Shillong-based folk-fusion outfit Summersalt released its sophomore album on the 29th of June 2022, which also marks the birthday of a band-member Baiaineh C Shangpliang aka Nah who passed away two years ago. The first song Mluh was released on this day, Mluh literally meaning ‘Salt’ opened a pandora’s box of creative surprises, also expected from the eleven originals which will be out, one at a time over a period of 7 months.
The idea of releasing one song at a time is to augment the attention of the audience, fans and well-wishers, who according to the band needs time to digest the work of art, for art’s sake. Besides, there has been so much love and effort given to the construction of each song from lyrics, melody and arrangement. Many Summersalt followers like Danny Lyngdoh think, “That such creative investment needs undivided attention from the audience for the sake of valuing the meaningfulness of each song. It is good that the release is one song at a time to give space for the audience to digest”.
The uniqueness of Summersalt’s folk-fusion identity lies in the fact that its cultural frequencies are swinging from pure folksiness to complete songwriting styles of the world and vice-versa, yet maintaining creative sanity and primordial identity along the way. Summersalt believes that cultural coexistence is what it is blessed with, on one hand, seeking and preserving the traditional identity, on the other, evolving and progressing to truly represent the local culture as it is. That’s Summersalt.
The album’s title Kliar means summit, along with the album’s vision is to give the best treatment to the music of the hills and particularly of the Khasi Hills, Meghalaya. “We have been on this journey for 15 years now, and have been given to understand that the music from Shillong and Khasi hills has reached a very seasoned stage that it deserves a world-class treatment, therefore, our plunge to record this at Yaj Raj Films Studios and mixed and mastered at Orbis Studio, both in India’s entertainment hub, Mumbai”, says key member Kit Shangpliang.
In the words of Shantanu Hudlikar, the man behind the sound of Summersalt’s second album, “Hanging out with Summersalt and recording and mixing them has been probably the most rewarding experiences professionally. Fusing the ethnic sounds along with contemporary sonic elements was so seamless, that it’s almost like it was a God foreseen. And when the lyrics came in, this spirituality became even more evident”
He continues, “The musicianship, artistry and professionalism displayed by Suk, Kit, Ador, Greg, Weet, Nah and Dajied can be heard in every song. I am so happy the way these songs have turned out and sincerely hope the message of love and spirituality is heard by the masses because that’s what was intended”
The loss of Summersalt’s fellow musician, bassist, friend and brother Baiaineh C Shangpliang on the 11th of May 2020 was enormously painful, as it left a creative vacuum and wound in each and every member of the band, but spiritual clarity made it possible for the band to bounce back.
The sound of the bass guitar throughout the album is the one which Nah played and it was simply spot on. “We still miss him dearly today on stage and off stage. We also know that Summersalt’s music as it is now, was largely contributed by the musicianship of Nah as the creative artiste that he was. Evidently, we know now that his works and legacy live on”, says guitarist Gregory Ford Nongrum.
On their socials, Summersalt spells out the intent to capture the people’s culture and the breath-taking landscape of the hills by beautifully capsuled it this way “The hills are alive with the sound of the birds chirping, the rain drizzling, the clouds in their glorious wear meeting the summits halfway in the sky. We can’t call this complete without the music and the food to celebrate life and conjure a mood. We’re almost there to release a dream” so aptly expressed in Summersalt’s socials.
In the release of its first song and music video Mluh, North East Slow Food and Agrobiodiversity Society (NESFAS) has come along to support the cause. NESFAS Executive Director Pius Ranee says, “NESFAS is happy to collaborate with Summersalt in producing the music video MLUH. As we partner with the indigenous communities and traditional knowledge holders- we work towards embracing traditional food systems, which this song also highlights the same. This music video will also reflect our close relationship with nature and we hope that the indigenous knowledge systems will thrive in the future generations”.
