Now that the Naga Idol season has come once again, I would like to share with my readers my experiences of Naga Idol 2006. I live in Diphupar, four miles away from Dimapur town and have been here for more than 15 years. The people here are so kind, humble and co-operative. I have a brother and a sister and we live with our honourable and loving father. He alone brought up three of us since I was just 7 yrs old.
2006 NAGA IDOL CONTEST:
One afternoon, I saw in the newspaper about a contest for Naga Idol. At first it made me laugh because I thought " American Idol, Indian Idol and now Naga Idol.........ha ha ha!!! I was not serious about it. Then one evening, to my surprise, my friend Temjen gave me a registration form for Naga Idol and told me about the Idol contest and practically forced me to go for audition in Japfu Hotel, Kohima. So I went, sang my song, got through the audition and that’s how I started my Idol journey.
But you know, Naga Idol 2006 contest was just like a dream for me!!! It was so strange and fabulous that I will never forget in my life time. I believe that it is not so easy to dream such an extraordinary dream in future.
Before the contest I had the privilege to perform only in my church but today people are listing to my music album all over Nagaland. I can say that the MDACC is doing a great job not only for me but for all the aspiring singers of Nagaland. I pray that through them one day people from all over the world will praise the beauty and talents of Nagaland.
Through this contest I also got lots of exposure and lots of unforgettable experiences. In 2003, a band known as Tuttis won the accapella contest in Spunk Festival, again in 2004, our band known as Vital Force won the All Nagaland Gospel Beat Contest and in 2006, that was just before the first audition of Naga Idol 2006, I was honoured with the best vocalist in the All Nagaland Open Beat Contest. The judges were Moanungsang (Naga Idol) and Meren Jamir (of Strings Journal). But all these experiences and exposure can't be compared with the Idol events.
Some of my greatest experiences during the Idol journey were:
1. We met the Chief Minister and the Governor in their residence and had discussion for about an hour each.
2. Secondly, meeting up with my former judge (Moanungsang) from the All Nagaland Open Beat Contest and having to compete with him on the same stage for the same honour (Naga Idol 2006).
3. Thirdly, staying in the VIP Guest house with M P Wangyo Kongyak and sharing our views and ideas with him.
Our Promotional tours all over Nagaland last year was amazing. I can recollect some of the kids and teens asking me autograph their school calendars, note books and on their hands. OH...its cool yeah!!!
Thousand of votes means I have thousand of good friends all over the state and I'm so proud to sing for them.
MY DEBUT ALBUM "RISE FIGHT LIVE".
To make a music album was a dream from my childhood days. Our bands like Cowboys For Jesus, Tuttis, and Vital Force wasn't able to come out with an original album. To make an original music album is so tough specially in Nagaland as far as my experience is concerned. But at last, Naga Idol 2006 gave me the right platform to sing and do what I was dreaming for. So, I appreciate and want to say thanks to each and every member of MDACC for organising such a great and perfect event for me. I also want to say thanks to all who have made many positive contributions in promoting me.
My debut album "Rise Fight Live" project started from first week of February 2007. It was such a great experience for me working with Longden (Guitars and Keyboard), Along Sanglir (Bass,) Imle Subong (Drums) and sound engineer. These three guys are from the Abiogenises band, who recently introduce Howey Music and Bambum world wide.
ALBUM COVER MESSAGE:
Through this cover, I woughd like to convey to all the countrymen to love the nation. 'Rise Fight Live' in rainbow colour and shape means we have to rise, work hard and live and therefore, our land will shine as a star and people from different corners of the world will be able to see the beautiful land of ours. Half shaded with naked body means we are not self-dependent.
SONG TITLE "RISE, FIGHT AND LIVE" MESSAGE:
This song is specially dedicated to the HIV & AIDS victims, that in all the great suffering and grief, you can still rise up, fight and live. There is still hope if everyone fights against it together so that our future will not be a repeat of the past. Also, I am planning to do my part in helping the victims through my shows within the year.
This is my first solo album and I'd tried to put all kinds of music in order to get the attention from all the music lovers.
My music teams in producing my album were these great guys.
1. Executive PRODUCER: ACHEN IMCHEN
2. SOUND Engineer. : IMLE SUPONG
3. COVER DESIGNER: AKUM SUPONG
4. LAYOUT ARRANGMENT: LIMA SANGLIR
5. BASS: ALONG SANGLIR
6. GUITARS & KEYBOARD: LONGDEN
7. DRUMS & PERCUSSION: IMLE SUPONG
8. FEMALE VOISE: S. ALILA & WATILA
9. LYRICS: ATU SANGLIR, AMENLA LKR & ACHEN IMCHEN.
Recorded at Soul Speak Studio, Nuton Bosti, Dimapur.
Note: Achen Imchen was a finalist of Naga Idol 2006. He has just released his debut album and a sample track from his album is available for free downloading from the Naga idol website www.nagaidol.com.