As part of Gloria Deo, which is a project by LiveJam, an NGO that aims at inspiring the youth, Phoenix Marketcity Pune, is hosting a musical evening with Joseph Brothers & Crew (JBC), Yeshua Band and Gladson Peter or One Man Band, tonight
LiveJam, a non-governmental organisation from Kerala, which works towards transforming urban youth through music and media globally as part of its annual project Gloria Deo, is bringing performances by Joseph Brothers & Crew (JBC), Yeshua Band and Gladson Peter (also known as One Man Band) this evening at Phoenix MarketCity Pune, Viman Nagar. Gloria Deo, a global initiative music festival, is bringing Indian and international artists together during Christmas season for live performances at select venues. Peter and Emmanuel Joseph, the frontman of JBC, tell us more about their art and their performances:
SPREADING POSITIVITY
Peter, who is barely 25, is famous as India’s first ‘one-man band’, His journey as a musician started at the age of three. According to him, there are about 30 to 35 people across the globe who play as a ‘one-man band’ and a majority of them are street musicians. Peter, who plays overall 45 instruments, is popular for his One Man Act, where he plays 13 instruments at a time.
“I don’t believe in genres and want to explore various instruments. I got inspiration from various ‘one-man band’ artists across the globe and Disney’s Mickey Mouse, which features him as one-man band. “Besides the skill to play multiple instruments, to play as a one-man band requires a lot of physical strength, synchronisation between instruments and a great sense of balance,” he explains. Peter straps instruments like bongo, conga, drums, ukulele, keyboard, guitar, diatonic harmonica, flute and kazoo, snare drum, the hi-hat cymbals, melodica, a slide whistle, among other instruments, to his body and plays them. He also ties bells on legs to produce sound effects during his performance.
Peter started off with NSPA (Natural Streets for Performing Arts) in 2014 and today is widely known but his journey hasn’t been easy. “I suffered from tuberculosis which was a result of passive smoking and low immunity. Hence my songs talk about such issues and aims at promoting positivity in the world,” says Peter who is also a vocalist and songwriter. He wants to encourage the youth and warn them about the harmful effects of tobacco through his own journey. “I basically write on positivity, thankfulness, a few love songs and worship songs,” he adds, stressing that music for him has been like a divine intervention which motivated him to overcome his ailment, rise and touch lives.
MUSIC WITH A PURPOSE
Think Lucknow and Mughlai food, qawwalis, ghazals, Urdu and a lot of tehzeeb (etiquette) come to mind. However JCB, a popular hip-hop, rap and beatboxing band from Lucknow, believes in breaking the stereotype. The band, which features Emmanuel Joseph (rapper), his brother Daniel Joseph (beatboxer and drummer), his sister Shifa Joseph (vocalist) and others artists, was one of the finalists in the reality show India’s Got Talent. But he doesn’t agree that artists’ success depends on reality shows. One must have the talent.
“YouTube and other new mediums have brought in a whole revolution in the field of music. If you are talented and willing to work hard, people will notice you,” says Emmanuel. When asked about the philosophy that the band follows, he says, “In a world where rap and hip-hop in India is associated with drugs, violence, objectifying women, we stand a class apart by our socially-relevant messages through our songs and also bring out our motivation and the passion for life.”
Known for inspiring Indian youth and popular hits like Bas Ek Baar, Beti, Tu Hi Hai, Raaja Hai Mahaan and so on, the band will jam with Peter tonight for an amusing performance which will set the mood for Christmas. “We are focussing on the celebration of Christmas and the joy that the festival brings. We will be singing some Christmas carols and a few original tracks from our own compositions. Besides, we will be doing a beatboxing rap gimmick — which is a kind of a battle between my sister (Shifa) and me wherein my brother (Daniel) will act as a beatbox refree,” says Emmanuel when asked about his performance in the city.
ST READER SERVICE
Watch some electrifying performances at LiveJam’s Gloria Deo tonight (December 16) from 6 pm onwards at Liberty Square, Phoenix MarketCity, Pune, Viman Nagar
