Bhoomi (Music)

Bhoomi (ভুমি) is a music group based in Kolkata, India. They are a Bangla (বাংলা, Bengali) language band. In July 2006 they became the first Indian band to play at the United Nations.

Beginnings

Bhoomi was formed in 1999, with the aim of reviving the folk music of Bengal and making it popular amongst all sections of the society by providing it an urban touch. The band was initially created out of the interest of the two founding members - Surojit Chatterjee and Soumitra Roy - to experiment with the vast store of traditional (and in many cases non-attributed) Bengali Folk music (প্রচলিত গান, "procholito gaan") and mix it with their repertoire of Western music and instrumentation.

Style

This is the only band which defines its music as ‘urban folk’.The band uses a fusion of modern, urban lyrics with Bangla rural folk tunes like Baul which was a very early style of music by wandering minstrels in rural Bengal or Bhatiyali (traditionally sung by the boatmen on the Ganga and also the Padma in Bangladesh). They have also re-done (remix would be an injustice to the band's style) old folk songs which were unknown to the modern day urban Bengali and revived such gems with an infusion of fresh music and a lively spririt and pep to the old songs.

The band's efforts have been to expand their brand of urban music beyond the college campus and youth circuit to the older listener. One of their main inspirations behind their music is everyday city life, which they experience and which is experienced by so many people everywhere.

Their popularity is rooted in a unique sound that combines a variety of traditional folk tunes with an array of western rhythms with western instrumentations and mixed harmoniously with Bengal's folk instruments like the Khamak, Ektara, Khonjoni, etc.

The Band

Surojit Chatterjee and Soumitro Ray's meeting and their experimentation with folk resulted in the formation of the band with the name Bhoomi - meaning Earth - which gelled in, in spirit and essence with their earthly and folksy style - along with the other members. Their current line-up includes 6 band members -

* Soumitro Ray * Surajit Chatterjee * Sanjoy Mukherjee * Hemanta Goswami * Abhijeet Ghosh * Robin Lai

From their humble beginnings - they played to all kinds of audiences - they gained popularity and their fame spread in West Bengal, their home state. They played to both urban as well as rural audiences, sometimes playing to small crowds of village gatherings in front of paddy fields, the rural Bengal backdrop forming their song's canvas and background as well as the palette into which they dipped in to get their inspiration and source.

Touring around the country in a punishing schedule finally resulted in the big break they were looking for - wide appeal beyond the college circuit and reach to the people new to this form of radically different folk music in Bengal. Their single "Baranday Roddur" from their debut album finally caught the attention of the Bengali urban listener with its catchy tune and simplistic lyrics which jived with the modern bengali psyche very well. The song catapulted the group to new heights of stardom.

Surojit's unassuming lead along with the group members' simple and casual stage presence but lively music in live performances landed them more gigs, and very soon they were playing with other folk/rock bands from around the world - spreading their magic beyond the borders of Bengal.

Since the debut album, they have gone on to play folk songs they wrote which were influenced by influences from western music - like the blues. This is prominent in their song "Bhangor Mohiser Gaan" - a salute to the herdsman's wife who waits for her husband and cattle's return from the forests - each day endangered by the threat of wild animals which prey on them both. There were gems from the traditional Baul based minstrel songs - which imparted a spiritual message alongside - like "Emon Manob Jonom" and "Kancha Haarite".

Touring has been one of their strong points. Soumitra, the band's lead member, has always stressed on their live performances and has taken the band on a punishing schedule around the globe. They have played in the USA in two touring seasons - and each time doing a hectic schedule aound the country - initially in California and the Mid-West and then subsequently in various cities on the East Coast. They recently capped off their live performance tour program in the United States with a performance at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, in a special performance for UN Staff. This was their 880th live performance - an incredible achievement for any live band who have resurrected Folk music from its forgotten and dust-gathered past.

Their UN performance resulted in the group penning their first song in English - For a Better Day.

Albums

* Jatra Shuru

* Udaan

* Isspecial

* Paal Chhutechhe

* Lokogiti Local

* Dekhtey Dekhtey

* Bojai Kora Ganer Gari

* Gaan Bahan (New Album released 2007 and includes the song written especially for the UN performance "For A Better Day")

* Lokegeetir Deshe

Latest Developments

Bhoomi performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival on 28 June 2008, 9 PM [http://www.montrealjazzfest.com/Fijm2008/programmation/fiche_en.aspx?showId=622]

Bhoomi performed at NABC 2008 Toronto [http://www.nabc2008.com/eventsoverseas.php]

Bhoomi performed at Bangamela 2008 at Columbus [http://www.bangamela2008.com/]

External links

* [http://www.guruji.com/music?q=+Bhoomi&cat=s0,Bengali Listen to some songs by Bhoomi]
* [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060726/asp/calcutta/story_6521037.asp Bhoomi Receives Standing Ovation at the UN]
* [http://stories.indobase.com/article_6182.shtml Bhoomi to perform at the United Nations]

* [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050518/asp/calcutta/story_4752136.asp Bhoomi and Saurav Ganguly]

* [http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/208 Bhoomi interview with The World]
* [http://www.bhoomimusic.com Bhoomi Website]
* [mailto:[e-mail] Bhoomi Official e-mail]