Rhythm of Love: In conversation with Fifth Note

‘Fifth Note,’ five member band, is a promising rock band based in Kohima who have won various music contests. The band believes in not only good but clean music. They believe that good times with music can be had not only with alcohol and drugs but through pure passion.

Eastern Mirror has an exclusive on Fifth Note’s musical journey in today’s Rhythm of Love.

Eastern Mirror: Could you guys introduce yourselves and the role you play in Fifth Note?

Fifth Note:

1)Samuel Thapa – vocals

2) Victor Kath – keyboardist

3) Avolie kire – Drummer

4) Avituo yashü- Bassist

5)Gugu Sekhose-Guitarist

Some of the accolades they have achieved are Shirock finalist of 2019, winners of the Ticket to Hornbill from Kohima in the year 2019, 2nd runners up of the NSACS State level band competition 2019, 2nd runners up and best vocalist at KYF national beat contest 2021

Eastern Mirror: How did you guys meet? How did ‘Fifth Note’ start? Talk us through your musical journey?

Fifth Note: Fifth Note is a five member band based in Kohima which started sometime around the middle of 2019. The band evolved with the concept of synchronising the talents of each individual member of the band with a purpose to thank and praise God through music.

If we are to perform live set of covers, you most probably could catch us performing Dream Theatre, Stryper, Circus Maximus and music of the likes but like any other famous band who started out performing covers, we love to and would love to cover songs. However with the growing interest in original music as well as the preference of the crowds who come to concerts and shows, we prefer to work more on originals.

The band’s name “Fifth Note” is to do with each member holding on to one Note of the Tonic Solfa, hopefully one day we will find two more members to complete an Octave.

Eastern Mirror: Who is the lyrist in your band or does everyone contribute in writing songs?

Fifth Note: Our vocalist ‘Samuel Thapa’ does a good job in this area of work.

Eastern Mirror: Since you have had many gigs in Nagaland as well as other states, which has been the most memorable?

Fifth Note: It’s very difficult to rate them but to pick one Hornbill international music fest 2019 and KYF National Beat contest 2021 was one  of our Best memories so far.

Eastern Mirror: Any contest that Fifth Note is especially proud of?

Fifth Note: KYF National Beat contest in Diphu was probably one of the most cherish-able.

Eastern Mirror: What kind of music influences Fifth Note?

Fifth Note: We draw most of our influence from progressive rock and classic old school genres of music with gospel inspirational messages through the songs.

Eastern Mirror: What plans do you have for the future?

Fifth Note: As of now, if it’s God’s will we are planning to come up with our second original and maybe an Album in the future.

Eastern Mirror: Your band recently released its first music video, how has been the response so far?

Fifth Note: So far the response has been positive. We would love to thank all the listeners and passionate supporters out there. Coming up with the song took us some years and hurdles and misfortunes along the way but we made it through thick and thin and so this song really means a lot to us.

The song “Misfortune” revolves around a stage in a person’s life where all things seem unfair, uncertain and unfortunate. It is a continuous struggle of being in a dark chaos alone, broken and confused, fed by unsure promises and lies.

The song is an end reminder of how one can make it through tough and crucial times while keeping in mind that it is the person himself who has the heart and the power to change the story, to change the situation, to change the world and the fact that one can never find peace in anyone else’s deeds but himself.

Eastern Mirror: What’s your perspective on earnings in Nagaland’s music industry?

Fifth Note: It’s a quiet tough question!!!

To survive as a Band in Nagaland is quite a challenging and difficult task! And a common misconception about life as a musician, or even working in the music industry here in Nagaland is that no band ever makes enough money to live on and some bands end because of spending and expenditures.

With music shows and concerts here in Nagaland being very limited and seldom, earning can be tough. A lot of struggling individual musicians and bands out here often find themselves with no source of musical income, there can be many reasons behind this but again lack of opportunities should not be the reason alone. Depending on shows and concerts through governmental programmes should not be an option. This line of profession needs extra hard work and more importantly extra smart work. Being consistent with music, adapting to new forms of music and learning how to promote ourselves is definitely one way to open up a door for income.

Eastern Mirror: Apart from music, what do the five members do?

Fifth Note: Some of us are teaching in Music schools, we have entrepreneurs, professionals in skilful woodcrafting and one is still pursuing studies.

Fifth Note message: Thank you so much for doing this. This media coverage is probably going down in one of our band’s achievement list for sure.

Would love to thank to all the listeners and keep supporters out there. Keep supporting us. God Bless!