THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When was the last time you stopped by the roadside to take a look at nature? Or found some time to plant a sapling? If not, then John Antony, architect of state’s first international fusion rock band- ‘Karnatriix’ will leave you inspired.
In association with Kerala Forest Department the band will be performing a musical outreach programme on the occasion of World Environment Day. The performance will acknowledge and celebrate the diversity of forests. As a part of the initial campaign, the trio - Antony, the composer on guitar, DJ Rahul on flute and percussion and Jyothi Krishna, the vocals- will be creating a distinct album titled ‘Voice Of The Forest’.
The album was shot at Parambikulam Wild Life Sanctuary. The crew incorporated mellifluous sound recordings of the natural reverberations from the forest. The team embarked on their musical journey themed ‘Forest is the Mother Of Rivers’. The band members inspired people to wake up and preserve nature for the generations to come. “I believe that children should be taught why we have to protect the existing forests and I find music the right medium,” said John. The album would integrate some vocals to create an orchestral impact. The music video will be followed by a main event on June 5 to mark the World Environment Day.
Three Decades of Music
With over 30 years of experience in music firmament, Antony is widely acclaimed for incorporating Indian classical music in jazz. His fusion of Thyagaraja Swamy’s keertaan ‘Enthoro Mahanubavu’ is considered an all-time favourite. ‘Namaste’ was the band’s first release in 2008 featuring Ustad Fiaz Khan on vocals and sarangi. John Anthony’s earlier band ‘Roots’ comprising of A R Rahman, Sivamani and other renowned artists had jammed nearly 3,000 movies.
Antony has always been a champion of social causes and environmental campaigns for which he draws inspiration from Nityanad Jayaraman and Shailendra Yashwant, his close friends and environmentalists.
Concerts on Social Issues
His ‘No More Bhopals’ concert, flagshipped by Greenpeace International, which addressed the struggles of Bhopal gas tragedy survivors, was greatly admired. The ‘Share The Love’ campaign for the war-torn children of Sri Lanka, for which the Sri Lankan government invited him to the island nation, also gained much attention.
The team also organised ‘Kaadamma Music Festival’ an yearly event which aims to spread awareness among children on saving forests at Vyllopilly Samskrithi Bhavan in February 2016.
“It was a totally amazing experience and a different campaign. What got me excited is the fact that some passengers missed their trains captivated by our music,” says Antony speaking about the locomotive awareness programme held to mark 61st Railway Week. As part of the programme held from April 11 to 16, the band performed a half an hour each across seven railway stations in Kerala. Within two days they spread awareness on railway safety and cleanliness with the message: ‘Swacch-Rail, Swacch Bharath’. Wherever the band performed, they planted a sapling, a symbol of their hope,love and nurturing.