The boys with the immaculately tailored, brightly coloured suits from Kolkata are at it again. A surprise video with lyrics to their song, Je Suis la Pomme Rouge, premieres Wednesday, which we now know is a precursor to a new Parekh & Singh album sometime later in the year.
Understated sophistication with boss nova vibes is what I hear and feel in the song that owes its roots to Richard the Third. It is a delightful pop song with searing lyrics that articulates profundities as easily as it prompts the listener to tap toes and snap fingers. “The song is a tribute to the notion of stories we carry with us,” P&S tells me over an informative email chat.
Nischay Parekh and Jivraj Singh, the two halves that make up the duo, are alter egos _ no wonder they respond as a single entity. Jivraj, an accomplished drummer and percussionist with improvisational dexterity that makes him the first port of call for senior musicians like, say, an Amyt Datta no less, takes care of the rhythm section in this band. He is able to add myriad shades to the ultimate music as does Nischay who also takes care of the vocal department with a voice that is sweetly razor sharp and earnest.
As is evident in the song, their music is a symphony of guitars, synths, drums and lots of musical gadgets, all somehow meshed together in an electronic soundscape that doesn’t feel electronic at all. Instead, there is a light touch that draws you in with its delicate and quaint playfulness _ ‘I am the red apple’, which in French is ‘Je suis la pomme rouge’. Tune in.
You say this song is about imagination and its infinite possibilities. Tell us about it.
The song is about telling stories and living with them. The charm that a constructed narrative can instantly impose upon us is sometimes overlooked and almost taken for granted. We are the stories that we tell and take. This song is a tribute to that notion.
The song has a very soothing tone to it, very understated, but if we listen carefully, there are beautiful embellishments happening in the background. What are the instruments we hear?
We’ve explored writing for woodwind instruments on this project. In addition to our usual palette of drums, guitars, synthesizers and human voices - the listener will hear the magical flute and the regal English horn.
I particularly liked the short signature tune, a line really, that works as the refrain. That's played on a synth, right?
If you’re referring to the short melodic passage that recurs throughout the song, then it’s a part we wrote for the flute. It’s been playfully performed by Ashley Jarmack from LA.
What does Je Suis la Pomme Rouge mean?
It translates to “I am the red apple”. It’s a nonsensical sentence meant to be a deflecting sort of statement that one uses when one is not keen to answer any searching questions.
'There's no story (if) you're telling the truth'. This line resonated with me.
Our favourite stories are a world of pure fiction. Stories of space and magic are the ones that truly grip us. We believe that a story that originates purely from the imagination is one that is free and limitless.
'In the streets they ask me how I feel
The crowd is quick to show me sympathy
One by one they all surround me
disregarding space 'n boundary
Well I don't think that I am going to let 'em in'
We have all suddenly become too aware of 'space and boundaries', more so in the physical sense, because of what we are going through. But of course there's no escaping the larger idea of respecting boundaries.
Life is contextualized through boundaries _ geographic, emotional, spiritual, etc. It’s an intrinsic part of life. We feel boundaries in a personal sense simply allow space, and space breeds reflection and ultimately creativity. Humans are at their peak when they’re creative.
Tell us how this song came about. When or how did the idea come to you?
The song was written some years ago. The lyrical content stemmed from my research on King Richard the Third. He was the king of England but was also a musician and artist.
Musically, this was a phase where we were studying and enjoying Latin musical traditions such as bossa nova.
Did you work remotely?
We did work remotely and that’s usually our method of work.
You guys have been making music together since you two were in school (La Martiniere). Do you think that now there is a distinct 'Parekh & Singh sound'?
I just discovered a Parekh & Singh fan at home. She recognised you guys about a verse into Je suis...!
The Parekh & Singh sound is always going to be an evolving experiment. Certain things may be signature but we’re very keen to surprise our listeners whenever we can.
Is there an album in the works?
Yes! This is the first of many songs that we will be releasing this year. The album will reveal itself at some point in the year as well - probably over the summer.
Thank you for talking to My Kolkata (TT Online).
Thanks
Song artwork Jes Suis Yashasvi Mathis