They say every good thing must come to an end. So must Blogswara. Yes, we are going to put a full stop to our project after 6 years, 7 albums, 65 songs and a whole new bunch of amazing singers, lyricists, composers, orchestrators and mixing engineers.

Interestingly, we’d never thought past a single music album. Those were the good old days of music blogging and many singers were just beginning to find their listener base online. We thought of bringing all these musicians together under one umbrella and that too, to create a set of original songs and music. Thus was born our first album. And that was four months before Facebook opened up to public.

The journey went on. What we thought would come to an end after the first two albums had kept going on strong and in the meanwhile new platforms were born. A whole new world of social media exposure was waiting for the artists to explore them. Still, we went strong. We produced seven music albums. We inspired people and similar projects/websites. It is truly a moment of pride. But over the years, the momentum was slowing down. There are richer and easily accessible platforms that handle the publishing and sharing aspects easier than ever, like Facebook or YouTube.

That was obvious and inevitable, by the way. You don’t have to get stuck in time with a project that was a need of the hour when there was none but to continue to do it when there are better platforms does not make sense. Now if there is an amateur singer who wants to make his voice heard in the public can create a network through social media and make himself heard. We realize that and it is one reason that we are leaving for good.

We are proud to see that some of the artists whom we had introduced through Blogswara have made it big in the mainstream. Divya S Menon has made her mark with the song “Anuraagam” in the Malayalam movie “Thattathin Marayatthu”. Shyam, Praveen and Prasanna of TSJ Studio have made their debut in the Tamil film music industry with the album “Kamban Kazhagam”. Praveen Lakkaraju, Sreenivas Josyula and Sindhuja Bhaktavatsalam made their entry into Telugu music industry with the movie album “Hormones”. Sunny Sanour made his entry as a music director to Telugu music industry with the songs in the Telugu film “Swamy Ra Ra”. We are so happy and proud of these wonderful musicians.

Blogswara is a project that is so close to my heart. The project had taught me that regardless of many differences – regional, linguistic, caste, creed, religious, political etc – people can come together to create something that will make everyone rejoice in music. Most of us have still not seen each other or spoken to each other, yet we have built a relationship strongly rooted in music that continues to the date. It is music that binds us all, which is why I chose the tagline “United in Music” for Blogswara.

Personally too, Blogswara has helped me learn many things. The early lessons of leadership and organization, the pains and pleasure of it, came through Blogswara. I can proudly say that I have never succumbed to the pressures that would compromise the very founding principles of Blogswara. There were times when the pressure was mounted up on me to bring in the commercial aspect to Blogswara, or to bring in the religious fervor to it through the songs but I have resisted all that. I would rather see Blogswara vanish to thin air than deviating from it’s founding principles. Of the free/open music culture with CC licensing and the secular nature of the project. Of bringing in people of diverse cultures and languages in an effort to appreciate music. I can proudly say that I have been successful in that.

Another moment of pride was when Jessica Keyes, a student of Department of Music in University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada chose  music blogging with a primary focus on BlogSwara for her academic defense. Her paper titled “Blogging Music: Indian Musicians and Online Musical Spaces” presented an ethnography of the Indian music blogging community and a critical analysis of the historical and technological foundation for music blogging.

There are so many people to thank. Narayanan Venkitu and Ajith Gopalakrishnan to start with. Senthil (Sen) for the spark of Blogswara. Ganesh D for the name Blogswara. Abdul Shafeeq for the initial art work and CD covers. Gopal M S for the name ‘Trunk Call’. Murali Krishnan of Connexions, Chennai for the initial support. Jyothis E for the continued support with web space through many albums. Nandu Mahadevan for bringing in a process in place. Roshan Ravi for the cover art of Blogswara’s album ‘Trunk Call’. Legendary Tamil writer Sujatha for his piece in Vikatan, Karthika Thampan of Manorama News, Asha Anilkumar of Indian Express, Shilpa Nair Anand of The Hindu, K Santhosh of The Hindu, Anita Iyer and Aparna Joshi of Sound Box Magazine, Sankar Radhakrishnan of Business Line, B S Biminith of Mathrubhumi, Deccan Radio, Poornima for Radio Mirchi Chennai coverage and bloggers like Amit Verma, Kiruba and Neha Vishwanathan of Global Voice Online etc. And many thanks to all Blogswara participants and member without whom this project would never have happened.

And thanks to you, our listeners, who have encouraged us and helped us grow. We will still be online if you wanted to hear our songs again. It has been a great ride and it couldn’t have gotten better. Peace and music to all!

Sindhuja Bhaktavatsalam

Divya S Menon

Praveen Lakkaraju

Sreenivas Josyula

After TSJ Studio, who have made their entry into Tamil film music recently, few more talented people who have worked with Blogswara earlier have made their debut in the mainstream film music industry. Divya S Menon, though she had lent her voice earlier in the movies, has sung a solo song called “Anuraagam” in the upcoming Malayalam movie “Thattathin Marayathu“. Sindhuja Bhaktavatsalam sang “Vatapi Ganapatim” for the Telugu movie “Hormones” that is set to music by Blogswara artists Praveen Lakkaraju and Sreenivas Josyula. Wishing all the very vest to these artists for a bright musical career!

Blogswara is now inviting entries for it’s 8th online album! Please go through our Process page to understand how Blogswara works and the guidelines to follow before sending your entries. The dates for each of the step explained in the process page are given below. So good luck with your entries!

Deadline #1 – July 1, 2012
Deadline #2 – October 15, 2012
Deadline #3 – October 30, 2012
Deadline #4 – November 1, 2012
Deadline #5 – December 15, 2012
Deadline #6 – December 30, 2012
Deadline #7 – January 15, 2013
Deadline #8 – January 30, 2013

Hello everyone!

With 4 new songs in Hindi, Malayalam, English and Arabic, Blogswara’s 7th online album, Trunk Call, has just been released! Checkout the music player in our home page, listen to the songs and feel free to listen and download all songs for free! And don’t forget to let each song team know what you think of their song. Thank you and please share the links if you like the songs.

Happy New Year!

Siva Sreeraman

Pranav Jhumkavala

Vocals, Lyrics, Melody: Siva Sreeraman
Guitars, Music, Mixing: Pranav Jhumkavala

Lyrics:

Ab raat shaam savere, Paas raho ab tum mere, Na jaana tum aankhon se duur
Reh na sakoon tere bin, Ab naa kate mere din, milte hi rahenge zaroor
Meri baahon mein rehna meri jaana, tere nashe mein khoya yeh deewaanaa…

Bas aaj ab main tum, Ho jaaye haan yunh gum, Rahe na koi siva apne
Aankhen to kholo dekho, yeh kya hua hai socho, sach hone lage hain sapne
Lamha lamha chahoon tera saath, chod na dena mera haath…Bas raat shaam savere …….

And the night is so still, I feel our hearts beat, you ever so close to me,
Together for life, when our eyes meet, that’s how it’s always gonna be

Ab Kal Aaj aur Kal, Aur phir pal pal, meri zindagi mein tum raho
Chupke se baat karke, hoton mein hansi bharke, pyaar karti ho tum kaho

Paaya tujhe to jannat mujhko mili, saaton janam haan mohabbat mili
Bas raat shaam savere, Paas raho ab tum mere, Na jaana tum aankhon se duur
Reh na sakoon tere bin, Ab naa kate mere din, milte hi rahenge zaroor

Love is in the air, leave the world behind, you and me together
No moment to lose, got each other to find, be with you forever
Love is in the air…
Love is in the air…

Jay Krishnan

Ajay Chandran

George Kuruvilla

Lyrics: Ajay Chandran
Composer: Jay Krishnan
Vocals: George Kuruvilla

Lyrics:

mere dil mein bhi gu-roor tha
magar is mein teraa hi suroor tha

maine kabhii ye sochaa na thaa:
safar kaTega ye kaise tere binaa..

you were so close,if i only knew
I’ve always had the very best of you..
now you’ve got me searchin all around
i want u back for good…. i am beggin please.. aabhijaa..

mere dil mein bhi gu-roor tha
magar is mein teraa hi suroor tha

maine kabhii ye sochaa na thaa:
safar kaTega ye kaise tere binaa.

–
tere bin ye raahen ajnabii
yahaan meelon ki tan-haai-yaan..

pal do pal ki hai ye zindagii
we got to give love a second chance

sun’ dil kii aavaaz ko
yaar tu laut aa

phir na ye raat ho.. phir na ho.. hum juda

mere dil mein bhi gu-roor tha
magar is mein teraa hi suroor tha

maine kabhii ye sochaa na thaa:
safar kaTega ye kaise tere binaa..

you were so close,if i only knew
I’ve always had the very best of you..
now you’ve got me searchin all around
i want u back for good…. i am beggin please.. aabhijaa..

Rahul Soman

Sibu Sukumaran

Danil David

Unnikrishnan K B

Lyrics: Danil David (Arabic), Rahul Soman (Malayalam)
Music, mixing and mastering: Sibu Sukumaran
Vocals: Unnikrishnan K B
Vocals (Arabic): Sibu Sukumaran

Lyrics:

PALLAVI 1

Iravinte Veedhiyil,
Nizhal pole aaroraal,
Ishalinte niravaayi,
Akathaarin kuliraayi,
Ini ninte mohamaayi, Pranayini…
Ariyaathe kaanuvaan,
Kanavinte Thozhanaayi,
Ninayaathe ninnullil chekerum tharalamaayi…

CHARANAM 1:

Kaanaathe alayum neelunna maruvil
Maayaatheyetho thaaram mini thoraa nilaavil
Thoraathe pozhiyum neehaara mazhayil
Neeyekumoro moham engo theeraa kinaavil
Oru venal poovine novaathe kaaththa pOl..
kaanumO koodeyen swapnamaayi nee..Oo.. ee raavil…

CHARANAM 2:

Paadaathe urukum raapaadi thaniye,
Mohaardramaayi melle thengum theedunneeyaamam..
Aathmaavilaake aalunna kanalil…
Veezhunninetho shokam nenjil Engum vimoookam..
Akalunna neravum,
Vaazhi neele koottu pol,
Ekumo santhwanam ormayaayi nee… oo.. ee paattil…

Arabic Lyrics:

La Insaak Abedeen Habibi,
Intha isma kulu kalaaami.

Oh! My lover, please wait
And listen to me…

Swati Kanitkar

Anil B S

Sajeev Sarathie

Shaji

Suresh

Composition, Guitars, Keyboards and Drum arrangement: Anil B S
Lyrics: Sajeev Sarathie
Poem, Vocals: Swati Kanitkar
Flute: Shaji
Tabla: Suresh

Lyrics:

(Saundhi subah se pooch lo
ya aundhi ghata se pooch lo
hawao se poocho kya raaz hai )2

Kyun hai droop gunguni
mausam me hai kyun nami
badali fiza kyun aaj hai
badi khushnuma hai
badi khubsoorat
tarannum me barsa koi saaz hai
tumhe pake rut ye aaj shaad hai

Saundhi subah se pooch lo
ya aundhi ghata se pooch lo
hawao se poocho kya raaz hai

Kyun hai droop gunguni
mausam me hai kyun nami
badali fiza kyun aaj hai
badi khushnuma hai
badi khubsoorat
tarannum me barsa koi saaz hai
tumhe pake rut ye aaj shaad hai…

mai gungunati ek nadi si aa mili hun
saagar ki aagosh me samane
lehero se dil me chal-chalati hai umange
ankho se jhake sapne suhane
beet gai jaise beet gai
tujhme bhai mai reet gai
mehek gai tere pyar me
kali anthill tho phool ban gai hun
khoi hun tujhme itna yaad hai
ghunghat jo sarka chuti laaj hai

Saundhi subah se pooch lo
ya aundhi ghata se pooch lo
hawao se poocho kya raaz hai…

Kyun hai droop gunguni
mausam me hai kyun nami
badali fiza kyun aaj hai
badi khushnuma hai
badi khubsoorat
tarannum me barsa koi saaz hai
tumhe pake rut ye aaj shaad hai…

Teri hi yado aur sapno me magan hun
aab mai na chaahu koi seher bhi
palke na kholu mai na kholu ye nayan bhi
surat na dekhu jab mai piya ki
rooth gai mai rooth gai
choot gai duniya choot gai
Thun wo lagi tere pyar me
aans lagae mai hun khadi
pii ke milan ko aab to aans hai
dooji na aab to koi pyas hai

Saundhi subah se pooch lo
ya aundhi ghata se pooch lo
hawao se poocho kya raaz hai…

Kyun hai droop gunguni
mausam me hai kyun nami
badali fiza kyun aaj hai
badi khushnuma hai
badi khubsoorat
tarannum me barsa koi saaz hai
tumhe pake rut ye aaj shaad hai…

We are so happy to post the song teasers from Trunk Call, the upcoming Blogswara album! Trunk Call is the first of it’s kind in the history of Blogswara as the album has a central theme of bi-lingual songs which brings in the flavors of different languages and music genres into each song.

Contrary to the previous albums of Blogswara (earlier, Blogswara let itself to be the platform for ready-to-publish songs so people could send in what they had ready at hand), we had asked the song teams to work on a central theme that required each song to have a minimum of two languages. The theme stands close to the very basic principle of Blogswara, which is to unite people from different places using music as the medium to communicate. Even though we had received 19 song teams announcing their participation, only 6 song teams had submitted the songs out of which only 4 could make it to the final list. So we thank all the 4 song teams who took an extra effort to create new songs based on the given theme.

So here it comes, the song teasers from the upcoming album. Listen, share and show some love! The new album will go live online (need I say that the entire album is free to listen and download?) on January 1st, 2012. So stay tuned for the full versions!

Click on the player below to hear song teasers of Blogswara’s upcoming album Trunk Call! (Please scroll down to hear songs from the previous Blogswara albums)

Blogswara is happy to announce that Shyam, Praveen and Prasanna of TSJ Studio has made their debut in Tamil film industry with composing songs for the film “Kamban Kazhagam”. Please do listen and let them know your comments. This trio of wonderful musicians have worked with Blogswara in our 3rd edition. You can listen to their song “Azhage” which was originally published in Blogswara version 3 here.