A fearless fighter; celebrating the beautiful life of Lamtsala H Sangtam
Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 2
“The Song is ended, but the melody lingers on,” goes popular song composed by Irving Berlin. The people of Nagaland and music lover across the region were reminded most painfully with this line from Berlin’s song as the news on the untimely demise of Lamtsala H Sangtam, the lead vocalist of popular folk fusion band, Purple Fusion (PF) spread over the social media.
Lamtsala H Sangtam, passed away on June 1 at the age of 31 after battling cancer for over one and half year but not before leaving a rich legacy of music and inspiring many others with her indomitable spirit.
As a musician, she was a pioneer but it was her fighting spirit that made her an inspiration as well as role model for many.
Indomitable fighter
When Lamtsala was detected with colon cancer in December 2014, despite the initial shock, she was determined to fight it out.
“I truly felt I was leaving the world last December and would never ever see this day. Yet today, here I am- standing tall and fighting cancer and actually beating it,” she had told The Morung Express in May 2015 in the midst of grueling chemotherapy sessions.
“My life’s philosophy is to chase after my dreams and achieve them rather than sit back and ruminate on what might have been,” Lamtsala said. “But I am never giving up because I still have dozens of dreams to fulfill through music.”
Receiving the Governor’s Award 2015 for “outstanding achievement and contribution in the field of Folk Fusion (Music)” during the Republic Day celebration at Kohima Raj Bhavan, Lanmtsala dedicated the award to all patients fighting cancer saying, “You (fellow cancer patients) are strong and you need to be stronger … let’s show the world we are born to win. Never ever give up, do what you love and be happy, but do listen to your doctor.”
Since her diagnoses, she has been in the forefront of fighting and creating awareness about the disease. At a benefit concert for cancer–dubbed ‘Don’t You Cry-We will conquer'–staged on June 6, 2015, in Dimapur, she called upon those fighting cancer not to look at themselves as ‘patients’ but as ‘fighters’ and not to take it as a curse but a call from God to fight with positive attitude and win.
‘Sing no sad songs for me. I can win this battle,’ Sangtam had extolled the gathering.
Consequently, she was reportedly declared as cured but relapsed again in April this year.
“Nothing can shake me or break me ... I will sing and testify until I breathe last,” she would declare before that.
In what was to be her last post on social media in May 20, 2016; she informed that she was in her bed for more than a month. “But do not worry because I’m growing each day knowing Jesus Christ by whose stripes I’m healed,” she cheerfully consoled her grieving fans.
A Pioneering Musician
With Lamtsala on the vocals, Purple Fusion was officially formed on August 28, 2012, played a huge role in popularizing Naga folk tunes and chants to the rest of the world.
With Mhathung Odyuo, her husband, on bass (former bassist of Divine Connection, winner of MTV RockOn 2011), Imsanger Longkumer on guitar (former guitarist of Mumbai-based bands Audio Essence and Syncopath and Diatribe, winner of Hornbill National Rock 2008) and Temsu Kichu on drums (ex-Diatribe, winner of Hornbill National Rock 2008), the band had scaled many unconquered horizon and promoted the dying traditional lore with their music.
Their debut album “Folk Reminiscence” (a 10-track album blending Naga folk chants with jazz, blues and rock) won the ‘Best folk album’ of Los Angeles based Akademia Music Award (November 2014). The album was released worldwide through online digital media and the song ‘Ho hey! You came along’ topped the chart of KMix Radio Station (Los Angeles) in January 2015.
PF’s ‘Ohe Lohe’ was also an award winner at Best Folk Fusion Artist at the Radio City Freedom Awards 2015 while its music video “Tring Tring- Marks of War featured in some of the country’s leading music channels like VH1 and MTV and was used for many documentaries and presentation.
The band have also collaborated and performed with some of the biggest names in the international music industry as well as in India -John W Schlitt – Petra (Grammy award winner) Rahul Ram – Indian Ocean, Rabbi Shergill, Vishal J Singh, Jimmy Pitts, Vijay Xavier, Germany based Music Producer – MoTo, Rewben Mashangva etc as well a main act for one entire episode of Mtv Sound Trippin (S2).
Explaining its venture into folk music, the band in February, 2013 said that, “The answer is very simple ... We have so rich culture ... Why keep it hidden from the world. We wanna promote and show via music to the world what our country has…”
A self-taught vocalist, Sangtam was known for her dynamic and powerful live performances. When their first debut album was released, the Rolling Stone India has described her vocal as “a maelstrom of raw energy” contrasted seamlessly by the band’s easy melodies and textured riffs.
Glowing tributes and legacy
Fellow musicians from the regions also offered their heartfelt loss and condolences.
Guru Rewben Mashangva, the renowned folk musician and indigenous Tangkhul Naga singer from Manipur, reacting to her death said, “Today I grieve at the irreplaceable loss of a very good friend. Her untimely demise has left a huge dent to the artistes from Northeast India. Not just that, the North-East youths have lost one of the most contemporary Icon, a woman of unfaltering faith.”
Mashangva further noted that he has known Late. Lamtsala and her husband for a very long time and said they had performed together for a numerous times- in China, Chennai, Delhi, and Arunachal.
“I have been their biggest fan. The rendition they did for my ‘Hop pi pi’ still remains my favourite,” he added.
“I pray that Purple Fusion will continue to perform and carry the torch of Lamtsala’s legacy. Her demise has left me and my band in mourning.”
“She truly was a great artist,” Arenla Supong of the pioneering Grammy-nominated folk fusion band from Nagaland, Abiogenesis told the The Morung Express when asked about her reaction to her demise.
“Since I play Howey Music for the band, I felt happy that Lamtsala was also into folk fusion. I thought she got so much passion for it that she'll be able to scale higher in this field and would really attract the younger generation to like and sing more of our rich culture."
I am extremely sorry at the loss of an inspiring musician like Lamtsala. “Her traditional approach to music was something to be appreciated,” she noted.
According to Rapper, songwriter and singer from Tripura, Borkung Hrangkhawl, or BK as he is more popularly known, she (Lamtsala) along with Purple Fusion has scaled great heights.
“In fact she has set an example for all of us, he added, “I never got the opportunity to meet her but I’ve heard so much about her and the band.”
BK felt that her band has contributed immensely to the music scene in Northeast. “I feel that Purple Fusion is the only band who takes fusion music to the next level. And their song Ho Hey! You came along has been aired on KSPR Radio San Francisco, California USA and in other countries as well. This is a huge achievement.”
Alobo Naga of the popular Contemporary pop rock band, Alobo Naga & the Band posted in his social media page that, “Today Nagaland lost one of the finest female singer / artiste…Your fighting spirit & your life inspired all of us, so blessed that I met you in this lifetime.” The band further informed that it is dedicating their June 3 performances at Tera Maya, Guwahati to the departed singer.
Tetseo Sisters, another well-known Folk, Fusion & Pop band from the State paid their tribute by writing in its facebook page, “You have run your race fearlessly and beautifully.”
Indeed, she truly has.
