ALOBO NAGA: Walking with purpose
Morung Express Feature
Becoming one of the most trendy and inspirational musicians to emerge out of North East India, Alobo Naga - artist, composer, songwriter and Director of Musik-A (Alobo Naga School of music) shows how to embrace uniqueness to achieve fulfillment in life.
Alobo showed signs of great showmanship at the tender age of 5, started writing and performing original compositions by age 12 and performed over 500 performances across the world in a span of five years.
Today, to name a few, Alobo has on record the Governor’s Award 2015 for Distinction in Music; Indihut Artist of the year award for 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017; ‘Best Indian Act’ at MTV European Music Award 2012; Best Song (Chasing Ghosts), Best English Song (Wolo), Best Artist of North East India at the Artist Aloud Music Awards 2018.
The Morung Express recently sat down with Alobo Naga to discuss what it is like to be recognized as a celebrity artist, what his musical career means to him and how being grounded in faith helped him in his journey and more.
Defining Moment
The star was born when he realized that his “double masters and decent job” was not what he wanted for his life.
Rick Warren’s ‘The Purpose driven life’ was a turning point. The book talks about the purpose God has for every individual.
“That is when I realized God sent me for a purpose and I should be in that. I prayed and got the conviction to do music,” shares a delighted Alobo who soon quit his job and “took a leap of faith.”
Alobo started working in the church, which according to him “was like a build-up and preparation time.”
He enrolled for music classes, started working on his first album and after three years in the church, Alobo was so ready to set on for his new journey.
Beyond Convention
With the new found perspective on career and purpose, Alobo found his calling to reach out to people without any barrier.
“There are some people called to be in the church and other called to be in the market place. I realized my calling was in the market place. That is when I came out of the church and started doing secular music,” he says.
Addressing to the opinion that Christian artist can sing only gospel music, Alobo claims, “That is wrong.” He believes that in the Kingdom building, God has different purposes and “whether big or small, God has duty for everyone.”
“Today I go to schools and colleges; sing Justin Beiber’s song so that young people can relate and when they come to me, I share my story and the gospel. These are places where God uses us. I am happy to be in this market place with all the challenges and God is always there,” he adds.
Alobo, who is also the front man of Alobo Naga and The Band, says he finds inspiration everyday with the faith and hope that “God takes care of everything” and finds confidence in knowing that “comfort and hope are found only in God.
Growing through Challenges
Talking about challenges, Alobo lays down his heart saying he longs for support and acceptance from people in Nagaland. “Appreciation and encouragement is very less from our people. Sometimes as human you long to have that support from your community but having said that, God gave my mission outside, so I will keep going.”
Recollecting the February 2018 Arunachal incident where ANTB’s vehicle, instruments and equipment were set ablaze by a mob in Itanagar, Alobo describes the experience as “beyond challenge.” The band was set to perform at the International Film Festival at IG Park in Itanagar.
“We lost everything,” states Alobo while confirming that no compensations were paid either by Arunachal or Nagaland government.
However, taking the incident as “a great lesson from God” Alobo testifies the band has better gadgets now. “It was just like God was testing our faith. He was looking for obedience. After the Arunachal incident more shows are coming up.”
Alobo also says that another challenge is sickness.
During a month long illness in 2019, the artist lost his voice. Despite seeing three different doctors, there was no improvement. “My mother told me ‘don’t ask God to heal you but ask for forgiveness’. I realized that I have been taking things for granted and that is when my voice opened.”
“In 2019 God has taught me very harsh but impactful lessons,” he stated.
Leaving a Legacy
With the inspiration behind the popular song ‘I have decided to follow Jesus,’ Alobo shares, “My vision is to send out a song to the world from Nagaland.”
“Now I am not looking for fame. It will come and go. But I want to leave a legacy through my song and music which will bless the people because that is the only gift I have,” said Alobo while giving out the news that he is working on a new album.
“I am praying that from my new album, atleast one song will go and impact the world,” he stated.
Music scenario in Nagaland
“In the last five-six years, the music scene in Nagaland has gone down. There was a time when a song was released almost every night in indihut, every week there was a song release reported in the dailies. It is not happening anymore,” he lamented.
According to Alobo, the music industry did not pick up in Nagaland even with the efforts of the government because “they were not looking for sustainability or consistency.”
Alobo elaborates that musicians spent 10-15 thousand to release one single EP but they earn zero. They give it for free online to get more shows but there is no show happening because as an organizer one need to have 2-3 lakhs and pay at least 30,000 per artists.
“There was no balance,” he observed.
Alobo also says that in the last 10 years, only few artists from Nagaland like Nise Meruno, Tetseo Sisters, including himself get shows. “The reason is we do not target only Nagaland,” he admits.
Expressing regret that most of the bands go dormant and revive only during the Hornbill festival, Alobo suggest that Government should get some people who can do marketing for the artists as “not everyone can do that.”
“Things are changing with Task Force for Music & Arts initiatives but my only concern is they are doing too much at once and the scary thing is that there is more risk of fall,” he cautioned.
The Authentic Self
Being an artist, Alobo says the pressure is real. However, he admits that the pressure is more here in Nagaland. “I am so myself outside Nagaland. People accept me just the way I am. I do not fake it. I am just me. Whatever I sing or accent I talk in, people accept me. Out here, I am expected to be something else I am not. Your society makes you.”
“The worst backlash I ever received was for the song “Ningu Kümtsü | Rocky”. My mom and dad were crying. We got calls threatening us even at midnight,” he recollects displeased with the incident, “What I did was took a song and artist whom the younger generation does not know but the response was so bad.”
“However, the song became very popular after that cover. Now people write to me, send clips of videos of the song,” he shares. Alobo says he would like to agree with the opinion of a well-wisher that he is “too futuristic for Nagas and it should not be a worry.”
Making a Difference
Besides being a musician, Alobo Naga is also involved with the young people in helping them address certain issues.
The biggest problem young people faces today are depression, anxiety, loneliness, substance abuse and lack of role model. “I want to address young people on mental health issue and in order to do that I need to know and identify their problems. This is where I really want to reach out,” he shares.
Observing that social media is like a drug where people get addicted to the “fake world, likes and comments,” Alobo feels that educational institutions and churches can play a big role which unfortunately is not happening due of ignorance.
