Rhythm of Love: In conversation with Molungnenba Longkumer

Recent winner of the ‘Voice of TaFMa’, Molungnenba Longkumer sees beauty and finds ease in communicating and expressing himself through music. An introvert at heart, Longkumer did not realise his talent for music until his brother (a musician too) helped him realise it. Now, he’s working on a large scale project for his song ‘Good old days’, and encourages other aspiring musicians to remember that ‘the moment you’re ready to quit is usually the moment right before a miracle happens’.

EASTERN MIRROR: How did you get into music? Talk us through your musical journey.

Molungnenba Longkumer: Getting into the field of music was a gradual thing for me, slow yet progressive and so, till today I can say that I’m still a learner trying my best to learn about all the little things that are related to music.

Like almost every young Naga artist, my journey as a musician also started through performing in Church and school functions and programmes. As a kid, I was not really into singing and didn’t even imagine myself becoming a singer because I was an introvert and was struggling with low self-esteem but my brother, who was and is a singer, slowly helped and supported me in exposing my talent and thus I can positively say that my musical journey started because of my brother’s consistent guidance.

EASTERN MIRROR: What genre, themes/topics do you in general represent and cover?

Molungnenba Longkumer: When it comes to musical genres, I’m always open to any type of genre, as it gives me a wider area to work with. However, if I am to say it specifically then pop will be my strength because it has good rhythm, catchy melodies, and are easy to remember and sing along to.

Now, coming to the themes or topics, I usually write or compose songs that are inspiring and motivational for the listeners. I always try to give a song that listeners can relate to and feel motivated by.

EASTERN MIRROR: Tell us about your favourite and least part of being a musician?

Molungnenba Longkumer: Being a musician, music has always been an overwhelming medium for me to express things and emotions which cannot be conveyed through speech. It also helps me in promoting happiness in other people’s lives and also builds good relationships with other musicians.

My favourite part of being a musician would be when my song touches someone’s heart and finds peace through it.

Now, when it comes to the least favourite part of being a musician, I feel like it is very stressful and tiring because sometimes it becomes very difficult to note down everything that I’m feeling inside and some nights I even stay up late, writing songs or coming up with distinct melodies.

EASTERN MIRROR: Do you have any limitations that you’re actively working to improve?

Molungnenba Longkumer: Like every individual, I do have my own limitations and weaknesses, one of the most prominent weaknesses is not being able to interact or communicate with others in a more expressive manner. However, I’m constantly working on it and I should say that I’m improving a lot but still have lots of room for improvement.

EASTERN MIRROR: Talk us through your process of writing songs? Which amongst your songs is closest to your heart and why?

Molungnenba Longkumer: When it comes to writing a song, I always try to look into my life and a situation that every other individual is going through. I usually take inspiration and motivation from the process of life and try to come up with the most relevant songs. Also, I take my alone time by going for morning and evening walks and going out for road trips, where I get a lot of inspiration.

Out of all my songs, “Good old days” would be the closest to my heart because it is a song that talks about our childhood days, how life was simple and innocent back then and how we long to stay the same yet time won’t wait for us. Moreover, I got my first recognition award through this song.

EASTERN MIRROR: In a state like ours where music is considered by many as a passion and not a career, what changes would you like to see in people’s attitudes and also in our state music scenario?

Molungnenba Longkumer: No one can really say that the path of a musician is easy, especially in a State like ours where music is considered as just a passion and not a career. However, with God’s grace and support from my family, friends, and well wishers, I would love to take my music into a greater platform reaching out to every corner of the world.

When it comes to changes in our State music scenario, I think we are progressing but we still have room for improvement like, organising more and better State level singing contests, recognising talented artists from different parts of Nagaland and promoting them by giving them better platforms, having better media coverage and so on. If this is done so then, I believe that someday the attitude of our State towards music would change and the notion of calling music as just a passion and not a career will become the opposite.

EASTERN MIRROR: Do you have any other musical projects lined up for the near future?

Molungnenba Longkumer: Currently, I’m working on a project under TAFMA in partnership with INRECO for the song “Good old days” which will be my first ever project on such a large scale platform.  And I believe that this is just a small step towards my greater future in the field of music. I also want my beautiful Naga musicians to keep going strong and convey that “The moment you’re ready to quit is usually the moment right before a miracle happens”. So, don’t give up.