Multi-instrumentalist, one-third of India’s fastest growing electronica act, independent music promoter, scuba diver, wanderlust aficionado...all these are phrases that describe the eclectic individual that is Nirupama Belliappa.
From Canada to Chennai, her journey has been diversely cultural, something that has influenced her lifestyle and thought process.
Last year was a landmark, as her performances went global, and her fiercely talented persona gained rave accolades.
This Women’s Day, we talk to one of the burgeoning lights of Chennai’s music scene. Here’s Nirupama, in all her free-spirited glory.
Awakenings in Montreal
I grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and at University in Montreal, Canada I studied Film and East Asian religions — with a focus on Buddhism and Taoism. I didn’t know it then, but those philosophies would go on to shape my entire worldview.
I’ve played music my whole life, but growing up I never had ambitions to perform. Music was something I just kept to myself, for myself. I always knew I wanted to tell stories though — either through words, or visually, through photographs, or music. In some way, I wanted to be a storyteller.
Chennai is my home
Though I grew up in Canada, I’m originally from Coorg. I actually moved to Chennai when I first started working in television and I ended up making this my home for about five odd years now.
Ol Suzanna started it all!
I have my father to thank for my music. He would always be playing the harmonica at home and he’d play this one tune, Ol Suzanna’, which I soon started to play by ear on a little keyboard he got me.
My mother got me my very first flute, which I was immediately drawn to and taught myself how to play.
I was also fortunate enough to spend a great deal of time with a Nepali flautist who introduced me to the world of Indian and Nepali folk music.
Delving into music full time
I think the decision made it! And I’m grateful for it. My first instrument was actually the piano, the only instrument in which I have extensive formal training.
That gave me a solid foundation from which to branch out into the other instruments, like the flute, guitar, harmonica, which I taught myself how to play. I also spent time learning the sitar in India with Sadhana Rao and Janardan Mitta — through Hindustani music; they introduced me to a whole universe of sound I had never been exposed to when I grew up in Canada. I’ve incorporated these melodic ideas and themes into my flute playing.
The wondrous world of BLank:
BLaNK is an electronic live act, so we move into different sounds like deep house, progressive, break beat, nu disco, and these come together with the melodic ideas and sounds of the various live elements we include in the act.
The boys, DJ Manny and DJ Skip, are both immensely talented. Manny has an ear for the understated when it comes to music and sound, and has always pushed these really out-of-the-box, deep sounds.
Skip is a mad turntablist. From a musician’s standpoint, working with them has been immense — it introduced me to a whole other world of electronic sound and technology, which has pushed me in directions I wouldn’t have ventured into when I was playing purely acoustic.
Overcoming challenges
Any artiste will tell you that the biggest challenge here is venues (or rather, a lack of them). If we want to promote an artist’s growth, to evolve beyond a cover-dominated culture of regurgitating what audiences want to hear, then we have to provide the spaces for artists to be able to do that.
If audiences simply start by leaving home, coming out to support their local scene, show that there is a demand for an alternative music culture, then it’s a snowball effect from there.
The universe is calling!
I love scuba diving; the ocean is a universe to get lost in! My other hobbies include horse riding, food and wine, photography and travelling.
I worked in television full time for almost five years, and a few years ago, had conceptualised a show that involved travelling to remote areas of Tamil Nadu, documenting and jamming with local musicians.
I remember experiencing an intense feeling of purpose and passion when I was working on that show. I strive for that feeling now in everything I do.
Looking forward
2013 involved some serious learning curves, both ups and downs. It’ll be remembered for the lesson that the downs are as essential as the ups — that, as an artiste, your only choice is to channel the downs into creating something beautiful.
You find purpose and therapy in that process. A personal goal is to put my life’s worth of unfinished musical ideas into song. Also, BLaNK has plans to release an EP; we’re working on some new material that we want to put out only once we’re all happy with it!
In terms of other avenues, I’ve been spending time outside the city, currently writing and working on material that brings my different influences together.
