Kaber Vasuki is an independent Tamil Indie music artist, known for his philosophical lyrics and unique approach to storytelling through music.[1]
Kaber Vasuki | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 April 1990 Coimbatore[citation needed], Tamil Nadu |
| Origin | Tamilian |
| Genres | Indie |
| Occupations | |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | Saregama, KYN Records |
| Website | kaber-vasuki |
Early life and education
editVasuki was born in Coimbatore where he spent his schooling and early days.[2] In 2010 Vasuki moved to Chennai.[3] He would go on to produce the first crowdfunded Tamil independent album "Azhaghu Puratchi", and eventually starting the band "Kurangan" with fellow musician Tenma.[4]
Kurangan Era
editVasuki co-founded the Tamil Indie band Kurangan with Tenma in 2015.[5] The band's formation and evolution represent a key moment in Tamil indie music, with Vasuki being the singer-songwriter in this journey with his simple lyrics in the regional language (Tamil). In November 2016, Members of Kurangan formed Terrace Jams - a space to showcase new local talents - inspiring artists such as Siennor, Othasevuru and Shilpa Natrajan. [6] Despite being disbanded in 2018, Kurangan has a wide fan following today. [7]
Independent music
editIn 2021 Vasuki sold a phone demo of his song "Vasanam" as an NFT for 50 Ethereum (ETH), which amounted to nearly 1.5 Crore INR or 200,000USD at the time of the transaction. This event marked a significant development in the digital art and cryptocurrency spaces for Indie artists. [8][9]
Vasuki's solo work continues to be characterized by introspective lyrics and a willingness to experiment musically. His latest music video "Poi" showcases complex themes such as recovery from toxic relationships and the psychological impacts of social media addiction, framed within the context of contemporary Tamil culture.[10][11]
Activism
editVasuki's work often touches on social and political themes, reflecting a deep commitment to addressing issues that affect society such as the Chennai Poromboke Paadal music video - a joint initiative by T. M. Krishna and environmental activist Nityanand Jayaraman.[12]
His approach to music as a tool for social commentary and change highlights the power of art in influencing societal perspectives and advocating for social justice with songs such as "Pidikkum" and "Okhahoma" promoting LGBT awareness.
Discography
editVasuki's discography includes a mix of independent singles and film soundtracks. Some of his notable tracks include "The Poramboke Song" [13] and "Vasanam," with the latter being a reflective piece on changing attitudes and missed opportunities for expression.
Independent albums
edit| Year | Album | Track Listing |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Azhagu Puratchi (first crowdfunded Tamil Indie Album) [14] |
|
| 2019 | Kurangan Era (Collection of Songs from 2015 to 2018) | |
| 2019 | Singles | |
| 2023 | Singles | Poi, Poi (alternative)[20] [21] |
Film work
editVasuki has also made inroads into Kollywood, contributing to soundtracks for movies like "Captain Miller",[22] "Dharala Prabhu", "Rocky" and "Aelay." collaborating with prominent Tamil Musicians such as Sam C. S, Darbuka Siva, G. V. Prakash Kumar, Hiphop Tamizha, Yuvan Shankar Raja and Sean Roldan.
| Year | Movie Name | Track Listing | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Kavan | Mathuraangalam | Singer |
| 2018 | Irumbu Thirai | Yaar Ivan | Lyrics |
| 2020 | Dharala Prabhu | Manusan | Lyrics[23] |
| 2020 | Peipasi | Peipasi | Lyrics |
| 2021 | Aelay | Magaraasa | Lyrics & Singer |
| 2021 | Rocky | Naan Sinam Ariven, Vanma Padhaiyil | Lyrics & Singer |
| 2022 | Suzhal: The Vortex | Duvaa Duvaa, Suzhal – The Whisper of the Vortex | Lyrics |
| 2024 | Captain Miller | Killer Killer (title track), Un Oliyile | Lyrics[24] |
References
edit- ^ "Songs of a rebel". The Hindu. 24 February 2015.
- ^ "Singing the Truth". 17 May 2015.
- ^ "Kaber Vasuki: Music saved me from an emotional crisis, and musicians became my saviours". Cinema Express. 21 October 2020.
- ^ "Songs of an outsider". 22 October 2020.
- ^ "Meet Kurangan, a Chennai pop-rock band making Tamil music deep again". 16 November 2016.
- ^ "The story behind Othasevuru, the two-member Tamil indie band". 7 December 2019.
- ^ "Tamil indie music's watershed moment arrived with 'Enjoy Enjaami'". 24 April 2021.
- ^ "Tamil musician sells song demo as NFT to crypto-collector who bought Beeple work". The Week.
- ^ "Tamil musician sells NFT of phone demo for Rs 1.5 crore to Metakovan of Beeple fame". 27 May 2021.
- ^ Kannadasan, Akila (21 December 2023). "Kaber Vasuki on his latest Tamil indie track 'Poi'". The Hindu.
- ^ "What 'lies' ahead: Tamil Indie star Kaber Vasuki's latest single explores the darker human nature". 26 November 2023.
- ^ Rangan, Baradwaj (28 January 2017). "Baradwaj Rangan on the transience of modern music". The Hindu.
- ^ "Here comes the Chennai Porombokkku Paadal". The Times of India. 26 February 2017.
- ^ "Kurangan: A Tamil rock music band that offers a fresh alternative". 23 October 2016.
- ^ "Kaber Vasuki". Spotify.
- ^ "Kaber Vasuki on Apple Music".
- ^ "Kaber Vasuki".
- ^ "Lyrics | வரிகள் - Kaber Vasuki. கேபர் வாசுகி". 31 January 2022.
- ^ "Kaber Vasuki". Spotify.
- ^ "Of tunes and being tuned with Kaber Vasuki". 18 November 2023.
- ^ "Kaber Vasuki's 'Poi' Video Unravels like a 'Black Mirror' Episode". 30 December 2023.
- ^ "'Killer Killer' Song Out: Dhanush's New Movie Captain Miller First Song Released". 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Kaber Vasuki: Music saved me from an emotional crisis, and musicians became my saviours". Cinema Express. 21 October 2020.
- ^ "Captain Miller song Killer Killer is GV Prakash-Dhanush's war cry, watch". 22 November 2023.