From silence to celebration!

Introducing us to the intoxication of the Hang, Prabhu Shyam Acharya takes us on a soothing, detoxifying musical journey, defying all the conventional confines that modern music is bound by!


MUSIC THERAPY
For Prabhu Shyam Acharya, well known as Prabhu Osoniqs in musical circles, the Hang connection dates back to around four and a half years. The instrument, invented by Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer in Switzerland in 2000, has been creating waves on the global music scene ever since. Inspired by Caribbean influences, the Indian ghatam and the gamelan from Indonesia, the Hang presents a sweet concoction of percussive elements and melodic attributes.
"The Hang is capable of letting you switch effortlessly between rhythmic, beat-driven sections to melodic, lead-like phases," reveals Prabhu Osoniqs. Tracing a developmental trajectory similar to the one followed by most evolving handmade instruments for the past 700 to 800 years, the Hang has been successful in exploring various tonal qualities over the generations. "The music created out of such instruments is usually meant for relaxation. The Sansula, invented in Germany, modeled on the South African Kalimba, modified and adopted on drum skin, is a similar melody-based instrument,"
adds Prabhu.
The hang's entrance in Prabhu's life served as a mellow shift. A graphic designer and photographer by profession, he has been playing the dhol and the tabla since childhood. His stint at the Osho commune helped him take giant stride in the musical sphere. "The exposure was great! Jamming with musicians hailing from disparate backgrounds helped me connect with the audience on many levels."
The music written by Prabhu Osoniqs is meant to bring oneself loser to nature and in the process, to themselves! "Most compositions are inspired by nature, and the little joys it brings like the soft whistle of the wind blowing through bamboo forests and the entire forest dancing to its tune; the chime of the flowing river; the river doesn't have an agenda, it just drifts into nothingness," smiles Prabhu. His songs, 'Dancing with the beloved at the temple gate,' 'Silent song in a marketplace,' predominantly reflect this carefree streak of nature.  
Seeking solitude amidst the clutter around, Prabhu prefers receiving silence in reciprocation than applause.

THE THEORY
"Our earliest instincts train us to receive only sounds and vibration, which constitute our first and second levels of experience; the other senses follow much later. We seek to revisit that elementary phase through music. The experience can be associated with higher-end concepts such as the circle of life, the energy flow, etc."
The track length varies according to the atmospheric ambience, offer- reception cycle, which is almost cellular in approach. The focus rests on the experience. Prabhu's untrained approach works best with what he aims to achieve through his music, we discover. He plays two tracks for his recently-released compilation for us. The surreal trail of the rhythm emanating from his Hang leaves us spellbound. The silent appreciation lies in the awed expressions which we're sure Prabhu's used to by now. "Routine makes you disconnected with nature; I'm trying to re-bond with it at a very primary level through the music!" he concludes.
 
EXTRA TERRESTRIAL ELEMENTS!
For the uninitiated, the Hang might resemble a UFO at first sight! The metallic, flying saucer-like structure, pitted with seven indentations marking the seven notes, certainly packs extra-terrestrial characteristics. "The composition of the metal alloy imparts specific tonal tendencies to the instrument," clarifies Prabhu. 

--BHUSHAN SAWANT