Rhythm of Love
Rhythm of Love: In conversation with Galaxies
In conversation with Galaxies, an experimental fusion band making waves in Nagaland’s music scene, comprises Saronthung Kikon (vocals), Liyingbemo Humtsoe (guitar), Chonbemo Humtsoe (guitar), Merithung Murry (bass), and Zubenthung Merry (drums).
The band came together through a shared vision, with each member contributing their unique musical background to craft a distinctive blend of styles.
In an exclusive interview with Eastern Mirror, Galaxies opens up about their journey and creative processes.
Eastern Mirror: How often do you all get together to create music?
Galaxies: It is infrequent that we get together as a band, mainly because some of us currently reside in different districts. Nevertheless, we try to meet as often as possible to collaborate on songwriting ideas.
Eastern Mirror: What are some of the biggest challenges the band faces while composing music and writing songs?
Galaxies: Well, there are challenges while composing and writing songs because it’s not easy to come up with good songwriting ideas. But everyone in the band has their own creative thoughts and ideas, which makes it a little relaxing during the writing process. The most challenging part is making the songs sound unique.
Eastern Mirror: Apart from music, what other activities are band members involved in?
Galaxies: Some of us do business, teach music and have private jobs aside from music.
Eastern Mirror: Who are your biggest influences and inspirations in your musical journey?
Galaxies: All musicians and artists have influences and role models. Everyone in the band comes from different backgrounds with different tastes in music. We listen to a wide variety of genres, from rock to pop to blues. To name a few, the band members enjoy Journey, White Lion, Petra, Queen, Guns N’ Roses, Kings of Leon, The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, BB King, and Prince.
Eastern Mirror: Who has the most creative mind among the band members when it comes to making music?
Galaxies: Well, all of the band members are unique and creative in their own ways. But yes, our rhythm guitarist, Chonbemo, mostly comes up with the riffs and the structure of the songs, which makes it easier for the rest of the members to chip in ideas and create the songs.
Eastern Mirror: Can you describe your creative process while working on a new song?
Galaxies: Writing a song from scratch can be both interesting and frustrating. It all starts with an intention to create a certain sound. One band member might come up with the basic structure of a song, and then everyone contributes their ideas to make it complete.
Eastern Mirror: In the current scenario of the Nagaland music industry, can a musician commit to a full-time career in music, or should they always have a plan B for financial stability?
Galaxies: Living off music as a career in Nagaland can be viable to an extent but because we have fewer avenues, it’s always wise to have a plan B, in our opinion. Music as a career or hobby can get expensive, especially for those who are just starting out. So having a financial backup from elsewhere certainly helps in that aspect.
Eastern Mirror: From your perspective, what are the primary sources of revenue for musicians in Nagaland? Do you think musicians in Nagaland prioritise fame?
Galaxies: Musicians in Nagaland basically derive their revenue from traditional and contemporary sources like live shows, teachings and workshops. When it comes to fame and money, while some may seek fame as a way to get wider recognition and opportunities, others might focus on the financial stability that a successful music career can provide. The balance between these motivations may vary among individuals.
Eastern Mirror: Do you have any projects in the pipeline?
Galaxies: Yes, we are currently working on new singles and music videos, which we plan on releasing later this year and will be updating on our social handles soon.