15 July,2023 08:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram Iyengar
Tarana Marwah in a behind-the-scenes still from the music video
Childhood is the fount of all creativity, they say. Delhi-based singer and producer Tarana Marwah AKA Komorebi's latest album, The Fall, might just be proof. Conceptualised with a fantasy storyboard, multiple musical collaborations and a comic book, the album captures the breadth of her creative influences. The first track from the album - I grew up - shot using Unreal Engine technology, released yesterday.
"I have had this project in the pipeline for many years, and was waiting for the right people," she says. She found them in Warren Mendonsa of BlackStratBlues, The Mavon Quartet, Easy Wanderlings and Sahil Vasudeva among others who are part of the collaboration. The choice of the musicians was also defined by their emotional styles. "Everyone brings their own unique flavour to the story. That is why I chose collaboration as the way forward with this fantastical concept," Marwah notes.
The concept revolves around the coming-of-age of Kiane - a character Marwah created with her debut album, Soliloquy, in 2017. The story will be released as a 30-page comic book in September this year.
The album itself took over six years to come to fruition. The final touch came with the use of Epic Games' Unreal Engine in the music videos. The software has been used to create immersive experiences in video games such as Final Fantasy VII and Batman: Arkham Knight. The result is a fantasy tale that adds another dimension to Komorebi's sound.
Marwah explains, "My favourite art form has always been immersive; one that allows you to escape reality."
If it feels like an evolution, the songs certainly express it. The first single captures the sense of letting go and growing up - not unlike an anime transformation. "The song was written six years ago. It was personal and reflective of my journey," she observes. The inspiration for the soundscape comes from the '90s icons of Bjork and Radiohead. There is also a touch of the Gorrillaz - a favourite, she says - in her blend of the visual and sonic style. "The new record is not purely electronic. It branches out into live music. You will hear elements like guitar, strings and orchestral sounds," she points out.
With the second single set to release in August, Marwah hopes the story of Kiane might evolve further. She reveals early talks with Apple on creating a video game along its lines. "Although I will stick to music, if the IP grows on its own, I would not put a brake on that," she states emphatically.
Log on to I grew up on Spotify; YouTube
"For people who grew up with comics, it is a beautiful and nostalgic medium," says Marwah, describing her comic, The Fall. Conceptualised by Trina Gupta and illustrated by Neelav Ghosh, the art work is influenced by the '90s anime style with a touch of the Cartoon Network pop, the musician adds. "We carry those memories forward into adulthood. Comics and games got me through every difficulty I had as a child,"
she adds.
My favourites
. Video games: Hollow Knight, Horizon Zero Dawn, God of War, World of Warcraft
. Anime: Berserk, Naruto Shippuden, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Death Note.
