Dear Rahmaniacs, Noel James has been one of the harmony singers for ARR, and most importantly he is the manager of our Boss. Today, he shared his thoughts abt ARR with Raihanaji in Rahmania Show in aahaa FM 91.9. The Transcript is as below
Q :- When did you start singing ? ans :- I started singing from the age of 7, Singing in church choir, singing Suprano, alto, tenor. Once I grew older, my voice cracked. Then went on to sing base. I knew all the four parts. I did study music a while. I passed some three grades in violin, but I didnt pursue it further. Everytime, you play an instrument, you get involved yourself, its a different world altogether. Rahman says it as well. Its a totally different world altogether. You cant do anything else but that. So, if you are not given that space, you cannot concentrate, and your mind is not there. You should just discipline yourself for that. Anything that you do, do it well. Q :- How much time were you singing for the Choir ? I kept singing and I still love to sing, with the group, where I can participate. Participation is more important, when it comes to choir singing. Its people rendering their voices in perfect harmony. This is a very controlled kind of singing, which I love doing that. And I enjoy going to church, listening to such wonderful music. Q :- I have seen you first as an Ad Jingle singer. I was very excited hearing your voice.. Were you involved in other managerial works with Rahman, which didnt make you sing ? Ans :- I look at him as a totally different type of a person. He is not a person. *HE IS SENT BY GOD*. Thats my total outlook. *HE IS A GIFT FROM GOD*. So, you try to put your best, to make him go to heights. You are still proud in yourself. That you are near to him. I know, if he goes through this door, and comes through the other, I would keep his slippers near the car. You are saving his time.. because time is so precious. I have not done that many solos for Rahman, I sang Palakktu Machan with GV. That was wonderful singing that song. It was a kind of rock and roll type of song. I found uttering the words in Tamil a little bit difficult. I tried my best. Everyone should try their best. The most favouritte harmony sung by Noel, liked by Raihanaji was Konjum Nilavu. It was just a matter of Mr. Rahman, coming into a plane , and telling that Lets take the song to a different plane altogether. Its completely an upbeat song. He said, Why dont we give it a completely different texture ?. It was middle of the night. Our dear friend Suresh Peters was also there. Creativity dies at that point of time, when we were all literally sleeping. But he got us into that mode, and made us sing. He said, Noel. Make it angelic. Kept the husk out of the system. The drive that he gave it to you made you do it. Q :- Apart from singing to Rahman, have you sung for any other Music Directors ? Ans :- I sang for our late Director Mahesh, for the film Nammavar. The title song. Then did some bits for Deva sir . I have done a lot of harmonies here and there , wherever I fit in. If I dont fit in, I tell directly. I am not a Carnatic Singer. First Harmony which you have sung for ARR :- ROJA... Rukkumani. I sang in a lot of re - recordings ... Tamizha Tamizha. Lot of backings. Jara Mask, Jara Mask.... was done by me. He made me try a lot of things .. It was a great experience . GREAT GREAT Experience to be working with him. Now also, when AUgust 15 comes, the memories come down lane, and fills your chest, and makes us cry. I just get glued to the film, feel like seeing it all time. Amazing movie; Amazing Background, which you would not have heard anywhere. The next song was for Pudiya Mugam... Sambo Sambo..Then came Kannthil Muttamittal.. Senyore Senyore song. He asked me to sing it in Sinhalese style. There was a Sinhalese supervisor also. He asked us to bring a byla kind of style. Fav Harmony songs... Everything is close to my heart, the only thing is I forget abt it. Only, when it is reheard again,, it revokes old memories. I am not exactly a Manager. I just try to help him out. I dont term myself as one. He requested me to manage the place. I used to arrange music in Churches. I made my son to play, and I sing for him.. He has sung some songs for Rahman. He loves songs so much. He is totally diverted music. He used to say me, " Appa.. See how Rahman uncle has composed music.. See this ; See that ".... He would listen it 10 times, and would come up saying , see the chords uncle has played etc . He goes into depth of all that. Only a few of them appreciate the detailedness of Mr. Rahman 's music. Fav Songs :- MUstapha Mustapha. I like the lyrics.. Dont worry man.. Keep going.. The chorus, the arrangement.. Its amazing. To listen to itself is great. It revives you. Ella Pughazum ..... What lyrics of that song. ( ATM ) ! We have people come to work with him. He has got an unique style. Whatever he does, is unique. A totally different person altogether. Once you enter his gate and come in, if you feel, that is the way you want to do it, he will allow you to do it the way, you want to do it. Fav Movie from Manirathnam Combination of Rahman - ROJA. and Chinna Chinna AASAI . Fav movie from Subhash Ghai combo - TAAL. The English lyrics of En Kaadhale beginning was wrtten by me. Sir told me to write lyrics on Love. I put myself into that. I am interested in similies, anecdotes.. He gave me a very vague tune, and I wrote. Then, he told me to sing. Balachander Sir, actually told me to simplify it, to be understandable for Tamil listeners., as otherwise, he would have otherwise got Richard Marks for singing. We finished it in half an hour. But it was quite dissappointing that the song didnt come in the film. It came in cassettes. FAVOURITE QUALITIES THAT YOU LIKE IN RAHMAN - His Spirituality, Hid Dedication, Involvement. he puts himself completely to what he is doing.. Irrespective of Thunder or Rain, if something needs to be done, he will do it. In whatever he does, he does his best. And as I speak to you here, we are there to do our best to help him further, further further.. as nothing has an end.. I learnt music from him, and I learnt to be disciplined from him. -- regards, Vithur HELP EVER; HURT NEVER; LOVE ALL; SERVE ALL
