Genzpire, December 2022

Editor’s Letter

It is that time of the year when we retrospect and look at the year that has gone by, at the same time, have hopes and wishes for the year that is coming up. This year has been very crucial in all our lives, considering we are all coming out of a two-year long pandemic and adapting to newer ways of living. Across generations we have all faced difficulties and situations and have had to find ways to go by our lives by coping in our own ways. For us Gen-Z’ers, we tried to take up unconventional paths to live in a world that works for us in our own individualistic spirit, as per usual. One factor that worked out beautifully for most of us in different ways was music. Music turned out to be the best buddy, the shoulder to cry on, the one to vent out our emotions to. It kept us company on those lonely isolated nights and also helped us amp up the mood when we needed the pick-me-up. In fact, music has turned out to be something more than something we just merely listened to. Whether we pursued music seriously or merely listened to it while working or studying, or be it Carnatic or western music, it turned out to create an impact in our lives which is indescribable.

The way music has been an integral part of my life in the recent past cannot be expressed simply with words. I wouldn’t have been able to navigate such a crucial time in my life if not for music, and my Spotify Wrapped stats are here to back me up! Apart from being so special to us on a personal level, the landscape of music in general is so versatile and its importance has risen greatly in the last few years. Qualities and notions of our generation such as need for the communal feeling and relatability is what integrates all our personal music choices to a higher level. Music is at its peak in today’s world, where its versatility extends beyond its various forms and genres. It is interesting to see what are the other fields that are impacted and influenced by music, especially when we find the connection between very different fields such as music and fashion, it is mind-blowing to see the tangibility of music and how it can be incorporated into design elements. Also, specifically to this month and season when we are in the peak of a cold climate, music is here to provide the warmth and comfort that we crave for. Even in the Tamil month of Margazhi that we are in, music plays such an integral part. Such power music holds, that it was impossible not to incorporate it in Genzpire. So, from me to you here is ‘For The Record’.

Sneha Krishnan

Bold, Digital Brights for the New Year

From dresses to shoes and accessories, this New Year it is all about bold, digital brights that take the spotlight.

As the year comes to an end, it is important to revisit and internalise what has happened and at the same time, stay as optimistic for the New Year as possible. The number of difficult situations combined with an uncertain future has had a huge impact on Generation-Z, which in return will have a considerable amount of emotional and behavioural impact. There is this yearning for a temporary relief from the ongoing and impending arduous circumstances, leading to the spirit of the times being escapism. The zoomers being a highly technologically oriented and driven generation turn to invigorating and enthusiastic means for diversion from reality, most of it leading to digital spaces, the colours of which impact the fashion of the generation. Combinations of Lazauli Blue, Orchid Flower and Digital Violet (WGSN) with a pinch of Jade make for transeasonal shades as well as will contribute in uplifting the general atmosphere and the interactions that follow. A rich, dark blue in the name of Lazauli Blue has the ability to connect and immerse the consumers in a digital world as well as add the luxury quotient, while the key transeasonal colour being Orchid Flower can be used for that eye-catching effect especially at end-of-the-year glamour, the pops of Jade here and there ground and balance the escapist qualities attached to it and Digital Violet ends up being the primary colour to beam over all, it being the namesake colour and most appropriate for the spirit of the times we live in.

Colour swatches source: AW ‘22 Youth Colour Forecast, WGSN

Images source: Instagram

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THE RIGHT WAY To Hair Masque This Winter

Using a shampoo and conditioner is the simplest way to wash and take care of one’s hair. But sometimes, your hair needs something a little bit extra. Especially when it is being subjected to various other products such as heating tools and hairsprays which can cause severe damage to the strands of the hair, it is essential to amp up the hair routine. The best way to do that is to include hair masques into the hair care routine. Hair masques have been in existence since the beginning of time. Women have always made homemade preparations and applied them as masque onto their hair. One such example would be from the Ancient Egypt period, where women were known to have applied exotic oils and fruit pastes to their hair, such as bananas and avocados.

Oftentimes, it would end up becoming a competition as to whose hair is the shiniest and healthiest and haircare secrets would be exchanged. The modern version of this would be #hairtok, haircare and scalp care routines, hacks and transformations that are shared on TikTok. Be it tips on how to grow your faster or how to recreate easy hairstyles, “hairtok” was the one point information source and was trusted by thousands of women across the world especially since there were live testimonials and examples to show how it all worked. Among all those hair care trends, usage of hair masques gained severe popularity, with content being generated about the benefits of the product until how to use it effectively to see the results.

In any hair care routine, a hair masque becomes important as it deeply nourishes and strengthens the hair. Hair masques are formulated with ingredients like butter, oil and these hydrating formulations give shine & sheen to the hair making it look richer, smoother and lustrous. It is very important that one knows how to masque up properly, especially during the winter. The cold can affect your scalp, causing it to become dry and flaky and that can cause severe damage to the hair by itself.

Here is the ideal way in which you can masque and protect your hair during this winter:

• Wash your hair with warm water

• Shampoo the hair and rinse nicely

• Apply the hair masque

• Allow the product to stay in hair for five minutes.

• Rinse the hair well

• Wrap with the towel and dry.

There are a few conditions you have to keep in mind, though. Always read the instructions provided to see the duration as to which you have to leave the product on to the hair depending on the length of your hair. If your hair condition calls for extreme repair, make sure to use the hair masque atleast twice a week. But most importantly, the post hair wash care must be kept in mind for complete effectiveness. As much as possible avoid using external heating elements and stick to towel drying. Make sure not to tie up the hair tightly and take good care of it for the continued result.

Coconut turns out to be a very beneficial ingredient when it comes to taking care of one’s hair.

CHOOSE YOUR HAIR MASQUE WISELY.

Now that the multiple benefits of hair masque have been iterated, one of the most popular hair masques that has emerged and has gained popularity due to the immediately visible results would be the Virtue Labs Restorative Treatment Masque which contains the Alpha Keratin 60Ku, the exact same keratin that is found in the hair strands which will ensure it will repair your hair better than ever. It also contains antioxidant rich baobab seed oil and hydrolyzed quinoa extract which will not only help repair but also add moisture to the dull and dry hair. The best part about this hair masque is that although it has so many reparative qualities, it is still extremely lightweight and therefore works on all hair types. An added plus point is the citrusy, woody scent that creates a soothing, spa-like feeling. For all the hair care nerds out there, Virtue Labs Restorative Treatment Masque is colour safe, paraben free, gluten free, cruelty free and vegan! Show me another hair masque so well rounded like this one.

GUCCI Twinsburg

There has been nothing else in fashion like Gucci’s Twinsburg before.

Gucci’s Creative Director Alessandro Michele has once again worked his magic to be etched in fashion history. This time, it is not just the collection that makes us go wow, but the way it was presented left not only the offline but the online audience awestruck. This SummerSpring 2023 collection from Gucci at the Milan Fashion Week featured symmetrical looks worn and walked by 68 sets of identical twins! For the first walk, models donned the looks and walked by themselves in two simultaneous runways but their identical twins joined in for the second walk, holding hands, which was not just breathtaking but also gave the feeling of watching a new show altogether. The concept was completely inspired from Alessandro Michele’s personal life and

seeing the relationship between his mother and her twin sister. Although that was the concept as seen on the runway, it extended beyond that and it actually provoked a very intriguing thought; about how individualism impacts identity and what happens to it when the style is duplicated. As a person who belongs to Generation-Z, who are largely a very individualistic thinking group, the concept goes deep to the heart. The 68 looks covered a whole host of silhouettes, styled and genres of clothing; ranging from tailored pieces to red carpet glam, baggy and oversized to cropped and fitted, colourful and statement pieces to neutral ones, this show had it all. There seemed to be inspirations from over so many decades of fashion history, largely from the 70s to the 00s- revamped and updated with cuts or alterations here and there. The suit was largely seen in a large number of looks; an added touch was pairing double breasted blazers up with garter pants, and a unique look was the low waisted pants with the strings of the thongs revealed. All of these were paired up with Gucci’s iconic quilted handbags. In terms of workwear, it was a nod to the latest trends that being oversized jackets and baggy pants but the most iconic look was the sequined jacket that read out ‘FUORI!!!’ which had an Italian significant historical reference. The collection also largely

Images source: Vogue Runway

featured a lot of evening wear pieces with a global touch to it; including capes, gowns, skirts and boots. There was also an appreciable slight nod to folk-wear which featured floral tunics, quilted jackets and widelegged pants. Archival revival in terms of fashion, that is, picking up styles from earlier decades and altering it and giving it a fresh look to suit the current time period, is one of the main trends that has emerged from this show. Almost all the looks had a unique bag that was added to the ensemble. A few of the modernized looks had the models donning glasses- either shades or optical ones, mostly for tailored pieces. A very interesting accessory was the face jewellery that covered the t-zones and was sequined. The makeup was extremely minimal so as to not distract from all the maximal garments and accessories. The hair was also styled on basic terms according to the theme and genre of the ensemble. The overall ambience and

setting of the runway were so well planned that it shed light on the overall look on the models. It was kept mostly dark and spotlight on the models well enough as they walked in pairs. The music had an eerie yet futuristic, hopeful touch to it and it complemented the overall intrigue and awe that was going on in the show. Overall, as beautiful as the show was, it gets us thinking how such a variety of themes and concepts represented in 68 looks can appeal to a higher idea which is one of the highlights of shows now and in the future, that is, looking at fashion beyond the visual aspect alone. It was a treat to watch it and undoubtedly the viewers go through a variety of emotions from start to end of the show. There has been nothing else in fashion like Gucci’s Twinsburg before.

Images source: Vogue Runway

Traditions, Pyschology and Gen-Z: Uthara Unnikrishnan

The name Unnikrishnan rings a bell when we talk about Carnatic music. But today, Uthara Unnikrishnan is taking after her father quite rapidly. After all, starting her music career by winning a National Award for Best Female Playback Singer pushes her name much farther in the industry. But when you take one look at that bubbly, smiling face of hers, and hear her sweet voice, it would feel like she is your friend who you have known for years. In fact, it was not just her smile or voice that was soothing, but also the aesthetics and colours of her living room, coordinating with was her lehenga and dupatta. Just being in that calming atmosphere with her sitting so gracefully and hearing her humming to herself was so blissful.

“Hi, I am Uthara and I am 18 years old.” she timidly introduces herself with a slight giggle. Needless to say, as a big lover of music, she loves exploring different genres of music, such as Indian Carnatic, Hindustani, and in western music, genres such as R&B, pop, jazz and so on. “Whenever I start listening to a new genre of music, I listen to them often to observe the notes technically and analyse the layers that go into the songs,” she adds. Uthara’s music journey started off quite interestingly; she was tricked into joining music classes by her grandmother. Initially it was a playful hobby but by the time Uthara was 8, she started taking the classes seriously and dedicated a lot of her time in practicing and getting trained in Carnatic music. She mostly sings devotional songs since the intricate sannathis help her adapt to and differentiate between different genres of music. While she has been learning Carnatic music since she was 6 years old, she has just recently started learning Hindustani music and is very new to it. When it comes to the Margazhi month’s kutcheri season, Uthara attends a lot of her father’s concerts. “Initially, I would tell my parents that I would attend my father’s kutcheris only if he sings my favourite songs”, Uthara chuckles and continues “but as time passed, I became much keener to attend the kutcheris and in fact derived lot of learnings from it.” She also knows the importance of dressing appropriately for such occasions. Even though she is acquainted with the basic rules such as not wearing sleeveless to such concerts, she always turns to her mother for the final approval on her choice of outfits, although she is restricted to pavadai-chattais or kurtis, depending on the concert. Speaking further about Margazhi, Uthara understands the importance of the month, the cultural significances and traditions that come along with it and the necessity to follow them and keep it alive. Being a part of Generation-Z, who are essentially collectively not into Carnatic music which makes up a large part of Margazhi Utsavams, Uthara believes that fusion music as a genre of music would work well since it is one way to keep a part of the traditional aspects of music alive and it would also follow the path of keeping up with the trends.

But quite surprisingly, there are a lot of people who belong to the same generation and are avid Carnatic music lovers, who come up to Uthara and tell her that they listen to her songs and that they learn a lot from it, which says a lot about her influence in this generation. Although music defines her the most, there is another interesting side to Uthara. She is currently pursuing her first year of college majoring in psychology. Now what is interesting about this is how she plans to take it forward in the future. “The awareness and importance behind psychology as a subject is increasing every day and music is loved across ages and therefore putting both together in the form of music therapy would be ideal”, Uthara says. She firmly believes that music helps a lot with mental health, although since music is very subjective the impact differs from person to person.

“I learnt psychology in school and now in college as well and music is my passion and it just made sense to combine both in my unique way that works for me because after all it is all about what makes you happy at the end of the day”, she adds, with a wide, beautiful smile. After all, being a part of this generation in today’s world does not come easy, especially in a competitive field such as music where there is heavy demand to practice consistently and keep oneself updated to stay valid in the industry. Even otherwise, Uthara feels that Gen-Z is a very complicated generation who are heavily influenced by media, social media in particular. Being a part of this age group and being in the public eye is quite difficult for her since the comments generated are quite difficult to hear and there is always pressure somewhere or the other; having a strong

mental grit is of utmost importance according to her. Uthara and her father Unnikrishnan listen to lot of old bands together. In fact, that is how she even got introduced to western music in the first place. Uthara fondly recalls a cherished memory, from when she was much younger. When her father got a new car, that was the year Michael Jackson passed away. They had a CD of his songs and they would play those songs over and over in the car and so Uthara by-hearted them that way. Her father also introduced her to various other bands and artists who have had a big influence on her. ‘I would credit my father Unnikrishnan for a lot of the exposure and knowledge I have in music now, and also for reaching where I am in the music industry today’, Uthara says with a smile.

“Whenever I start listening to a new genre of music, I often listen to them to observe the notes technically and analyse the layers that go into the songs.”

Gen-Z’s Margazhi

Considered to be a very divine month, Margazhi falls ninth in the Tamil Hindu calendar. It is a period of spiritual and cultural activities mainly across Tamilnadu. Complemented by perfect weather in the months of December and January, a spiritual ardour engulfs the people. Carnatic music from the Margazhi Maha Utsavams and graceful dance performances are the highlights of the season. It is one of the most festive times of the year. The women adorn themselves with beautiful traditional temple jewellery and wear gorgeous Kanchipuram silk sarees, which end up being conversation pieces during social events. In the last few years, Generation Z comprising of people aged from 16 to 26 have increasingly started engaging in these events whether as musical maestros and elegant dancers or as enthusiastic viewers. This is also the age when girls are initiated into wearing sarees for the first time as occasional wear. They play with the freedom that the saree offers and twist and style it in new and innovative ways. The influx of this style can be easily noticed in any of the major sabhas and locales in the month of Margazhi. Zoomers are comfortable enough to walk along the path of convention yet bring out the

sense of self to portray themselves. The focus is on having fun with the saree; Gen-Z is all about wearing the saree in a casual yet innovative manner, with the former through addition of western accessories and products such as belts, sneakers, jackets and so on. It is also all about challenging the traditional feminity that is associated with the saree. This is seen through the unconventional saree draping techniques such as draping it over pants or pairing it up with blazers. There are also lot of up-and-coming Indian brands who are popularizing crop tops specially as blouses. It completely removes the pressure off of the tailored blouses which was seen as a big hassle among saree wearers. Pairing it up with creative accessories also makes it easier to wear it on a daily basis. Such innovations with the humble saree make it much more appealing especially during months filled with festivities that call for traditional attire such as Margazhi. This creative concept is going to communicate this very aspect of draping and styling by seamlessly combining the traditional feel of the attire with its limitless transformative abilities to display the unique yet combustive fashion of today’s generation, highlighting the concepts of individuality and resilience.

Get The Look

Pick the saree of your choice; suitable colour and comfortable fabric. You can pair it up conventionally with the usual blouse but style it with layers for the winter; jacket, belt and shoes, or wear it with a crop top or a trendy off shoulder blouse. To maintain the spirit of the festivities, adorn yourselves with traditional earrings and appropriate neckpieces. For a safer choice, always turn to metal jewellery. Finally, to complete the ensemble, place a bindi on your forehead.

In frame: Pavithraa Venkatasubramani

Lookbook 1

A nice, big pair of gold or gold plated decorative earrings would complement the ensemble and add the sparkle that is needed for you to shine.

You can never go wrong with a red lip along with your sparkly jewellery like rings and a minimal yet beautiful neckpiece.

To top it off, pair up the saree with your favourite sneakers!

Lookbook 2

The cold months of December call for a stylish jacket and a belt that can be paired up with the saree to elevate the entire ensemble at the same time, staying comfortable and warm at the same time.

The colour tones of metal jewellery accurately match to the climatic colour tones this season while giving the lustre that is required.

Top the look off with a subtle lip, a powerful eye look and a big, round bindi!

For The Record

In frame: Sidhaarth Krishnan and Vasundhara Sudharshan representing Generation-Z.

Every generation that goes through the late teens and early twenties turn out to be major trendsetters to the older and younger generations at any given point of time. They have a great influence on how people consume and relate to brands. And in the current time period, as the global connectivity soars, such generational shifts make much more of an impact on society than the social or cultural differences. McKinsey, in collaboration with Box1824 conducted a survey to understand the behavioural patterns of Generation-Z, and what makes them the ‘True Gen’.

Generation-Z are all for individual expression and value honesty. They are all for joining forces towards a variety of causes. Gen-Z are also a group of people who are highly pragmatic and analytical- driven mainly by the technology and media that makes them think rationally and take decision as such. In fact, such defining traits of this generation are what make today’s young people different from yesterdays. Add on to this, generation-Z are the true digital natives. Such technology has also given the younger generation a great degree of connectivity between themselves and across generations. Put all this together along with search for the truth at the center, that is what drives Generation-Z and in turn changes the way the characteristics of the society in general turn out to be.

With that established, the search for the truth by the ‘true gen’ is the main prompt for consumption among the various facets; both in a personal and combined form. This is a generation who feels comfortable having not only one way to express themselves; its search for trueness and authenticity creates more ways of expression and greater openness when it comes to understanding the diverse range of people. Personalization and upholding one’s identity has become the order of the day, with zoomers taking lead in it. The importance of expressing oneself; or the individual truth has gained popularity, with the key point being not restricting oneself to stereotypes but rather for the people to experiment with different ways of being themselves and shaping their identities over time.

As a group of individuals who are also largely very passionate towards mobilizing for a common cause, and are even ready to leave the differences aside. The feeling and concept of relatability and empathy goes a long way with these group of pragmatic individuals. This sheds light on a connected topic; accepting each person as they are. Generation-Z pride on being inclusive. Due to the high level of mobilization brought upon by technology, they value the flow of interaction that goes on between communities whether it is offline or online. All of this finally converges to the important point- how they are all realistic and unveil the truth behind everything.

To reiterate, Generation-Z turn out to be so much more pragmatic and analytical than any other generation, mostly due to the vast amount of information at their disposal and the shrewd decisions they have to take. This also ended up with this group of people being selflearners, with a lot of them acquiring bits and pieces of knowledge mostly from online platforms and stringing them together to make sense. It is all about less talk and more work for these group of individuals since they are easily able to differentiate and locate where reality is, and what must be done to understand how things work. Such analytical and realistic mindsets of this generation can be taken and applied anywhere and everywhere. When we look at one of the most powerful and essential joys in life unanimously across generations, music, the current period we live in is a very interesting one for it, especially when we look at the context of how and why certain music is chosen and listened to.

The Culture Next Report, as published recently by Spotify gives a great insight into how the current, highly influential Generation-Z has had an impact on the music landscape with their new thinking and attitudes. Music has turned out to be vitally important for this generation, especially on the lines of individual expression and relatability. Music has allowed for the Gen-Z listeners to explore various facets of their personality and shape up their individuality, and in the process they learn so much about themselves. Irrespective of the genre or classification of the song, zoomers have made music such an inherent part of their lives that it shapes up their daily lives. This whole outlook is seen from the perspective that quality music is of great importance especially when it significantly influences the country’s future; the minds and motivations of the zoomers are shaped up and driven by music. Generation-Z is using music to hear and be heard. Self-expression and creativity, as seen through the music habits of the zoomers, are one of the most important components of how they navigate the world. Music merely provides the opportunity for the generation to mould the stories that they want to tell for themselves. The listening habits of the zoomers tell a story about who they are and they have learned something about themselves by looking back at these habits that they have cultivated over a period of time. This sheds light on the very important concept that lies common in this generation- retrospection.

Generation-Z is all for retrospection and ‘throwbacks’ where they like to go back to a time where life was much simpler, even if they were times way back even when they weren’t born. Specifically with music, the

zoomers filter pop culture throwbacks with a current perspective and discover something new and call it their own. Moreover, music has turned out to be a place of ventilation and a place of escapism among the times of difficulties for the zoomers. Starting from listening to music while working or studying even until listening to music while commuting, it has created a big impact among their lives either by being the companion they needed or as a stress reliever. Clearly, it was more than something they just listened to. Not just an outlet but sometimes it was a means of forming connections with others, mainly through online platforms and groups such as Discord and subreddits due to common tastes in music.

It is now established that Generation-Z is one of the most influential generations across ages and their connection with music is very powerful. With that being said, Generation-Z is driving the change at which the music landscape in India is revolutionizing. Needless to say, the internet has had a huge impact on the way music is distributed, received and perceived. As more and more people embrace the new way of music channeling, terms like ‘Tiktoker’ and ‘Youtuber’ are becoming more and more popular and as more songs become available online, the way they are streamed has also changed. The concept of ‘more playlists and less albums’ has gained popularity wherein curated playlists are created by people who love the same genre or type of music and it is made accessible to all across platforms and apps. Moreover, such initiatives online have led to the rise of many independent artists releasing singles and covers, and posting them which has gained the attention of the zoomers who are on the constant look-out for shifting narratives in the music space. There are now newer ways of getting heard and seen in such a vast online space that it has also led to the emergence of new, unconventional genres of music since the acceptance rate among zoomers is high. This has further led to diversity due to the unrestricted access to the wide range of audio. In fact, according to a study done by Forbes, a vast majority of Generation-Z listen to more than five genres of music on a regular basis. But all said and done, the fundamentals of the generation are grounding the changes that take place in this sector.

In the end, it is all about keeping it real for the zoomers. Pairing up with that is their love for nostalgia and shared communal feeling that is keeping music nowadays thriving and alive. Zoomers are essentially a group of individuals that are crying out loud for authenticity and will be able to easily pick out genuine artists and their music. So for the record, youth define the music landscape and Gen-Z has officially taken over.

CONNOISSEURS: Tackling the Traditional Bias

In every generation there are always a set of people who tend to stand out from the rest of the crowd for various reasons. But do these set of people stick out from the very intriguing generation that is Gen-Z, due to the path they have chosen? Here are four such Carnatic connoisseurs who have had such a beautiful journey in the field and share their views as they navigate through their voyage in the huge ocean that is Carnatic music.

Born in Srirangam, brought up in Bangalore and currently at New York, Rajagopal Raghunath has seen it all! Nevertheless, he is one who stays true to his roots and stresses upon the importance of upholding one’s traditions. He has been trained for about seven years by four different teachers until the Kritis, with his latest teacher being Smt. Soumya Ramachandran, a renowned violinist. Growing up, his interest in music in general was inculcated from the constant playing of Carnatic music at home by his mother and film music by his father and the music playlists of his friends. Even when it comes to other genres of music, his choices point to Carnatic driven Indian film music and western music which creates a sense of nostalgia.

Besides his keen interest in Carnatic music, Rajagopal is very passionate about his culture and is an ardent lover of history and mythology. Being known among his peers and family for his lengthy storytelling, he credits the source of his wide knowledge, support and inspiration for the same to his grandmother, who has been a pillar in his life and a strong influence even when it comes to Carnatic music. The month of Margazhi is very dear to Rajagopal as it is the holiest month in the Tamil calendar filled with spiritual and divine activities. Every year during this period, he sings songs of devotion dedicated to God and his favourite deities and attends Carnatic music concerts of his favourite personalities. But last year’s Margazhi was a special one, since being the secretary of NIFT Chennai’s cultural club, along with his colleagues, he took the initiative of starting the Margazhi Naatkal event which highlighted music and dance and its connection with design and fashion, by featuring up and coming artists from the field.

Rajagopal Raghunath

Picture credits: Mrs.Gayathri

For a person who is so deeply rooted and traditionally oriented, moving to New York for a year surprisingly did not give that culture shock that he himself had expected to face. Although it was a different city with a completely different landscape he had seen growing up, the magic of the city along with the influence of the Hollywood films set in New York that he had seen earlier made it easier for him to adapt there. In fact, he is a member of FIT’s Indian Cultural Society where he plans to propose to instil events and celebrate during the month of Margazhi this year. “Gen-Z cannot be classified as a generation as a whole that is ignorant about traditions, history or music.” Rajagopal says. The reason for the tag that comes along with the generation, according to Rajagopal, could be the fact that a lot of the people here have a tendency to move towards the future. In every generation in the various time periods, there would have always been people that have broken away from traditions or even not interested in music; it was never a compulsion or order of the day, it was just one’s tastes that defined their standing among their generation. “Each person has their unique interests and they may choose to be ignorant about certain topics but regardless, it always helps to be aware and to know what is out there.”

“Each person has their unique interests and they may choose to be ignorant about certain topics but regardless, it always helps to be aware and to know what is out there.”

Picture credits: Mrs.Gayathri

Anirudh Subramanian

Although having a background in business and economics, Anirudh Subramanian has been a connoisseur of Carnatic music, with its origins extending back to him being called a child prodigy at the age of four by Shri. Vikku Vinayakaram, a famous Indian percussionist, for swiftly identifying and singing multiple ragas He has been undergoing training in Carnatic music for the last 10 years from various vocalists in the industry, including Vid Shri. Abhishek Raghuram. About five to six years into the training, Anirudh developed a great fascination towards Margazhi, the month and all the festive pursuits that take place in the period. “Ever since, I have been taking the Carnatic music scene very seriously and has been attending concerts at the sabhas ardently, mostly even without being accompanied by my parents I would go and spend the entire day watching concerts at the age of 10.” Anirudh says. He has been able to translate his inspirations and learnings into his stage performances, his studio recordings which have been made into CDs, his music videos on his YouTube channel and even teaching Carnatic music regularly. Although he was ignorant about it in the beginning stages, Anirudh later on got to realise the importance of fashion in music. As he rose up ranks in Carnatic music, he went on to understand that the concept of singing in a concert is not just about merely singing perfectly but it is a visual

idea in the sense that the overall aesthetics have to be prioritized such that it is made appealing and presentable. He stresses on picking the appropriate colours to wear on stage as it should be pleasing for the audience to look at, and it should even match with the tint of the lighting set up planned for that day. Anirudh believes that there is a particular group of people that are interested very specifically, very passionately in Carnatic music. Most of them are able to pursue but there are a few who are unable to tackle the distractions that so easily sway them away from something so revered. On the other hand there are even so many dedicated up and coming artists from this generation who come to Chennai every December for the Margazhi kutcheris from various other cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad and so on. Anirudh identifies himself to be orthodox and prefers to stick to traditions and he feels that the others in this generation are divulging. As an artist he is very neutral at this point; he is pursuing Carnatic music as that is something he is so passionate about and it is not his responsibility to change or influence what other people perceive about Carnatic music or even following traditions. “It is only in the current generation that the number of people interested in Carnatic music is quite less, it would be great if more people actually indulge themselves in it.” Anirudh adds.

Picture credits: Mr.Muthukrishnan

Srinidhi Pennathur

Hailing from a musically oriented family, Srinidhi Pennathur was first introduced to Carnatic music by her father and started her musical journey by reciting the sari-ga-ma at the age of three. She is currently the proud student of Ranjani-Gayathri, the Carnatic duo and Smt. Anusha Sriram, under whom she is getting trained in violin. Having learnt Carnatic music for about 13 years, Srinidhi’s foundation stays so strong that any aspect of it, including the pitch, talam or even the melody comes so naturally to her. She is a self-taught western musician as well, and owes it to her base in Carnatic which helps her understand other genres of music easily. Srinidhi has been performing violin concerts since 2018, but she is still undergoing vocal training and hopes to perform on stage very soon. The month of Margazhi is the best possible time for Srinidhi, as she has a lot to look forward to every year. Although she has not performed in any of the concerts yet, she loves to attend the Carnatic music concerts of iconic and popular artists at sabhas and temples, since the learning she derives out of it is unmatched. “If one artist can teach you in their own way with their experiences and their invaluable personal touch, imagine learning from multiple artists. It is an

absolute blast!”, Srinidhi adds. Srinidhi strongly believes all forms of music have their own beauty to it. It is definitely subjective but that does not give anyone the authority to disrespect the traditional forms of music. “One who belongs to this generation must definitely pay heed or atleast acknowledge the older forms of music, if they do not prefer to listen to it.” Srinidhi says. According to her, just because one does not listen to Carnatic music does not lessen them. She proudly identifies herself to be one who happens to enjoy and admire the music and attributes the passion from listening to it from a very young age constantly. Even when it comes to dressing for such occasions, she chooses to wear traditional attire for authenticity and to internalise it. Srinidhi strongly believes that music is something that is so universal that it should not be categorised and it is one’s choice. “Music has been an outlet to express myself. The impact music has had on me is indescribable. Such a form of expression is absolutely invaluable and I cherish it so much.” Srinidhi says.

Picture credits: Mr.Pennathur

Sowmya Chandrasekaran

Having learnt Carnatic music since she was three and playing the Veena since she was five, Sowmya Chandrasekaran’s journey in the field has been quite pleasant but had a very amusing start. She used to watch the Veena being played on tv and developed such an interest that she wanted to learn it since it would make her look “cool”. It was only during her early teens when she got into both Carnatic music and playing the Veena very seriously and learnt to appreciate the art forms to the utmost extent possible. She is selftaught in playing certain other instruments such as the bass, keyboard and the ukulele. Contrast to Carnatic music, she loves exploring other genres such as funk, pop punk and even jazz, with which she finds similarities to Carnatic. “Staying open to new styles and genres of music has become important to me especially very recently. I have so many newfound appreciations in almost every new melody I choose to hear.” Sowmya says. For her, as the year in the English calendar comes to the end, the month of Margazhi tops the celebrations. It is a time where she finds something or the other to do constantly. Along with enjoying the pleasant weather, attending the music concerts and exploring the food varieties at the sabhas are what

makes up for a perfect Margazhi for Sowmya. “The vibe that goes around is absolutely unmatchable and indescribable with mere words!”, she adds. During this month, Sowmya usually performs Carnatic music concerts in temples in and around Chennai, but moreover, she along with her mother love to visit the concerts of senior and iconic artists. They would make it to atleast one every weekend during this month. One of the beautiful aspects that tag along with such concerts is to try on different looks for the different kutcheris. Sowmya strongly believes that Carnatic music being a form of art would definitely have highly interested people patronising it; there would always be a group of people who would appreciate, conserve and follow this. At the same time, there would be a set of people in every generation that tend to shy away from not just Carnatic music but even following traditions or upholding the heritage. She knows for a fact that everyone chooses a different path in life and for the people interested in Carnatic music, this is the path they have chosen. This does not make them any superior or lesser; it should not be a basis for comparison. “People could definitely appreciate Carnatic music more, for it is undoubtedly worth keeping alive.” Sowmya concludes.

Saptaswara Inspired Fashion Design

A photostory and an insight into the design collection inspired by the notes of Carnatic Music, by fashion designer Varsha Narayanan.

Music is divine and deep. Everything we know had music in it. This women’s wear collection for SpringSummer’23 by Varsha Narayanan explores the origin of the seven Swaras and the ancient classical instruments of India through contemporary clothing. The idea behind this women’s wear collection is born out of Varsha’s combined interest in music and fashion. Being a musician herself and having learnt Carnatic music for almost eleven years now, she was inspired by the austerities of the ragas in Carnatic music and wanted to portray the elegance and beauty of music in her garment design. This motivated her to do some research to integrate music and fashion. That’s how the idea of representing the seven Swaras of music in garment was born. With this idea and thought process in her, Varsha did further research on conceptualising this idea.

To assemble her thoughts and innovation in this direction, she put together a few elements of the Swaras and started creating motifs out of it. The silhouette is inspired from ancient traditional musical instruments often used in Carnatic music, specifically originated from Tamilnadu which are the Morsing, Gottuvadhyam, Yaazh and Kanjira. Initially when she was conceptualising her theme, Varsha wanted the design based out of extending instruments. However not all extending instruments have their origin in India. For example, if you take violin which is a very prevalently used extending instrument in the Carnatic circles, does not have its origin in India. Her choices of instruments have been very consciously handpicked based on the Indian instruments of pure Indian origin to symbolise the journey of music in India. With the extending instruments being the basis of her silhouette, Varsha wanted to tell people about the nativity of these extending instruments and played by some stalwarts even today thought it is steadily dwindling. She has taken some inspiration to design even the buttons which are carefully handcrafted using the designs developed from the Swaras as motifs. The two strokes in the buttons represent Jendaswara, Sa Sa Re Re Ga Ga….. The basis for the designs for this collection were derived from a very vast research. For the fashion aspect, Varsha had also done a forecasting research. Her colour theme is also inspired by the Swaras, making it a holistic music blend with fashion matching the current trends.

In frame (photostory): Vaishnavee S Ganesh and Karthiga S Styling and Photography: Sneha Krishnan

This ensemble is inspired from the instrument ‘Morsing’. The shape of the silhouette is derived from the structural and musical element of this instrument.

This ensemble is inspired from the traditional musical instrument ‘Gottuvadhyam’ wherein the cowl pants denotes the resonator of the instrument and the pleats denote the strings.

This ensemble is also inspired from ‘Morsing” wherein the pleated panel attached at the back denotes the rhythm of music.

This ensemble is also inspired from the traditional musical instrument ‘Gottuvadhyam’ wherein the center pin tucks in grey fabric denote the strings of the instrument.

Is Taylor Swift really Gen-Z’s Older Sister?

The first western pop song I ever listened to was “You belong with me” from Taylor Swift’s album, Fearless way back in 2010. Although I really did not understand the lyrics completely, somewhere deep down the tune of the song stays etched to my memory even until today. The song hit even deeper a couple of years later when I was old enough to understand the lyrics. Relatable, yes that is the word in focus. Taylor Swift is one such artist who tries to be everything to everyone. In fact, that is what makes a millennial like her even appeal to the other generations.

Although there is a nod to the retros here and there, she is one such artist who in fact still dresses up like she is stuck in the 2000s, which in fact, one of the most relatable or appealing factors about Taylor to the zillennials, considering the resurgence of the Y2K aesthetic among this generation. Specifically, among the zillennials she is more of this older sister who has gone through so many ups and downs in life and now in her 30s, and she is in the mood to preach to the younger ones, the dos and the don’ts. The peak of that is her latest album, Midnights, which is essentially a reflection of her thoughts that keep her up all night. Although a lot of songs from Midnights seem to have a lot of similarities from her previous albums such as Reputation or 1989, it shines light on a lot of important topics that appeal to the listeners on a personal level. Midnights starts off with Lavender Haze, with a synth pop base and has smooth, flowy lyrics to accompany which is pretty optimistic, and even Maroon would follow the same suit. Then hits us in the face, Anti-Hero which is in complete opposite, full of self-criticism as compared to the first two songs. As the songs progress with Snow On The Beach all the way until Karma, they are all filled with hard hitting lyrics revolving around analysing oneself with highs and lows scattered throughout just like an overthinker would do. Fortunately, the album ends with Mastermind which leaves the listeners recharged and the optimism would re-emerge, thus ending the emotional rollercoaster.

When we zillennials listen to Taylor Swift’s songs, specifically Midnights, it is absolutely a representation of our feelings and emotions that we struggle with on a daily basis, covering a variety of topics ranging from anxiety and relationships to self-love and empowerment. We are on the constant hunt to find something relatable all the time, to resonate with a group of people who are going through the same things in life as us. At such a moment, here is this icon who has gone through so much in life and learnt from her mistakes and is serving all her learnings on a silver platter to us in the form of her music albums. We always have Olivia Rodrigo to head bang and scream out loud with, but nothing beats the free therapy we get from Taylor Swift’s music.

Image Source: Taylornation via Instagram

A Solo Sojourn Affair!

Imust have told “Excuse me, can you take this picture of me?” countless times as I wandered the wide roads of Dubai. Never would I have thought that being so ardent with taking pictures of myself taken would actually lead me to interact with people from various nationalities. But then again, that is Dubai for you. Embarking on a trip to Dubai does not constitute as a newsworthy piece of information anymore, but it would always stay close to my heart since it was the first place I got to travel solo.

It started out with a fair amount of research about the place and where to go around. Essentially, I made note of the very strict rules and practices of the place so as to not get into trouble later on. The main aspect under that was the rules of dressing for women that had to be strictly followed there but that was absolutely not a concern for the modest dresser I am. My biggest concern right before I embarked on the journey

was that whether I would be able to blend in, considering I was from a very different cultural background than most people there. But Dubai turned out to be a friendly city where there were people from all walks of life who were also really helpful. There was one of the times when I had to use the metro to commute, and one of the locals saw how perplexed I was at the ticketing system and offered to help me out. Instances like those definitely gave me courage and helped build trust with people in the city, considering this was my first trip since the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.

Unlike India where tourists can be distinctly identified from the locals, Dubai was one of the places where it was again very easy to blend in since there were travellers from all over the world. In fact, at one point of time, I highly doubted the

fact whether there were more locals than tourists! Getting around Dubai, a city that is actually very widespread was actually easy. Out of my personal experience, using the metro is an extremely safe and dependable option since the line runs throughout the city. If you are lucky, you can catch the running cabs, that too especially if the fellow tourists who are also hawking over the cabs do not poach them.

Food was absolutely not an issue at all, considering the vegetarian I was in a highly non-vegetarian consuming area. Even at the camp in the middle of the desert I was offered various vegetarian options, in the local cuisines. And needless to say, in the many malls in Dubai there would be atleast five to six Indian restaurant options in case one got homesick for Indian food. In fact, Indian food was quite reasonably priced even compared to their local delicacies. One main attraction for me personally was trying out food from American chains which were not in India!

If I had to highlight a few unforgettable places, it would be At The Top of the Burj Khalifa, going to the 124th and 125th floors of the world’s tallest building, visiting almost 20 country pavilions at the Dubai Expo 2020 all by myself, going on the desert safari on the sand dunes, and not to forget, the tiring but exciting shopping experience at The Dubai Mall. More importantly, apart from the enjoyment, it was highly empowering since I could gain the confidence to interact with strangers and survive by myself in a completely new place for five days. Such solo trips are a must and it is also highly essential not to get carried away with the excitement and stay level minded and aware of what is going around. After this, if you would ask me if you have to go on a solo trip, I would say ‘hell yeah!’

“Never would I have thought that being so ardent with taking pictures of myself taken would actually lead me to interact with people from various nationalities.”

The Ultimate WINTER Skincare Routine

Who doesn’t like Winter? Winter is a lovely weather to feel cosy and cuddled up watching your favourite movie and shows with a hot soup and some bytes by your side. I have always loved and looked forward to the beautiful winter every year. But, our skin doesn’t feel or seem to welcome winter in the same way as we do. Yes, our skin needs extra care during winter as the natural merits of sunlight and vitamins that we get during the summer or spring from our exposure to nature’s vitamin Ds and Cs will lack during this winter season and our skin has the inherent quality of shrinking as a flower shrinks without sunlight. Let’s now see the suggested skincare routine for winter which keeps you glowing and having younger and firmer skin even during the cold chilly winter season. In choosing the products, one should always choose according to the skin care type, whether normal, dry, oily or a combination.

Picture Credits: Shreeya Vyawahare

Toner – Like Toning your body, toning your skin greatly helps in getting smarter, firmer and richer skin. Use a moisturising Toner to even out your skin and to prepare it for the next steps of skincare and it helps in getting rid of excess oil and stubborn grime. In frame: Jovees Rose Skin Toner.

Serum – Serum plays an important role especially in handling oily skin for its skincare routine. It also improves skin elasticity and gives the skin a relaxed and calm feel which acts as a great rejuvenation. Care should be exercised in choosing the right serum for your winter skincare routine for restoring youthful radiance. It will be good to look for skincare serum products having hyaluronic acid as it supports the skin during winter in a great way. In frame: Dot & Key Hyaluronic Serum.

Moisturizer – Moisturizer is equally important both for oily and normal skin. One should never skip a moisturizer because you have an oily skin type. For winters, to support the cold and dry weather it would be better to shift from the normal moisturiser to a product that does not contain any actives but have humectants like glycerin & hyaluronic acid that will support you through the winter in locking the moisture and helps to protect your skin barrier. This also helps greatly in the winter night care routine in keeping the skin intact during extreme fall in temperature levels.

Cleanser – Cleansing is a basic process in any skincare routine to get rid of the grime that builds due to outdoor activities and temperature changes. During winter it is ideal to use a foaming cleanser with a gel as it has a thick consistency. You should be careful in choosing a cleanser for winter as your skin lacks moisture during the cold months and the cleanser you use should not further strip away the skin’s natural oils. It would be better to go in for a product that acts as a cleanser but also helps boost collagen and a good cleansing product with Vitamin C would be helpful during winter. In frame: Dermafique Foaming Cleanser.

Sunscreen – Is it amusing to add sunscreen during winter to your skincare routine? Like how sunscreen is important during the other seasons, it plays an equal role during winter skincare routine also because in places where it snows or is iced sunlight reflects intensifying the UV rays. Wind and low moisture levels are tough on the skin and there is less humidity which constantly strips the skin of its moisture content. The Ozone layer is thinnest during winter. A sunscreen product loaded with minerals will be very supportive in preventing wrinkles, premature ageing, and sun-spotted damaged skin. In frame: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunblock.

Gua Sha- A neck and face therapy which has caught attention in recent days, especially with Gen Z is the Gua Sha Therapy for neck and face. With just a few minutes of this therapy each day, one can ease muscle tension and nurture cell growth for younger and healthier skin. This is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to maintain great skincare. The Gua Sha board comes in various shapes and sizes and each one has a unique function based on the target area and skin concerns. Gua Sha massage is applied for The Neck, Face, shoulders, and back. For persons without any medical condition, this handy tool helps in self-rejuvenation of the facial joints for enhancing blood circulation and a more refined jawline.

Eye Makeup Looks You Simply Cannot Resist

Warm Brown

Brown, and its many shades are universally flattering and can go from barely-there makeup to a high drama look. But the best way to go with this warm shade is a hazy smoky eye and a soft smudged liner in brown tones for a sultry siren look.

Blush Draping

Placement of blush is EVERYTHING. There is the resurgence of the ‘70s favourite blush draping trend that involves applying the blush from the cheekbones up till the temples even until the eyelids in a C-shape for the illusion of a facelift. While you are at it, why not embellish the eyelids to pop?

Feeling Blue

A dab of colour can elevate even the simplest of make-up looks. And as the temperature drops, the 90s inspired cool blue lids are back! Pair it with a dark hued lip, maybe?

Minimalist Winged Eyeliner

For those of you who cannot completely master the full cat-eye, you can be grateful for this minimalist winged eyeliner technique is here to save your day! A small triangle on the outer corners of your eyes either in silver or gold, would be the perfect way to go.

Neon Hues

Remember the saying, brighter is always better? Exactly. The looks that were seen during the spring/summer’23 runways were filled with pops of fuschia and lime green that would inspire you to douse your lids with the bright hues as you get through this winter.

In frame: Navya Khanna and Maitreyee Datar

Gift Ideas Based on the Year-End SPOTIFY WRAPPED

Your most streamed artists, albums and playlists are the window to gifting this season.

Spotify Wrapped season is here, and once again, social media is being bombarded by users sharing their favourite and most listened-to songs, genres, artists, and podcasts. Here is a round up of the best gift ideas, organized by Spotify Wrapped category, so you can gift your friends and family something as curated and unique as their Spotify playlists.

This karaoke microphone would make for the apt gift for those in the 1% of their top artists’ listeners; nobody knows the lyrics to those songs better than them.

Get the Landmark BT55 Handheld Wireless Singing Mic from Amazon for ₹1,198.

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Get the mug from the Taylor Swift ‘Dripped in Rose’ collection from Etsy for ₹1,362.

This adorable and relatable mug would be perfect if your most streamed song this year was “All Too Well, 10 Minute Version (From The Vault).”

Get them a record player if their most streamed artist has not released music in this decade.

Get the Claw Stag Portable Vinyl Record Player from Amazon for ₹5,290.

If their Spotify Music personality was labeled ‘Adventurer’ or ‘The Early Adopter’, these relaxing scented candles are the way to go.

Get the Fresh Balsam relaxing scented candle from Bath and Body Works for ₹1,099.

If Olivia Rodrigo or Harry Styles was in their top 5 artists, thereby proving they are true Gen-Z’ers.

Get the Kodak M38 35mm Film Camera from Amazon for ₹4,365.

Giving their ears a break from headphones and continue to extend their record of 50,000 minutes of music streaming.

Get the Mivi Roam 2 Bluetooth Portable Speaker from Amazon for ₹1,099.

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Via bathandbodyworks.in

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