Going by tradition, the atmosphere reverberates with Chandipaath, and Mahalaya ushers in the festive spirit. This time there will also be something new and musical on the online space. On September 17, Somlata and the Aces will present a digital concert from 8pm. A chat with vocalist Somlata...

How do you see this phenomenon of digital concerts?

It is a new medium that we got to experience since the lockdown. But at the same time it cannot replace the experience of live concerts. This Durga Puja will be different, we all know that. For the Pujas, we start making our plans in advance. This year we can’t. Puja will be full of uncertainty. However, to start Puja on a positive note and to spread some joy we picked Mahalaya to perform our digital concert.

What were your initial thoughts on going the digital way for concerts?

Initially, I was a bit doubtful… I was like, will people pay and watch a digital concert? But then I saw a few digital concerts happening… musicians were going ahead with it and they were getting very good response. People were paying and enjoying the concerts.

Another reason was that a lot of people are involved with concerts, from technicians to vendors… if we do a digital concert, they can become a part of the process.

What are your thoughts on the technical side of the gig?

We will try to present a concert that gives an experience which is nearest to the live feel. This is a new thing for us. A lot of it depends on technology. Some things are out of our control. We are also learning every day… about various technical aspects.

What songs are there on the set list?

Of course, we’ll be doing all the popular songs that people expect from us. And we will perform a bunch of songs that we have never performed live.

How’s the feedback till now?

The feedback is overwhelming.

You have become more active on social media…

Yes, it actually took me by surprise. I am a private person. I came live on Facebook three-four times in two weeks… mainly for the promotions of the concert. I am loving it now, I am connecting with the audience, there is a lot of gratitude... I am very happy about it. Also, I joined Instagram 10 months ago.