Music of Nagaland - Modern Music

Modern Music

Two distinct genres of music exist in Nagaland:

• the choral/church/Christian type commonly known as gospel music and
• the rock/pop genre commonly known as secular music.

Both types have their own distinct platforms, but their audience is by and large the same. In Nagaland, the platform for choral music is created by the church during conferences and crusades (special numbers, praise and worship etc.). Exclusive gospel concerts are also initiated by local churches, theological institutions or concerned individuals. Naga Choirs travel not only to places outside the state but also to foreign countries in order to perform for various world audiences. Many Naga musicians adopt traditional and folk tunes to lend a distinctive individuality to their music. Two prominent groups adopting traditional folk tunes into their music are: The Tetseo Sisters and Cultural Vibrants. Tribal tunes have also been incorporated into choral pieces and sung by many church choirs.

A notable church musician, the late Rev. Dr. Neiliezhü Üsou, has extensively researched on Naga indigenous music from 1981 to 1984 and published a booklet and also produced an audio cassette in 1985 with an aim to bring the Naga tribes closer through spiritual unity. Church music plays a very important role in the state as it has proved to be the starting platform for nearly all individuals and groups. Quite a handful of Nagas are trained in church and classical music in prestigious schools abroad, i.e. the United States, Philippines, and Singapore etc. The School of Music, Kohima started in 1969 is the first and the oldest Government recognized institute for music studies in Nagaland and has been instrumental in producing many amateur musicians in the state. Some music schools established recently are Furtados School of Music, Dimapur, Hope Centre for Excellence, Dimapur and Symphony School of Music, Kohima.

As for the rock/pop genre, platforms in terms of concerts and rock festivals are created generally by the concerned music fraternity themselves. The state has produced Internationally acclaimed Bands like "Abiogenesis" and "Alobo Naga & the Band". The latter has been nominated for the MTV Europe Music Awards 2012 for their hit debut single Painted Dreams. This song has been ranked fourth at Cherokee America (India) presents VH1 Top 10 (for the week) on September 17 competing with artists like Maroon 5, Lady Gaga and Jay-Z etc.

There are several long-running modern bands, such as The Great Society, Phynyx, Graffiti, Squadron and the 4th NAP Jazz Band, the official band of the Battalion of Nagaland Armed Police. Some notable present day bands are- Black Rose, Divine Connection (DC), Eximious, Original Fire Factor (OFF), Diatribe and Daughty Growthy.