Akangjungla
Dimapur | April 16
The vision of any creative artists is to find a space where life experiences, intelligence and imagination could collide to create a dreamlike art. As unreal and impossible it might sound, few artists are gifted with the ability to attain this vision, and among the few in Nagaland, Tokaholi is one. 
Identified for her absorbing and radiant voice, and efficiently combing lyrics with storytelling, she characterizes the class of authentic and truthful artist in today’s music scenario.
Sharing song stories
“I believe in creating meaningful art, sharing song stories,” avows Tokaholi in an exclusive conversation with The Morung Express.
The singer and songwriter based in Dimapur grew up watching her parents sing or listen to music, rich in words; artists like Simon & Garfunkel, BREAD, The Beatles and many musicals.
“I believe that evoked my love for song writing. At a young age I had many journals, scribbled lyrics, spontaneous poems which evolved to songs,” she said.
“My first single ‘Await’ was (also) initially a poem. Today my song-writing is at a place where I can connect, contribute and co-write with other artists,” she puts across.
Along with the passion for music, she is also pursuing her career as an English Assistant Professor.
Writing from place of identity
Talking about the biggest turning point as an artist, for Tokaholi, it came during the unpopular pandemic period. She took almost a two-year break from releasing songs. “I found myself having a need to reinvent. Reinvention can be a form of avoidance. I wanted to create from a place of fullness.”
While sailing through this season, the pandemic happened like a ‘sabbatical.’ “It was the turning point for me as an artist to begin writing from a place of identity or in search of identity and finding beautiful fragments of it,” she recounts.
Stream of consciousness
Enlightening on the essence inside her song writing and production process, Tokaholi says, “I would describe my creative process in its initial stage like a stream of consciousness, which then goes through excessive fine-tuning. Writing and making melody comes without exasperation.”
She does not shy to admit het limitations as she adds, “But I am not the best musician so I have a need for a producer to help direct or have the song re-imagined, which always sounds better.”
Always be grounded
“Mentors are essential,” she asserts while sharing about the role of mentors in creating her music. She says that from a musical perspective, her mentors are her friends Tali and Jungtina Angh “whose characters resonate - To always be grounded and create from a place of relationship.”
Growing as an artist never happens in isolation. It requires more interaction and contact in the open space and along with it also comes more challenges. Like any other individual, Tokaholi is also not invulnerable to such circumstances.
She says that the biggest challenge is discouragement and the need to create trending music.
“To overcome such challenges, I make an effort to surround myself with artists who share similar perspective on art and continually be encouraged by God’s word,” she said.
Responsibility to curate music
Sharing her impression of the music industry in Nagaland, Tokaholi observes that it has reached several milestones within a few years. “I am glad that many young artists have the network to share their music.”
“I believe the industry has the responsibility to curate music so there is heavy influence laid upon them to even change the thinking culture and elevation of taste in music,” she articulates while giving her perspective on the music industry in Nagaland.
She adds, “So, with that mandate they should continue to help young artists. It would be wonderful if they also could build professional Music Critics and create a panel to advance the artistic level in music.”
‘Let your art simply express’
For someone wanting to follow in her footsteps, Tokaholi recommends ‘Much more than writing, experience life.’
“Your grief, bitterness, joy, friendships are all part of a bigger picture that will help you write. Write what you know, let your art simply express,” she puts across.
