EarthSync, founded in 2005, is a vibrant music label and high-end audio-visual production house based in Chennai. Serving as a hub for an international group of dedicated producers, sound engineers, designers and filmmakers making unique world music projects. The company, headed by Sonya Mazumdar and Yotam Agam, is all set for their first India-wide release will be Laya Project, an inspirational music documentary and double album for which EarthSync travelled for two years through communities in the 2004 tsunami-affected regions of Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar and India.

Chennaionline had a quick tete-a-tete with Sonya Mazumdar, Director, EarthSync.

Tell us a little bit about EarthSync.

Sonya Mazumdar: Well, EarthSync is a very unique production house. It is a remarkable organisation and even though we're a young company, we've been in the production field for almost two years. And we are very excited to launch in India finally. It's an important threshold for us.

Mr. Yotam Agam and you head EarthSync. How did the two of you start it off? Did you face any hurdles while setting up EarthSync?

(Considering)

Both Yogam and I were based in Chennai. We had a lot of common friends and we met up occasionally and it all just happened. We didn't face any major problems while setting up EarthSync. It is just like any other company and has all of its operations going on smoothly.

EarthSync was started in 2005. From then to now, how much do you think you have progressed?

I think that our progress has been immense. Till the year 2007, our head was pretty much under water. But the last year or so, we have accomplished a lot. We have been marketing LAYA Project, the film has been receiving a lot of awards and the physical distribution of the product has also started. We are working simultaneously on other projects as well. Our life has been about collaborations. It's all about people coming together from various platforms. In EarthSync you can find people of all colours and shapes.

(Laughs)

Tell us about your recording studio Clementine.

(Her eyes light up)

Well, Clementine is actually the name of a fruit. It's something like orange. And it is found abundantly in Israel. And the name was suggested by Yotam as he is also from Israel. The studio is the core and Yotam is its core too. He is an exceptional sound designer. Right from day one, his expertise has been the crux of our Clementine Studio. It is a state of the art studio! We have all the studio services available.

Why'd you choose the name EarthSync for your organisation?

The earth is something that is organic and represents people and culture. It shows the human side of things. And Sync is a technical term. We work with so many different communities and different styles of music that we need to sync it and create something enjoyable. Hence why- EarthSync!

What are your projects about? The Didong Festival of Indonesia and the Nagore Sessions in India?

Well, with regard to the Didong Festival, only the initial research has been done so far. When we toured the 6 countries affected by the tsunami, we didn't record music with any celebrities or any great musicians. We focussed on the unknown talent. We discovered some music and we have gone back and dedicated our projects to them.

Among all your projects, which is the one closest to your heart?

(Laughs)

That is an unfair question! All my projects are my babies. And LAYA is my first born child. We spent 4 years working on it! All the projects are very close to my heart, but if you really want me to pick one out, it has to be LAYA. There was a lot of blood, sweat, tears, passion and love put into LAYA.

Why did you choose the name LAYA for your project?

Actually LAYA has many varied meanings- almost 25 to 30 meanings. Essentially, LAYA is a Sanskrit word which means time in music or a pause in music. It also refers to a supreme being or the union of music or even destruction. We chose LAYA to provide a three-dimensional meaning to our music. It has no sorrow, no tears. It's a celebration of life for the survivors of the tsunami. In spite of the destruction caused, the tsunami revealed the best in people. It showed the resilience of the human spirit.

Why'd you choose to bring out an album revolving around the tsunami?

The tsunami was just a spring board. We wanted to come out with a venture beyond financial assistance. We went on the journey to the affected countries. We realised that the aid that had come in did not address their culture. And we wanted to do that!

The two-year journey through 6 affected states. How was the whole experience like?

The whole journey was a very humbling experience. It's amazing to watch people, whose lives had been destroyed to some extent, bouncing back and learning to live again. It was an amazing experience!

Can you recall some of the most memorable moments of your 2-year journey?

(Laughing)

The entire journey was a logistical nightmare!! We had the film and the sound crew with us and we were travelling mainly by roads in very remote areas. Power supply was hardly available in most of the places. Most villages were without power. Sometimes we even had to use our car batteries! And since we were travelling across borders, initially we had a little bit of permit problem as well. We had to synchronise and schedule everything. We were quite blessed to have done this project. Each region that we visited gave us so much! Something that will always be etched in my memory will probably be the people we met. The biggest thing was their openness and their sharing heart. They came out and they wanted to share their music with us. That was the most memorable thing!

Where did your journey start and end?

Our first halt was in Sri Lanka. From there we moved on to Thailand, then Indonesia, Myanmar, Maldives and finally India. In fact, due to the weather conditions, we covered India in two batches.

LAYA Project has won so many awards- the Founder's Choice Awards, The Best Film Award and it is being screened everywhere. How do you feel about this success?

I am amazed, proud and very happy. The LAYA project was never made with a motive to win. We believed in our concept. The film and its beauty surprised so many people. And everyone falls in love with the music!

(Smiles)

Had you not been heading EarthSync, what would you have been doing?

Hmm, that's a tough question. (Laughs) Well, I guess I'd be working here for sure. It's a wonderful place to work. I don't know what sort of work I'd be doing, but I'll definitely be working here!

So, when can we expect to lay our hands on LAYA?

It'll be sometime between June 30th and 3rd July.

Thank you so much for talking to me.

It was a pleasure!

By
Rashmi Kumar