Sona Mohapatra’s upcoming song for World Music Day celebrates love and togetherness during lockdown

Sona has conceptualised a music video ‘Portraits of Quarantine’ as an idea to timestamp this tough period of isolation with a ‘moving photo album’ of her band, crew and team members and the people they have shared this tough lockdown with. There is also a message to many who are battling loneliness and depression to reach out and seek support and in turn to people who know them to rally around and lean in. Everybody needs somebody who can remind them of their own value, beauty and strength!

The songstress and producer performs a soulful song - ‘Tori Surat- Unplugged’, with a chill lounge soundscape and Amir Khusro’s poetry with her band . The video features the ‘faces or surats’ that make this period an easier one to navigate. A moving extended family ‘photo album’ to watch back in better times and remember the quarantine and it’s lessons.

Sona believes that despite the tough situation of the last few months, these are the people around her who kept her enthused and motivated as an artist and human being. On her worst days, she derived strength from her beloved team and band whom she misses the most in this lockdown after travelling with them across the world on an average of 16 days in a month!

Speaking about it Sona says, "We don't have to have "mental illness" to experience psychological issues during COVID-19's stressful impact on humanity. To cope, everyone needs connection and compassion. If we are lucky we have shared this quarantine period with someone who provides that support, be it by being physically around or even available virtually. This music video is an ode to that.

“World Music Day is around the corner and is a wonderful occasion that lets my whole team come together virtually to do what we do best; perform music that not only entertains people but also uplifts their soul. Crehyl Periera is a very talented young music arranger and he produced a jazz-lounge track for Ram Sampath’s composition that I know will be loved. The music video has been shot individually by each team member but edited in the Himachal Pradesh hills by Nitesh Bisht.

The piano, melodica, flutes and the electric and acoustic guitars, the percussion including cajon, the Hindustani and Konnakol bols performed in this track make ‘Tori Surat Unplugged’ a truly world music gem! A perfect blend of the music of the west and the east too. The last few months haven't been easy on any of us. Today when I look back, I feel it is important for us to cherish and celebrate our support systems; the ones we share our lockdown and homes with. ‘Portraits of Quarantine’ celebrates that thought. Tori Surat is timeless poetry by a Sufi master and I hope my relationship and love with my team also endures similarly."