BEST PICKS FROM TAMIL MUSIC THIS AUGUST 2020 - HAVE YOU HEARD THIS YET?

Disclaimer: Behindwoods.com isn't responsible for the views expressed by the author (MJ Raghavan) in this article. The author (MJ Raghavan) claims that these songs/album evaluation is his/her own. The list is decided by the author (MJ Raghavan) himself. If the article here infringes on any copyrights that you hold, please email to raghavanmj@gmail.com and support@behindwoods.com.

- Aaka Pirandhavale

Sean Roldan keeps creating music with immense regularity these days, and anyways his quality is unquestionably good. He sets a great example of musicians that they can create as long  as they have the hard work, and talent and they don’t have to depend on movie productions. Sean writes, sings and composes this fusion track and combines with another young talent Vignesh Ishwar who learnt music from TM Krishna. There aren’t enough words to describe the attraction ingrained in Sean’s voice and his companion also does wonderfully. The Bass guitar and piano keys are huge contributors to what makes this track awesome, and there is a solo by the former which is fabulous and then we have Vignesh going solo with him reciting swaras.

LISTEN TO THE SONG -  CLICK HERE!

- Annathe Sethi

What better way to start something than use Vijay Sethupathi vocally or visually ? That’s how the song starts and you already have all our attention focussed on the track. Govind Vasantha composed this inspiring track sung by Arivu. The composer combines rap with some anthem-styled male harmonies and solid instrumentals like the strings , and electric guitar and all this is done so effectively to create one package that can only be called a dynamite musically. Shravan and Manoj join Govind on the harmonies while it's over to Keba Jeremiah on the guitars. Karthik Nehta has penned these amazing lyrics.

LISTEN TO THE SONG -  CLICK HERE!

- Che

Ganesan Sekar is a product of KMMC and he has already been showing glimpses of his ability in tamil independent music and movie tracks some-time now and I too have placed his tracks in these monthly reviews before. Here he works again with Arunraja Kamaraj, the lyricist, just like their previous hit “Kannakuzhi Azhage” with Vijay Yesudas. The track works like an inspirational anthem talking about brotherhood hence the title “che”. This is more in the rock genre but also infuses some carnatic elements with Vasudha Ravi’s interjected vocals. The song is sung by Deepak Blue ( who has worked with AR Rahman), Arunraja, Ganesan and Nakul Abhyankar , who also has worked with Rahman quite a bit. The percussion is amazing and then we have the mesmerising Carnatic aalap by Vasudha. In the second layer you can listen to the Veena being played by Haritha Raj and all these elements add to the brilliance of this track.

LISTEN TO THE SONG -  CLICK HERE!

- Chennai Paatu

On the occasion of the 381st birthday of Chennai, also known as Madras day, this wonderful single was released celebrating the city’s glory. Its not just the words and dialects chosen by Ramshanker and R. Sai Krishna Kumar that catch your attention, the tune is fabulous as it epitomises what this city is known for i.e. tradition and modernity. The track is also sung and composed by Ramshanker who should be credited completely for pulling out something I call a great gift to the city and its dwellers on its birthday. Charee accompanies on the vocals, while Anjana Rajagopalan amuses with Kazoo, while it is Vedanth Bharadwaj on the guitars, banjo and ektara. Anjana also does backing vocals along with additional programming.

LISTEN TO THE SONG -  CLICK HERE!

- Edho Solla

It's Sid Sriram after a brief hiatus from singing, and he is back with another great performance. This track is composed and arranged by Dharan Kumar and Ravindhar Chandrasekharan is the lyricist. Gayatriraj opens with great grandeur on her veena solo even though minute in duration, and when Sid begins to sing,  Dharan arranges the track so well, that he already introduces the players well in advance. The piano keys hit you and immediately a cameo of violin and flute float through the air in the background. After that it is all Sid doing his usual fanfare and ghamakas. The small interlude is well composed using some digital instruments but it's catchy for sure especially with the table to support. The veena by Gayatriraj is the main interlude and it's playful and heart-warming. The stanza is a drop in tempo with mridangam to accompany and Sid combines well with male harmonies.

LISTEN TO THE SONG -  CLICK HERE!

- Ennoda Baasha

Here SPB just croons like he always does and makes you wonder what kind of gift he’s been bestowed with. Let us not take away any credit from the young music composer Arun NV who has done a fabulous job here. The interlude is beautifully written with drums that remind you of AR Rahman’s “kadhalikkum pennin” from the movie Kadhalan. The flute here is played by Churchill and he just enthrals you with some great help from female harmonies. Keba Jeremiah on guitar sizzles as expected while Jc Joe does fabulously on the strings, and Archana makes her entry at this point late in the stanza and she does so little but it's all so effective. She delivers with style in front of a legend like SPB, and once again Arun captures your heart with the outro flute as well. Harsaa VT writes the lyrics for this track.

LISTEN TO THE SONG -  CLICK HERE!

- Kadhal Kanmani

We have another new comer in Allan Preetham here composing this excellent love melody to suit modern times. The reality music show star Raja Ganapathy who I also have been a huge fan sings this quite differently from all his performances in the show. It shows his versatility of-course and once his opening lines are over Allan introduces some delightful sounds in EDM mode. Aishwerya Radhakrishnan starts off the stanza in a teasing style and the piano plays in the second layer so effectively, and then Raja sings in high scale with immense comfort. The outro is again catchy with that EDM tune and Raja singing. Ben Kingsley plays the role of the lyricist.

LISTEN TO THE SONG -  CLICK HERE!

- Maatru Paravai

This track came in so much later in the month, and by that time, I had made my list of best tracks of the month ready. I heard this and it was straight away shooting for the stars and it did not fail. I haven’t heard of any prior tunes from Marisakthi before and I do count myself unlucky for that. The song is sung brilliantly by Anila Rajeev, and there is an element of coarseness in her voice, which is so inviting , and it suits the lyrics which is meant to inspire , asking a bird to rise and fly higher. The strong guitar strings by Marisakthi himself  are accompanied by a beautiful flute solo  by Finny David just before the stanza begins. The stanza is actually a brief couple of lines only and then we are introduced to a stunning violin solo by Ganesh Srinivasan and bass guitars by Mohammed Shoaib, and then we have the real stanza coming up after this. Anila excels here where she transforms her vocal texture and emotes to suggest calmness and longing instead of the strong will of the opening lines. Anila hums beautifully as the stanza comes to an end but not before there are more variations brought by Marisakthi and the outro of the track is again a testament to the quality of this composer and track.

LISTEN TO THE SONG -  CLICK HERE!

- Nenjame

This is the second track from Doctor, after a super hit chellamma released last month. This is a very typical Anirudh track with EDM style arrangements as he himself sings it to great effect. The mood created here is more of contemplation and pathos but Anirudh uses his own style of employing heavy electronic instruments to get that emotion going. It is interesting to hear how he employs a unique vocal intervention all through the song and it by itself becomes a musical instrument over time maintaining tempo. Mohan Rajan pens the lyrics for this sombre single.

LISTEN TO THE SONG -  CLICK HERE!

- Pathu Kaasu

This is one big hit , as people have found this extremely catchy and almost using it everywhere like an irreplaceable anthem. No song works as well as songs on friendship in tamil and that explains the popularity. The song is composed and sung by GV Prakash Kumar and it is the second single from his album Jail. GV excels at singing this, and sounds quite aloof while being vocally perfect as well. The interlude is a nice ukulele bit by Seenu, the stanza is predictable but once again the singing lifts the song and the percussion is good enough to keep you tapping, and one has to admit that lyrics play a huge role in such anthems and its by none other than Arivu.

LISTEN TO THE SONG -  CLICK HERE!

- Pesum Kannadi

A lovely title reminding us of fairy tales where the queen says “mirror mirror on the wall”, and quite fitting Ramya does perform with great elegance and style like a fairy tale. She is based out of Canada and it is so refreshing to hear her pronounce so perfectly considering some words written by Navin B, even have a rural dialect in the song. Pravin Mani is the composer of this slow ballad and he is an experienced composer having worked with AR Rahman as well. It’s a simple track with minimal instrumentals but it is enough to sound pleasing to the ears

LISTEN TO THE SONG -  CLICK HERE!

- Pon Nira Malai

Srihari Jagannathan from the Chennai Street Band goes it alone here in this 2 track EP, with this track in Tamil. He has written and sings this along with Padmaja Sreenivasan. The song is accompanied by the strings of the mandolin playing in the second layer played by Sachidanand sankarnarayanan, who also has mixed and mastered the tracks. Matt Bacon’s guitars are constantly playing and soothing. The interlude on the mandolin is catchy.

LISTEN TO THE SONG -  CLICK HERE!

- Pogathey

Avin Preseley , a Chennai-based musician, drops his EP this month and amongst some great numbers, one called Pogathey was already released. His vocals and the guitars are clear front-runners in what make this track such a pleasure to listen. It is majorly an EDM track with some very unique and catchy sounds to add more glitz to what already sounds good.

LISTEN TO THE SONG -  CLICK HERE!

- Thada Thada Raila

Shaktisree continues to keep coming with at least one single a month and listeners are just lucky to have an opportunity to hear this voice that frequently. Raja Sai is the composer and he creates this beautiful melody with a rustic setting and he helps us visualise that setting with his choices of instruments. Bruce Lee on the guitars keeps playing and teases you but J Sarath on the flute makes headway with his solo and then a harmony takes us into the stanza. I wonder how many people can be so stable and effective at such a low scale like Shaktisree and she proves that again in the stanza, and the creative use of percussion by Karthik Vamsi should be lauded. Keith Peters and his bass is so difficult to ignore as it keeps strumming throughout. Arunvaali and P.Iniyavan have contributed together for the lyrics.

LISTEN TO THE SONG -  CLICK HERE!

- Vizhiye Vizhiye

This is a classic melody, reminds us of music from Vidyasagar and that generation. Sruthy Sasidharan is the female lead and Kapil Kapilan is the male lead. The track transforms from being just a melodious tune to a more peppy number when the male lead takes over. Sandeep Mohan dominates the scene with his bass and acoustic guitars. Once the stanza begins it once again turns towards a soft melody delightfully sung by both leads. Vishnu Raajsekhaar is the composer of this track and Mohan Raj is the lyricist

LISTEN TO THE SONG -  CLICK HERE!