With
the genre of music they follow and became a sensation in the tinsel world, I
would say that they the “Tetseo Sisters” have got the guts. And as for my
blog, to have them as a guest here these evening, it’s star struck. I think my
blog might just crash. Hahaha… Jokes apart, I am truly honored and honestly I
have no clue where or how to even start introducing them and their sensational
music. I am taking my chances.
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| Tetseo Sisters Performing: Via www.tetseosisters.com |
In
a land far far away where beauty never ends and the cold kisses the girls
cheeks pink, where words were never actually written down and history passed on
through generations by the word of mouth; these were the songs of love and of
romance, the songs of joy and of sadness, the songs of victory and of loss, the
songs of seasons and of festivals, the songs of history and of life once lived.
These were the songs of the Nagas and these were the songs that once were a way
of life. These were the songs that evoke goose pimples all over. Now it stands
near extinction.
Against
the backdrop of the western music and its glamor catching up, within the high
walls of the Indian Bollywood music industry rising and with the diminishing
appreciation for its value and its aesthetic beauty by her own people and her
younger generation, these once a very beautiful and rare form of art now stands
at the verge of being wipe out of the face of earth. It stands somewhere in
oblivion. Very soon, this rich legacy might never get passed on to the next
generation. Or maybe not…
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| Tetseo Sisters: Via www.tetseosisters.com |
Described
as the “True cultural ambassador of the North East” by the North East Sun
magazine, the Tetseo Sisters are here to win hearts with their “Li” accompanied
by an age old Naga traditional one stringed instrument. “Li, the music from a
forgotten time and place. Li, the song of the people” as they called it. A Naga
folk act comprising of three siblings - Mercy, Kuvelü and Alüne Tetseo, the
Tetseo Sisters are leaving no stone unturned on their journey. A journey of the
forgotten. A journey less taken. And a journey of the people called the Nagas
and their traditions and its folklores.
Now
we are One-On-One with Mercy Tetseo.
Zhoniu: Hello, Mercy!!!
It’s such a pleasure to have you here these evening. I am already so excited.
*smiles*
Mercy Tetseo: Thank you, I am so excited myself. *smiles*
Z: Oh!! By the way you
look so gorgeous in that dress. Is it a traditional Naga Dress?
MT: Thank you very much. Yes. It is a
traditional Naga Dress worn with a happy twist. We keep playing around with
earrings, colors and head pieces – there is so much color and creativity
inherent in our traditional gears.
Z: So I heard that most
of the dresses you wear on stage are designed by yourself. Is it just a rumor
or it is true?
MT: Yes. Some of the modern Naga dresses that we wear are designed by us;
some by our mother and all the jewelry are pieced together by us. Lately, we
have also worn outfits designed especially for us by our friends –the very
talented Naga designer, Keds Krome, and Boney Darang of Arunachal Pradesh.
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| Mercy Tetseo: Via www.tetseosisters.com |
Z: So, it is true that
you make them under the guidance of your mother’s watchful eyes?
MT: She is the guiding force and our inspiration
with a lot of support from our father.
Z: So “Li”, can you
share us some light on it?
MT: Li is simply “folk songs” – the songs people
sing as a community, to express, to bond, to enjoy. We call them the songs of
the people because it is precisely that. Our people’s original songs, sung in
the local dialects covering a range of topics and emotions – that is Li. Our Li
is sung in Chokri – our mother tongue, a dialect spoken by the Chakhesangs of
Nagaland. It is a musical and lilting clear tongue.
Z: Thank you Mercy,
that’s very insightful and my readers would really appreciate it as they are
mostly from abroad with no clue whatsoever about the Naga culture and music
(folksong).
MT: There is a lot of musicality and creativity
in our land. And it is wonderful to be a part of the world of music, art and
history. Life is a beautiful journey of discovery and understanding if you have
the patience.
Z: Could you briefly
take us with you in your journey so far?
MT: We have been singing for almost twenty years
now – at least for me. Our music has taken us from the remote hills of Kohima
to the dazzlingly choreographed stages of International Music events and very
interesting audiences. We have always had wonderfully appreciative audiences
all over the places we have performed. Thank God for that. Between the four of
us, we have covered India from Uttarakhand to Tamil Nadu, Mumbai to Arunachal
and Thailand. We have performed Li for the Prince of York to the Folks of
Pfutsero and have had the most exciting times in between. We do hope to be able
to do more in music, culture and art in the coming days.
Z: And how is the
experience working with your own family/sisters? Any regrets or any moment you
wanted to hang on to?
MT: It is a lot of fun. The commitment, comfort
and trust level is very high, the cat fights also intense (kidding). It helps
that we enjoy each other’s company and we are well adjusted. We shop together,
watch movies together – basically do a lot of things together and it is so much
fun when we have the other person to take care of you or look after. We are a
very content lot and pretty efficient. We know each other very well and take
good care of each other not allowing any negativity. Democracy rules in our
household :)
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| Mercy Tetseo: Via www.tetseosisters.com |
Z: Originally, it was
four of you. So what happened to Azi Tetseo? Is she coming back, because we
really look forward to see her again perform?
MT: We are four sisters but it rare for all of
us to come together on stage for every gig. Azi hasn’t really gone anywhere.
She is on maternity leave enjoying motherhood and being a great mother to her
little son who will be one soon. Since she got married, she has been occupied
but she has joined us on stage for most of the shows we have done except the
South India tour of 2013.
Z: Okay, this may sound
a little awkward but somehow I have to pop-up because this might be the
questions of thousands men out there, including me *giggles*. Are you single?
MT: * No
comments *
Z: Oh!!! That’s heart
breaking *sad face* but I will leave it there and not intrude your privacy.
Sorry guys :(
MT: Let’s just say “It is complicated” :D
Z: Thank you Mercy,
it’s been very lovely to catch up with you, I really wish we had more time to
chat. Please drop by again very soon, we can’t wait.
MT: Thank you for including us in your musings.
It sure was a delight to share with you.
Z: Good Luck and best
wishes from all my readers for you and your gorgeous sisters, and from me.
“Hiyohey” *smiles*
MT: “Hiyohey” *smiles*
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| Tetseo Sisters on Stage: Via www.tetseosisters.com |
Sharing one of their “Li”. Enjoy the music and spread the word and love.
Thank you.
*Cheek
Kisses*
For tour and performances details, please visit http://www.tetseosisters.com
You can also find them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Tetseosisters
Follow them on Twitter https://twitter.com/TetseoSisters
And Reverbnation at http://www.reverbnation.com/Tetseosisters
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| Kuvelii Tetseo: Via www.tetseosisters.com |
Last word: Oh My Gosh!!! They are all so very gorgeous. I think I am falling for them, I can barely concentrate now. Hahaha…Stay tune: Next One-On-One with Kuvelü Tetseo.
