MOU
Mou

Songs

new album
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  • Mou (Vocals and guitar)

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Mou was born in Kolkata into a family whose fanatical involvement with Eastern Classical music was well encouraged by her highly accomplished parents. While her mother, is the Kabyashree awarded disciple of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, her father is a lawyer and a disciple of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. It was only natural then for Mou to be initiated into the musical tradition at a young age.

Mou's very first performance was a three-minute classical performance on All India Radio's, 'Shishumahal' at the age of three. Till she was thirteen years old, she continued to sing strictly in the Eastern Classical tradition, no Hindi songs and not even Rabindrasangeet.

But then at thirteen Mou was introduced by friends to the music of American grunge rock pioneers Nirvana. It was then that things began to change drastically. She quickly grew interested in artists like Alanis Morisette, Tori Amos, Sting, Pink Floyd, Red Hot Chili Peppers and numerous other rock artists that she came across.

It was her passion for these artists coupled with teenage zeal that finally lead her to steal money from her father's wallet to buy a guitar which she had to hide in her house for three months. Equipped with a book on guitar chords, she played secretly in her room, shaping words that she would then turn into songs.

Through her songs she sought to channel her frustration with the rules and regulations of the music that she had grown up with and the sweetness of their lyrics. She was tired of the sweet romance of music around her and through her music wanted to talk about the naked and often ugly truth that surrounds things. And all of this in her very own mother tongue, Bengali.

While guided by Mou's penchant for saying things as they are, the ten songs on her first album, touch on a varied number of topics that range from conflicting relationships, like in the song, "Laagchey" (It Hurts) to the more optimistic and philosophical spirit of, "Palabaar" (to Run), a song that speaks of running away from miserable situations that can't be changed. "Haathiyar" (Ammunition) is a song that tells you to save yourself and forget about others while, "Choraabaali" (Quicksand) throws up a thousand questions with no answers and finally ends in tragic resignation. "Bhaalo Na" (Not Good) is a letter to a special friend and, "Jukti Torko" (Logical Debate) is a song about how everyone is an actor in this world.

In Mou's own words, "Music is my religion, mom's Muslim, dad's Hindu and I went to a catholic school. So I got mixed up with religion, language and cultures. Music is the only medicine that keeps you alive, it's the only media where you often don't need words and your tune can say it all. It changes things that no one thought would ever change. It brings a smile and tear to a person's face even when you know he/she has no feelings. There are millions way to touch a person. But only one to reach his or her heart irrespective of age and sex and motive..."

And that's Mou for you. Melodic funky rhythmic bold satirical - no crap - black humor and eventually entertaining.

Records

"MOU" - MOU