Talent has an elusive quality to it, perhaps hidden to the naked eye, yet felt deeply in the soul. Nowhere is this quality more evident than in music. And if that music combines the stirring cadences of worship and universal love, it cannot but move the heart.
Sonam Kalra’s brainchild, The Sufi Gospel Project, does this very thing: it is a haunting blend of the “voices of faith” and has moved audiences from Delhi to London, from Jodhpur to Toronto. Led by Sonam’s beautiful, soaring voice and her strong conceptualization, this beautiful blend of music and ideologies has produced a sound all its own. It’s a sound that is suffused with the idea of the universality of worship, combining Bhakti poetry, the foot thumping beats of churches of the American Deep South, old English folk hymns (like ‘Amazing Grace’) and the classical strains of Indian instruments.
Sonam is also the author of a series of tongue-in-cheek books on modern relationships with her own wicked brand of wit. Her perfect diction and warm tonal quality meant a natural segue into doing voice-overs. She soon became the voice of Discovery Travel and Living, and was heard in several jingles.
We get into a conversation with Sonam –
Tell us more about yourself
I also grew up in a family that was very forward thinking, the atmosphere at home was one of acceptance of all people, I am the youngest of 3 girls and we were always told we were more than equal to men, and that we could achieve anything as long as we did it with honesty, integrity and sincerity.
I think that truth, the importance of being true also reflects in the music I am trying to create.
My parents were my greatest gurus.
I think it is very liberal environment and growing up In a country that is essentially secular and accepting of diversity, that has had a major influence on my thoughts and beliefs and naturally on my music.
I consider myself blessed to have had all these diverse influences.
Did you also dream of a career in music?
For as long as I can remember there has always been music in our house. I remember sitting on my mother's lap listening to begum Akhtar
There was a certain calm, a surrender almost, a deep emotion that would be apparent on my mothers face when she listened to music.
The seeds were sown when I was a child,( my mother made sure I was exposed to all kinds of music), it’s taken me a while getting here.
I started learning as as a child and then as I grew older, I was fortunate enough to learn Indian classical music from teachers anyone else would’ve given their right arm to learn from,however I only took my music seriously when felt I had something to say. Something I needed to say.
I am inspired by life around me, by my parents who were my greatest teachers, by love, by pain. I am inspired by truth. I am inspired by the sound of music, it overwhelms me and brings me to tears.
What is the story behind The Sufi Gospel project?
The Sufi Gospel Project is an attempt to blend the many voices of faith to create one voice, through the use of song, music and the spoke word.
The idea came about when I was asked to sing gospel at the Urz- the birth celebration of the Sufi saint Inayat Khan in Nizamuddin in Delhi in 2011.
The thought of a Sikh girl singing Christian music in a seemingly Islamic space was so overwhelming for me and it made me realise that we are the ones who make the walls and we alone are the ones who can break them.
I had been singing gospel music for a year or so and the one thing almost everyone asked at the end of a concert was, why a Sikh girl sings gospel or “Christian bhajans” as someone referred to them.
My answer was always the same- because God and faith have no religion.
Sufism means an acceptance of all humanity, gospel -the truth.
And that’s what this project is about.- acceptance of all truths.
It is an attempt to break down the walls that separate us
It’s about questioning our differences and through them finding our similarities,
It about removing labels, letting one thought flow into the other seamlessly, with intellect but guided by intuition, straight from the heart.
And It’s about realizing that each of us has our own truth but that each truth is just as valid.
I work with a keyboard player and guitarist who are Christian, my accompanists on the sarangi and tabla are Muslim, my flautist and percussionist are Hindus - a testament that when it comes to faith and music, religion is not relevant.
When not singing, what are you doing?
I'm always doing something related to music! Singing, researching poetry, creating, composing and thinking about it obsessively! My songs are led by intuition and guided by intellect. I do a lot of research and if certain poetry inspires me or speaks to me I work on it. I trust my gut and my inner voice. And often a piece will develop over time as more depth is revealed to me in the text as I sing it or dwell upon it. Or sometimes I will hear a recording of a rehearsal and then add to it.
And fortunately I'm able to use music to help with the causes I like to support as well. I feel if I can use my voice to make a change, to raise awareness or funds for causes I believe in, I'm putting the gift of music to the right use. I've done concerts to raise funds for diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, thalassemia to issues like education for the underpriveleged, for the girl child, for women's rights, one billion rising and equality
But besides music, I think it's safe to say the rest of my life and time is dedicated to my five amazing, crazy and loving dog-babies, whom I adore!
What next for The Sufi Gospel Project?
Honestly, I don’t worry about the future, I leave it God. There is so much to enjoy in the beauty of the now that I like to pause every now and then to take it in. The future will reveal itself to me.
I can only hope that we keep making more music with honesty, integrity and beauty and that we can continue to share this message of oneness with as many people all over the world as we can.
That being said, the new album- the second one should be out soon, so God willing that will be well received.