#in the process of making this post I have discovered that a tabla is a type of hand drums that features heavily in the song

[captainswan618]

Confession: the song “Hanging on the Tablaphone” from the Doctor Who season 4 soundtrack haunts my dreams. Not because of anything about the song itself, but because “tablaphone” isn’t a real word. Looking it up yields only this exact song, because it’s not a word. Which begs the question, what does it mean?? Murray Gold please I just want to know why you put a made-up word in a song title. What the fuck is a tablaphone.

[gokul2181]

I have a child-like excitement each time I create something: Prashant Pillai

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I have a child-like excitement each time I create something: Prashant Pillai

Composer Prashant Pillai talks about his upcoming Malayalam film ‘Saajan Bakery Since 1962’ and his approach to music

With a discography that includes Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Marathi, Prashant Pillai has always been at the top of his game, with his songs and background score. With a soundscape that is “mostly experimentative and avant-garde”, the ace musician has been making unconventional music for the last two decades.

Prashant has composed the songs and background score of the upcoming Malayalam film, Saajan Bakery Since 1962 directed by Arun Chandu. The movie has five songs, with lyrics by Vinayak Sasikumar and Anu Elizabeth Jose. In a chat with MetroPlus over the phone from Bengaluru, the 39-year-old talks about the working in the movie and the principles that guide him as a musician. Excerpts:

Songs of Saajan Bakery…

This is perhaps the first time that I have worked with some of the mainstream voices in the industry. Usually I choose new voices and musicians, especially underground artistes who’ve had their bit of fame and now are doing what they love. Since it is a light-hearted subject is lighter and the sensibilities are different, the tracks had to be soul-soothing. There was a conscious effort to present something fresh to go with the old-world tale that the film narrates.

Voices in the movie

The title track, ‘Once upon a time in Ranni’ sung by James Thakara [frontman of the band Thakara] is a throwback to the ‘80s and his voice was perfect for that. I’ve always loved working with him because he can surprise listeners with the earthiness in his voice. That was the texture I needed to give the retro effect for this song.

This is my first project with Vineeth [Sreenivasan] and it was Arun’s idea to bring us together. The breezy song [‘Thoramazhayilum’, a duet with Preeti Pillai] was the second or third version of the song that we made. There is an innate charm in Vineeth’s voice and this one complemented that feature. [KS] Harisankar has two songs and he told me that he has discovered a completely new side to his voice.

Your sister Preeti is part of almost all your projects…

We are like a cat-mouse combination. She being younger to me by eight years, I am the bully. I am tough on her because I know her range as a musician. At the same time, I have no issues in admitting that whatever I am today as a musician is because of her. She is a trained Carnatic musician and I owe a lot to those countless sessions we have had, with her singing and me playing the tabla. She is always there in my projects, whether she is singing or not. When we make a song, we become two kids singing in our home on a sultry day. We enjoy the process.

Food is an integral part of the movie and how have you brought that element into the album?

I am in harmony with food, if you remember what we did in Angamaly Diaries or Jallikkattu. But this might be the first time I am scoring for an ‘almost-vegetarian’ film…there is no meat in the frames! There are a couple of scenes where food is shown to have an emotional connect with the characters. For that we have treated the music in a slightly different way by bringing in a nostalgic flavour into it.

On song

Prashant worked with AR Rahman after completing his sound engineering in Chennai. He then moved to Pune where he did a lot of jingles. He was the co-composer Bejoy Nambiar’s critically acclaimed short film, Rahu.

His début film is Lijo Jose Pellissery’s first film, Nayakan (2010). Since then he has been part of all films of Lijo, namely City of God, Amen, Double Barrel, Angamaly Diaries, Ee. Ma. Yau. and Jallikattu. He has worked with Bejoy in his films such as Shaitan, David, Wazir and Solo. He has also scored music in Anurag Kashyap’s Mukkabaaz.

Among his other notable Malayalam projects are Chandrettan Evideya, Anuraga Karikkin Vellam and Unda.

Your creative process

I don’t stress myself to arrive at a composition. I do it naturally and instinctively. I just enjoy the process and if the director also enjoys it, then we have a song. There is no conscious effort to make it appealing.

On your writings on self-care…

I am a strong, intuitive person, something I got from my mother. I have had several ups and downs, which have made me strong from within. The lessons I learnt come across in my articles on my website [prashantpillai.com] and the quotes I upload daily on my Instagram handle (@iprashantpillai). In a recent article on the website I have talked about four easy steps to practise emotional care. Even if these methods may not be the same for everyone, at least it might open a door to help someone. I want to help people around me, especially those who follow me or listen to my music or who consider me worthy enough to give them advice. People message me privately on my Insta pages. However, I am trying to come up with another platform to reach out to more people and help them.

How has this influenced you as artiste?

I try to give the best and I am content with that. I know my shortcomings and to play to my strengths. It is about being true to yourself.

Your inspiration(s)

There was a point when I listened to several artistes. But now I consciously stay away from them because I have got the best of what I wanted from them. Now it is about self enquiry. One of the biggest inspirations has been musician Ray Charles, who was visually challenged. His story and what he has done for music inspire me to bring something new to the table every time. I have a child-like excitement each time I create something.

Upcoming projects

Pyali, produced by the late NF Varghese’ daughter, and Moonwalk, a project on the evolution of break-dance culture in Kerala.

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[durararas]

THIS POST WILL BE UPDATED

If some of you have seen a previous post where I mentioned some screenplay ideas that I had and I thank those that responded really positively! So if you don’t know, I want to go into my masters into screenwriting. In comparison with the music training I have, I have almost no official screenwriting training (besides a couple of classes). I know one of the best ways to get better at writing in general is to ask people to read your script. However, since I know everyone is busy (and I’m really bad at asking people because I’m an anxious piece of shit)  I know not everyone is up for this. However, it would help a lot if a couple of people would read it over and tell me if you would watch this on your TV or in the theaters. You don’t have to edit my writing skills (which is much appreciated though!) you just need to tell me if you would watch it or not. And if you would not, what would you do to make it better?

I know I could ask friends, which I will, but one of the best advice I’ve ever heard is ask the general public, people you don’t know very well, and see what they think. So that’s where you come in. I know everyone has different taste in movies and TV so I don’t expect everyone to read everything I have to offer. 

Anyway, if you are interested, either comment here or message me and when the script is done I can send you the draft and you can read it over. So here are the scripts I am working on/would like to finish eventually. (and please signal boost this if you can. you may not be interested but someone out there might!) 

Title: Flowerboy/Format: Short film/Genre: Fantasy, psychological, drama, tragedy/Synopsis: A boy witnesses a tragic death of his brother and will do anything to prevent that from happening, even time traveling. As he spends his whole life traveling back in time to save his brother, flowers start to grow on his body…./Extra notes: One of the main characters is transgender, I envisioned this as a prologue to another main story idea I had where it would be in the POV of the brother that died, I listened to BTS’s Spring Day and I Need U while coming up with this story

Title: King Ferdinand/Format: Feature film/Genre: Coming of age, high school, psychological, horror, thriller/Synopsis: Shy and bookish Ferdinand is a new kid at a high school after being in the hospital for almost a year. He looks forward to his new life at his new high school, but everyone seems to treat him as if he doesn’t exist, even the teachers and staff. He tries to find answers when he learns of the school’s horrible tragedy a year ago…/Extra notes: I wrote this script in high school and will be in the process of being edited and rewritten, the story is set in the 90s

Title: Zoey/Format: Feature film/Genre: Coming of age, drama, music/Synopsis: Two music college freshmen named Zoey end up being roommates. Their names may be the same but they are drastically different. One is an aspiring jazz drummer who wants to prove to her family that she can do more than just tabla drumming (Classical Indian drumming) and the other is a young violin virtuoso who has to deal with the pressure of fame and her relationship with her girlfriend. The movie deals with the two girls’ different but similar lives as well as supporting each other. 

Title: For the Dogs (working title)/Format: TV pilot/Genre: Action, adventure, dystopian/Synopsis: In the future, the world is unsafe to live in due to the acid rain and the “zombie” dogs that roam the earth leaving the entire world into an apocalyptic waste land and civilizations begin to thrive underground. The government uses this world’s advantage to throw their prisoners to the surface to see if they can survive for 30 days for redemption. The main story follows a sweet farm boy named Sky who is wrongly accused for a murder. His world is turned around when he has to face this horrible survival game… Extra notes: honest to god was inspired by togainu no chi 

Title: What’s Riot?! (working title)/Format: TV pilot/Genre: Action, adventure, psychological, comedy-drama, crime, mystery, thriller/Synopsis: A young man wakes up with no memory in an abandoned drug store. The only clue he has is a phone (that may or may not be his) with a social media app that lets people talk about the latest news and chat with each other. He uses the chatroom and its inhabitants to help him figure out his identity. He also learns about the weird users behind the app, an infamous gang that wants to erase themselves from existence, a drug that lets people become a different person (literally??), and a murder where no one can find the body anymore. Extra notes: this story is like my baby I had this idea since i was 13, yes it is very durarara inspired, it was going to be set in Japan but then I realized that it would be impossible right now for the current American film company to make this happen so I changed the setting to a fictional LA town and the characters are now all lots of POC

Title: A City with No People/Format: TV pilot (animated)/Genre: Action, science fiction, comedy-drama/Synopsis: Six kids wake up in a video game inspired city where they realize there is no people except for themselves. They try to solve the city’s puzzles (like a video game) to figure out where they come from and how to get out of it. Most of the time, they just like collecting coins and getting a bunch of shiny stuff/Extra notes: this could be a video game too and I’d love to write for video games

Title: Untitled boyband movie/Format: Feature film (animated)/Genre: Music, drama, found footage, mockumentary/Synopsis: Five regular teenage boys are discovered through YouTube and are made into the most popular boyband in the world. The movie will follow the boys’ journey through their social media like Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube vlogs and interviews made by corporate companies. Some of their more personal footage show their raw emotions behind the whole stress and process of being a famous pop star. All of this fame and pleasing the fans... are they who they are anymore? /Extra notes: There’s so many stories behind how these famous pop stars were keeping their “goody” image and then destroyed themselves as fame goes on (Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, etc) and I really enjoy watching all these vlogs these kpop stars do and wonder if they really are sincere and happy with their lives even though there’s always news discourse saying the fans won’t leave them alone. Also the documentary on Nu’est made me cry

Title: Shattered Looking Glass (working title)/Format: TV pilot or film /Genre: Dark fantasy, horror, fairy-tale, action/Synopsis: The legend goes that dark demons were jealous of the Fairy Royal family ruling over a prosperous kingdom.These same demons had tried to create a mirror for their beloved Fairy King to look into the mirror to see their true self; little did the king know that the mirror posses a “poison” that whoever looks in it sees their worst and becomes their worst selves. The plan was going well until the demons dropped the large mirror and shattered into tiny pieces. These pieces have blown over the kingdom over time and lodge into even the innocent’s heart or eyes, thus only making them see evil. Feared that the Fairy Royal family would find out, the demons took the next heir and kept her in a glass coffin for 100 years. The story follows a gifted mercanary named Wendy who is finally approached by her superior to save the kingdom and find the next Fairy Queen Alice.  /Extra notes: Had this idea for a long time too, I think writing dark fantasy stuff is pretty cool. Btw the mirror idea is something that Frozen could have done!! But nope, too dark for kids.

[gethealthy18-blog]

What Are Natural Wines?

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What Are Natural Wines?

It’s no secret I love wine. Over the years I drink far less than I used to (RIP to my college years) but when I do drink it’s far more intentional and really about enjoying the drink itself and the people I’m with. Gone are the days of drinking litre bottles of Kangaroo Trail (please tell me anyone in Montreal remembers this!) in preparation for a night on the town. I’ve officially become a wine snob and I’m not mad about it.

Now, I’m no expert on wine. I acknowledge my own shortcomings and the amount I have to learn. However, as I’ve expanded my knowledge on the food industry and how to make more sustainable choices I couldn’t help but extend this to the wine industry. Moving to California doesn’t hurt either as my exposure to wine is much higher. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to try and learn a lot about natural wines and I figured this might be a topic some of you would be interested in learning more about. So with that let’s begin a discussion about natural wines as well as some of my favorites to choose from.

What is a natural wine?

As with all products deemed “natural” there is not one definition for what a natural wine is. From the farming practices to the actual winemaking there are upgraded processes being used from conventional wine. There are no additives used and the wine is typically made in small batches because of how intentional the process is.

The farming could be considered biodynamic, organic or sustainable. While there is a lot of overlap in these categories, they all have different fundamental ideas.

Organic Wine

Organic wine follows the same restrictions and practices as organic farming. I’ve done a deep dive into if organic really matters and reasons to choose organic and the same information applies to wine! Organic wine is made from organic grapes, no GMO’s and no added sulfites. All additives (fermentation and preservation ingredients) must also be organic.

Biodynamic Wine

Biodynamic farming thinks about the entire farm or vineyard as being connected, a single organism where every step affects the rest. Wine Folly describes biodynamics as the “holistic view of agriculture.” Like organic wine, everything is farmed and fermented organically but taken a step further through certain types of planting + harvesting practices (following a lunar cycle) and more diverse planting processes. An example of this would be a biodynamic farm which also includes farm animals who eat the plants grown whose excretions then become compost etc…

Sustainable Wine

Like I mentioned, there is a lot of crossover with these definitions! Sustainable and biodynamic are very closely related but sustainable winemaking really focuses on reducing waste. Sustainable winemakers take into account how much water and energy they’re using in the farming and wine making processes so they may be powering their machinery using solar or depending on natural rainfall rather than irrigation.

Certifications: There are many different certifications that natural winemakers can get but not having the certification does not make wine produced naturally less sustainable. If organic is super important to you, look for the USDA organic seal or Demeter Certified Biodynamic for biodynamic wines but keep in mine not all small wine producers can afford and/or have the time to apply for these certifications.

Is Natural Wine Healthier?

This is a controversial topic as wine is still wine after all. There is still a lot of controversy out there regarding whether organic (or biodynamic) foods or wine is healthier, so I’m not going to make bold claims here. In my personal opinion, consuming things without added pesticides is better for your health – this is especially true of glyphosate.

Which brings us to a conversation about sulfites. Sulfur Dioxide occurs naturally in the winemaking process at very small amounts. However, 99% of conventional wine contain added sulfites. Sulfites are added to maintain freshness of wine due to its natural antibacterial properties. Now, sulfites themselves are not inherently bad, however according to the FDA 1% of the population is sulfur-sensitive meaning they lack the natural enzyme to break down sulfites in their body. But many foods actually have more sulfite than the amounts found in wine so it isn’t anything to worry about unless you have a sulfite-sensitivity or allergy.

One thing I will add is that natural wine is without question better for the environment. So from an environmental perspective you are better off choosing natural wine over conventional.

My Favorite Natural Wines

One of my favorite activities is wine tasting and due to proximity to Napa and Sonoma but suggestions for natural wines tend to congregate in those areas. However, natural wines are not limited to these areas. Generally, a lot of European wines tend to use more sustainable and natural wine-making methods and the label “natural” is less popular there. It tends to be more of a North American thing. But if you happen to be in the Northern California wine region I highly recommend you check out some of these wineries or see if they ship to you!

DaVero Farm and Winery (Biodynamic)

C and I are actually members at this Healdsburg/Dry Creek Winery. All of their grapes are Italian varietals and unbelievably delicious. Our favorite is their 2016 Primitivo but honestly all their wines are good.

Preston Farm and Winery (Biodynamic)

This winery will always hold a special place in our hearts as we went here right after we got engaged with both of our parents. The farm is STUNNING. The food, including their home grown cured olives and homemade bread is so good and their wine is fantastic. A not-to-miss stop in Dry Creek.

Porter Bass (Biodynamic)

Low-key, relaxed, small family-owned vineyard in Guerneville. We love it here but are particularly big fans of their zinfandel.

Red Car Wines (Organic)

One of our favorite organic rosés and a beautiful tasting room just outside downtown Sebastopol.

Medlock Ames (Organic)

You may remember that C and I went here on our honeymoon. We did the full farm tour which I highly recommend! Geyserville was also hit hard in last year’s fires and while Medlock Ames’ vineyard was not affected, the lack of tourism to the region absolutely has an impact so if you can go here, please do!

Scribe Winery (Biodynamic)

Probably one of the most popular biodynamic wineries in Sonoma. This place is truly magical. Their skin-ferment chardonnay is incredible and if you have the time I recommend doing the full wine and food-pairing tasting at their Hacienda.

Tablas Creek Vineyard (Organic)

This winery is actually down in Paso Robles (about 3.5-4 hours south of San Francisco). We stopped here on our way home from our Southwest Road Trip. This winery has an interesting history as it was started as a sister winery to two organic wineries in France.

* * * * *

Honestly, there’s so much more I could say on this topic but I’ll stop things here. As always, this is not meant to scare you or force you to throw out all of your wine. I still drink conventional wine but when it comes to tasting and/or buying wines at home we like to stick to natural when possible. I’ll continue to add to this list as I discover more. C and I are headed to New Zealand next month and I’m excited to add some natural New Zealand wines to this list. Stay tuned!

Do you have a favorite natural wine brand or winery? Let me know below.

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