Colonial Cousins

Colonial Cousins
Origin New Delhi, India
Genres Pop, rock, soundtrack
Years active 1992–present
Members Hariharan
Lesle Lewis

Colonial Cousins is an Indian duo, formed by singer Hariharan and singer-composer Lesle Lewis. They also have successful careers as solo artists as well. Their unique brand of music fused Indian and Western musical genres instantly won the hearts of young and old alike.[1] Their eponymous first album hit platinum in sales in India alone and consistently headed the Indian music charts in 1996. The duo have received numerous awards, notably the MTV Asia Viewers' Choice Award, 1996, and the US Billboard's Viewers' Award, 1996. On 19 November 1998, the Colonial Cousins released their second album, The Way We Do It. They also released their third album Aatma on 1 January 2001. They have scored two Tamil films, Modhi Vilayadu (2009), Chikku Bukku (2010). Their fourth album Once More was released in 2012.

History

Formation

It was during Lewis's jingles career that the idea of Colonial Cousins was conceived. Lewis had called in Hariharan to sing a jingle for him one evening in 1992. The lyrics for the jingle were late coming in. The restless Lewis began crooning something while strumming on his guitar, Hari felt inspired to jam with an alaap, and the result: the seamless fusion of Eastern and Western sounds that has become the quintessential characteristic of the Colonial Cousins.

When Hariharan and Lewis formed Colonial Cousins, little did they realise that their foray into popular vocal fusion would make them the hottest act in town. Being a ghazal singer in the Indian music industry for over two decades, Hariharan is well versed in Carnatic and Hindustani music. Besides releasing several ghazal albums, Hariharan has also lent his voice to many Hindi and Tamil films, and ended up winning several awards including the National Award as Best Singer for his song "Mere Dushman Mere Bhai" from the film Border.

Debut album

In October 1996, under Magnasound Label, the duo released their debut album self-titled Colonial Cousins. The album broke all records including hitting platinum sales in India. The duo also won the MTV Asia Viewer's Choice Award and then later on collected the US Billboard Viewer's Choice Award too.[2] The song "Krishna" won the Star Videocon Award for Best Music Video.[3] The exceptional Indian and Western music fusion generated a new genre of music and won hearts of millions of music lovers worldwide.

Their debut album opened up the doors for Indian sounds to be used in western sounding songs. The style is essentially fusion, with a lot of songs opening with recognisable Hindustani or Carnatic ragas and then segueing into a more pop style. A further cachet to the album is that the musicians who worked on it range from Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, winner of a Grammy Award for his invention of the 14-stringed guitar, to sessions musicians who have worked with the likes of Madonna, Boy George, Annie Lennox and other big names in the Western world. It was the first Indian act to be featured on MTV Unplugged.[2]

The album had two major hit singles "Krishna" and "Sa Ni Dha Pa" ("Never Know the Reason") for both of which their music videos were repeatedly played on music channels.

The Way We Do It

The first Colonial Cousins album was a tour de force. On 19 November 1998, their second album, a sophomore effort, The Way We Do It, was a continuation of, and a departure from, that first effort. Lyrically low-key, musically rich and groove-ridden, this album saw Hari and Lezz establish themselves as India's premier fusion artists.

The album was a continuation in musical terms to the extent that Lewis and Hariharan had done what they do best individually, and fused it into a format that enriches and complements each other. The album was also a departure sound-wise from their eponymous first album. While that has a softer sound to it, their second album was edgier and groovier.

The album has some successful singles like the title track "Way We Do It With You". Srinivas playing on it, "Dekhoon Main Jahan" penned by talented lyricist Javed Akhtar, "No Longer Mine" and "Lady".

Aatma

After two-and-a-half years in hibernation, Colonial Cousins, recorded their third album Aatma. Released in April 2001, on the Sony label, the nine-track album was a delectable fusion of Indian vocals and contemporary instrumentation. Besides being busy in playback singing Hariharan had cut a ghazal album Kaash the previous year, while Lewis has been busy composing jingles and producing music.

Hariharan, an exponent of Carnatic music trained in Hindustani gayaki under the tutelage of Padamshree Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, displays vocal skills in his rich baritone in songs like “Guiding Star”, “Mata Pita” and "Dheem Dheem Dhirena".

Lewis, on the other hand, chips in with the pop element. While the English lyrics Lewis sings have depth and meaning, his vocals are delightfully sweet at places. One can easily detect a conscious attempt on his part to infuse his singing with emotion. Still, the saving grace of “Aatma” is the emphatic presence of Hariharan.

There is also a song "I Love You Girl" which Hariharan has dedicated to his daughter Divya. Its title "I love you girl", for Divya when "I’m Gone" says everything.

In Aatma, they have got back to square one and incorporated the same sounds and style that music buffs have come to identify with them.

Once More

In 2012, 11 years after their previous album, the duo came together to release their brand new album Once More. To launch their latest album, the duo took to the jostling promenade of Carter Road in the busy suburb of Bandra, Mumbai, in a musical ensemble that worked its way from Otters Club to the amphitheater, all along performing music from their new album on top of a 40-foot canter. The performance brought out fans from all around who came to watch the legends. The event concluded with the official unveiling of the album Once More.

Modhi Vilayadu

In 2009, the Colonial Cousins made a debut as music composers for Tamil film Modhi Vilayadu directed by Saran. The director of the film required a new trend of music and so roped in the Indipop duo thus opening doors for them to the Tamil Film Industry.[4]

Chikku Bukku

Colonial Cousins scored their second soundtrack for the film Chikku Bukku (2010). Its audio was released on 13 August.[5]

Discography

Awards and achievements

References

  1. ↑ "Harmonious synthesis". The Hindu. 2003-01-23.
  2. 1 2 "Colonial Cousins to regale Bangaloreans". The Hindu. 2004-09-23.
  3. ↑ "Screen Videocon Award Winners". Screen India. 1997-01-23. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
  4. ↑ "Colonial Cousins' debut in Tamil". The Hindu. 2009-07-25. Archived from the original on 2009-07-31.
  5. ↑ "Chikku Bukku music and trailer released". Oneindia.in. 24 August 2010.

Colonial Cousins enthral audience - The Hindu 23-10-2012

External links

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