Singer Sona Mohapatra's Durga The Demon Slayer blends rock and traditional music

The artwork for the single. Illustration/Aroficio

For many who mistakenly presume that Indian tradition lacks rock icons, the manner and nature of goddess worship in many parts of the country can be a surprise. As beautiful as pandals look in the days of Navratri, they are a reminder of the primal and longstanding tradition of female symbolism that runs through the subcontinent's roots. It is no surprise then that the Indian rock scene has often turned to the Goddess - for symbolism, music or inspiration. The latest single, Durga the demon slayer by Sona Mohapatra travels that same road. It blends rock interludes, guitar play and layers it with a traditional vocal undercurrent to celebrate the famed Mahishasura Mardini chant.

Released under her label, Omgrown Music, the song is the latest take of the shloka written in the 8th century BCE by the saint-poet, Adi Shankaracharya. "I call myself Chandi's daughter (one of the forms of goddess Durga)," Mohapatra reveals as she explains the song's inspiration. For the singer, the chant naturally lent itself to the rock genre. "I feel the power in the mantra, it has a percussive element in its words and rhythm. It [the chant] builds up in terms of a sonic graph, and engulfs you. It comes down to the energy. The song hits the chakra in the centre of your body," she remarks.

Sona Mohapatra at a gig

Produced by Mohapatra and her husband composer Ram Sampath, the song builds up to a manic energy. It opens with a steady drum beat (Jai Row Kavi) that drives Mohapatra's vocals. The accompanying movements, enhanced by the powerful chords on guitar by Sanjoy Das which make the track one to groove on. One can feel the song building up through the second stanza towards a frantic culmination. By the end, it is a frenzy of a heavy synth electric guitar battling out the last few seconds with the percussive drum.

"The track is not in the conventional form of lyrics, musical interlude followed by lyrics. it is almost driven in this manic form from a drum beat," Mohapatra explains. The live-band sound adds to the experience and instinctive nature of the composition.

The song also holds a deeper connection to the singer. The shloka is about a goddess whose symbolism is far more relevant today than ever before. "She [Durga the demon slayer] is out there on her own and protecting the helpless. The demon she kills is in the form of a bull - often the symbol of toxic and uncontrolled masculinity. Quite symbolic, if you look at the wars around us. The worst affected are the women. But when it comes to their children, they will take up arms. It is not that they are incapable, but they know better than to resort to violence except in defense of something. That is feminine power," she points out.

The comic-book superhero artwork for the single adds another layer to this theme. It reflects the influence mythical stories from the East often have on Western pop-culture, she says, adding, "My big ambition is to influence the mainstream with it [indie art/music]. The idea is to not be clever, but to present something you feel so close to, and present it to a new generation and hope they will be proud of it." With a live-action performance and musical being built around the iconography, it marks a good beginning for the celebration of the goddess.

Log on to: : Durga the demon slayer on Spotify; YouTube

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