AAA 8
AAA- 8
Hello peeps, A'm back with one more pristine episode of our most loved series- AAA (Amazingly About the Artist). Today A'm not going to talk much, as I have so much to tell about our guest- and guess who's that?
So, we are going to talk about a whizz kid today- he is none other than "Stephen Devassy" The much talent Piano artist, rock-star, music director, stage artist & an occasional singer.
I really didn't have guts to write up this article- coz, what can one speak about this talented person, he is just beyond awesome. He is the most talent keyboard player in the whole India. I bet that you cannot even breathe properly when he is playing the instrument, he makes sure that you just drop your jaws & make your eyes wide enough to match his pace of playing the keyboard. Such a great pianist he is!!
This musical genius hails from Palakkad, Kerala. He is born into a Malayalam speaking Christian family & grew up to be the most talented artist in India. He has started his career much too early. He used accompany the legendary singer "Hariharan" for his world tour concerts as a staff artist. Later he has even worked with the violin player L. Subramanian.
My experience with Stephan is, I have first heard him playing piano live at Chennai in a music festival. When I was to Chennai for a holiday & I got a wonderful opportunity to witness him rocking the show with his adroitness, I was in awe for him then. Eventually he has become a legend.
Stephan is the household name for many Mallu award shows or musical festivals, coz singers choose him when there is a limitation in orchestral members as he fills up the rest of space with his expertise. A'm his fan!! Who is'nt?
I have not taken the usual route to speak about him in this article, rather I have chosen to talk about his stage performances & few other private albums which simply provoke that he is a knack.
So Here we go, read along & enjoy the aura that Stephen Devassy leaves us in when he is on the stage. Here are 12 performances & songs of Stephan that will surely make you fall in love with his skill.
01. Aliens In The City
Music & Produced by: Stephen Devassy
Orchestration: 'Solid' The Band & Indian Strings Band
Instrumental
What can one speak about after listening to this masterpiece. Stephen just plays with the chords in this track & he is amazingly supported by the bass boosting orchestral bands. It is like watching something that is unprecedented. Stephen has a name for his credit that he plays faster than a Cheetah's run, and that is absolutely true, we cant even blink our eyes when he is playing, I don't know what strength he has in his fingers he just keeps banging them on his instrument. If your'e new to keyboard & then A'm sure that you won't understand at least one note that he is playing!! God knows on which note his finger is!! He can just shift between chords like that!! Nothing more, all the praises for him, let him shine for 100 more years to enthrall us with all his talent.
02. Aaja Tu
Music, Arrangement & Vocals: Stephen Devassy
Feat: Dinno James
Lyrics: Prashanth Ingole
Language: Hindi
Stephen is an occasional singer too!! Like he works on Independent music & A'm sure his fans keep looping on those numbers which are nothing less than masterpieces. This song is something special, because we have Dinno J here who is a an additional attraction to the track with his rap rendition. If at all if you wondered if Stephen ever composed music, then just get surprised he has a you tube channel & has composed more than 50 private albums & all are gems. So, just enjoy the track.
03. Performance at Behindwoods Gold Mic Music Awards
As the title says 'You can't even blink for a second', he just makes it true here. OMG, what a talent mann!! He just nails this performance, what an energetic performance it was!! He left the audience awe- struck over there. He just kept looping on notes & chords resulting in spine chills. If you never saw this, then pl do watch, it is a treat to watch & listen too!! He is a pro & A'm falling in short of words to praise him. All most towards the end @5:28 in the video, when he is rocking the stage with his amazing talent we find A. R. Rahman looking stunned with his amazing performance, such a great moment it was!!
04. Inyium Nin Mounam Ente
Music & Arrangement: Stephen Devassy
Vocalist: Sooraj Santhosh
Production: Kappa TV
Language: Malayalam
Sometimes we have to thank youtube, coz randomly we are recommended some feel good songs like this!! A'm a huge fan of Sooraj's voice, he has got such a soothing voice & this song, he just owns it. I never knew that originally there is a film called KQ & music for that film is scored by Stephen, he is a pro!! Listening to this number we will understand why everyone keeps praising him. This track proves that Stephen apart from being a musician he is an amazing composer too. I don't know the girl who sang that opera kind humming, she is just awesome. At last, thank you Stephen for happening to us.
05. We Shall Overcome
Music, Arrangement & Vocals: Stephen Devassy
Language: Hindi
This is one of my favorite compositions of Stephen. Actually this is an adaptation of an old English song "We Shall Overcome Someday" performed by Peeter Seeger in 1967 (Listen Here). I keep stalking Stephen's insta profile, coz A'm greedy to listen to more good songs & A'm sure he is the one who keeps making more and more good songs. Here Stephen makes it a Hindi version, but yet I feel it is an adaptation from the old song mentioned above, which almost sounds similar. But kuddos man, no one will ever beat your talent of playing the chords too swiftly!!
06. Onnumillaymayil
Music, Arrangement & Vocals: Stephen Devassy
Language: Malayalam
Once again I love this composition of Stephen, may be it would be more apt if I would say it as "This version of Stephen". He is indeed a good singer, but God listen to his soothing vocals in this track, he is just beyond awesome. This Christian devotional has a lot of depth in it!! It touches my heart. I think this is a french song re-written with Malayalam lyrics yet it cringes my heart for its keen. He keeps proving time & again that he is a pro. Nothing much , thank you!!
07. Performance at MMMA- 2017
Feat: Shankar Mahadevan
We all know how rocking it would be if Shankar Mahadevan is performing live & that too if Stephen is joining the show, then my happiness would have no known bounds. Same happens here, Shankar rocks the stage with his hit number "Thom Karuvil" & Stephen joins the legend with his star performance. As everyone is aware of Shankar's brilliance, here he is the one who brings in those toughest dynamics & an excellent part of "Swara Sthanam" too effortlessly & Stephen is there to compliment the legend's rendition with his rocking instrumentation. Just listen & enjoy the essence.
08. Performance at MMMA- 2018
Feat: Dr. K. J. Yesudas
God's own country has got the boon of listening to God's own voice!! Dr. K. J. Yesudas ji, what a voice sir! We might never be indebted for his voice, skill & talent!! Cutting it here, this wonderful performance by the legend accompanied by this Whizz- Kid makes it sound much more lovely. Nothing else can be written, thank you everyone there for everything!!
09. Performance at Behindwoods Gold Mic Music Awards
Feat: Andreah Jeremia
Immensely talented Stephen joins his hands with the rocking Andreah- her voice & rendition, mann!! They both are too excellent. Listen to this wonderful performance, his magical chords just evoke romantic feeling & her husky voice always has that charm, nevertheless they are awsome.
10. Ennamilla Nanmakalennil
Music & Lyrics: Renjith Christy
Vocalist: K. S. Chitra
Orchestration & Arrangement: Stephen Devassy
Language: Malayalam
What a composition & what a lyric!! Every line evokes divinity. One more Christian devotional from Stephen & listen to the second interlude to understand his prowess. "Any religion the destiny is same, the power, peace & positivism it spreads is same, might be we have different names to different idols!! But every supreme power, the almighty strives to help his devotees & bring in the harmony of peace all over". Such a wonderful song this is!! and speaking about Chitra chechi's voice, OMG it is right from heaven, just honey!! She is one such singer who can bring in the flavor of devotion to any religion with her ethereal voice!! A lovely song from Stephen & Chechi!!
11. Azhake Azhake
Movie: Nerali
Music: Stephen Devassy
Vocalists: Mohanlal & Shreya Ghoshal
Lyricist: P. T. Binnu
Language: Malayalam
Who does'nt love this melody!! Probably none!!I nothing to tell about this amazing song. Stephen's orchestration, Shreya Ghoshal & Mohanlal's rendition!! They deserve standing ovation. Enjoy the song!
12. Performance at MMMA- 2018
Feat: K. S. Chitra
Stephen & Chitra are household names for MMM awards!! It is a known fact!! Every year we find them enthralling us with their wonderful performances, same happened here too. Chitra, a legend gave tribute to the legendary composer A. R. Rahman with her soulful performance & Stephen accompanied her with his chord progression. A'm a huge fan of Chitraji's high pitch, I think she is one among the very few singers who could sustain their pitch in those high octaves for much longer times!! Each time she sings this song live, she proliferates her image & our respect towards her, how does she even manages to sing it just like original in a live performance !! God knows the answer!! Each time she sang that "Anjali anjali" my heart skips a beat, & observe the dynamics that Stephen plays along with her soulful rendition!! This is a small snippet, if you like to watch the entire performance login to 'mazhavil manorama' website.
At last, hope that this wonder-boy reaches heights & replenishes India's heritage with his immense talent. Wishing him all the luck for his future endeavors.
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