROR: “Sound of inspiration” is a fusion of Yimchunger dialect and English. Why did you choose to mix the two dialects?
ATO : Hahaha...I chose to mix it to let it sound unique. I came to know that many are really hungry for its translation. Many have come to me requesting to explain what the lyrics says. No matter even if many cannot understand Yimchunger dialect, music is a universal language and “Sound of Inspiration “ speaks to all.
EASTERN MIRROR: What’s next for Ato Yim?
ATO: Currently I am working on my new songs for the upcoming album. Next time you shall see me with even better sounds of inspiration. I have committed myself to work for a better society tomorrow. For that, I believe in my music. I believe in what our Almighty God can do through me.
