Women in Music: Cultures of Northeast India

The podcast She Rose is part of the “Music Cultures” series which was recorded online during the Covid19 pandemic. In this podcast, our host Anungla Zoe Longkumer converses with singer, songwriter and pop artist Seysei from Dallas, Texas who traces her origin to Nagaland through her father. Seysei talks about her life, her musical journey and her works. This discussion was part of the 2020 programming for Zubaan’s Cultures of Peace: Festival of the Northeast project, run in collaboration with Heinrich Boell Stiftung, Regional Office, New Delhi.Anungla Zoe Longkumer is an independent artist from Nagaland who is drawn to inspired and intuitive pursuits in music, writing, filmmaking, painting, papermaking, and research in the traditional arts, and is an advocate for a waste-less sustainable way of living.Seysei is a pop music artist of Naga-Indian origin who represents South East Asian audiences in the mainstream vein. A singer, musician and dancer, she matches pop-sensibilities with her warrior spirit in her songwriting.

The podcast Finding Questions is part of the “Music Cultures” series which was recorded online during the Covid19 pandemic. In this podcast, our host Anungla Zoe Longkumer converses with ethnomusicologist, visual anthropologist and pianist Jaremdi Wati Longchar and writer and folklorist Talilula Longchar, both from Nagaland. Together they discuss women’s role and expressions in traditional folk music of the Ao Naga community. This discussion was part of the 2020 programming for Zubaan’s Cultures of Peace: Festival of the Northeast project, run in collaboration with Heinrich Boell Stiftung, Regional Office, New Delhi.Anungla Zoe Longkumer is an independent artist from Nagaland drawn to inspired and intuitive pursuits in music, writing, filmmaking, painting, papermaking, and research in the traditional arts, and is an advocate for a waste-less sustainable way of living.Jaremdi Wati Longchar is an Ao Naga ethnomusicologist, visual anthropologist and pianist trained at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Bangor University, North Wales. Since 2015, she has been actively documenting and studying the Naga folk music tradition with a focus on the music of the Aos.Talilula Longchar is a writer and researcher from Nagaland with an interest in the interstices of folklore and religious beliefs. She has previously worked on Christanity’s influence on the performative tradition of wava menu within the Ao Naga context. 

The podcast Artist as Interpretive is part of the “Music Cultures” series which was recorded online during the Covid19 pandemic. In this podcast, our host Anungla Zoe Longkumer converses with Nagaland-born ethnomusicologist Sentianla Toy Threadgill also known as Senti Toy about her musical journey and her works. This discussion was part of the 2020 programming for Zubaan’s Cultures of Peace: Festival of the Northeast project, run in collaboration with Heinrich Boell Stiftung, Regional Office, New Delhi.Anungla Zoe Longkumer is an independent artist from Nagaland who is drawn to inspired and intuitive pursuits in music, writing, filmmaking, painting, papermaking, and research in the traditional arts, and is an advocate for a waste-less sustainable way of living.Senti Toy Threadgill is a singer, songwriter, ethnomusicologist and sound artist of Naga origin. She has been based in New York city since the 90’s, where she lives with her husband and daughter.  She earned her doctoral degree in Ethnomusicology from the New York University.

The podcast Artist as Reflective is part of the “Music Cultures” series which was recorded online during the Covid19 pandemic. In this podcast, our host Anungla Zoe Longkumer converses with singer, songwriter and poet Akhu Chingangbam from Manipur about his musical journey and how the prolonged conflict in Manipur has shaped his music and poetry. This discussion was part of the 2020 programming for Zubaan’s Cultures of Peace: Festival of the Northeast project, run in collaboration with Heinrich Boell Stiftung, Regional Office, New Delhi. Anungla Zoe Longkumer is an independent artist from Nagaland who is drawn to inspired and intuitive pursuits in music, writing, filmmaking, painting, papermaking, and research in the traditional arts, and is an advocate for a waste-less sustainable way of living.Akhu Chingangbam is a singer, songwriter and a poet from Imphal (Manipur) who has performed across India, Bangladesh and Nepal. He founded the folk-rock band Imphal Talkies in 2008 and has performed in festivals like NH7 weekender, Ziro Festival of Music, Kochi Biennale, etc. 

The podcast A Sense of Voice is part of the “Music Cultures” series which was recorded online during the Covid19 pandemic. In this podcast, our host Anungla Zoe Longkumer converses with Shillong-based pianist and music educator Pauline Warjri about her journey as a musician and musical mentor. Pauline is also the founding director of the Aroha Choir and Aroha Music School in Meghalaya. This discussion was part of the 2020 programming for Zubaan’s Cultures of Peace: Festival of the Northeast project, run in collaboration with Heinrich Boell Stiftung, Regional Office, New Delhi.Anungla Zoe Longkumer is an independent artist from Nagaland who is drawn to inspired and intuitive pursuits in music, writing, filmmaking, painting, papermaking, and research in the traditional arts, and is an advocate for a waste-less sustainable way of living.Pauline Warjri is a freelance musician, composer, and music educator from Shillong, Meghalaya, India. She has written for solo piano, voice, choirs, jazz band and other instruments (Western and Eastern). She has toured Poland, England, Switzerland and Sri Lanka, with the Shillong Boys Choir from Meghalaya and with her late brother, pianist Neil Nongkynrih.