By a correspondent
From the grand stage of the Grammys to the closed glass rooms of recording studios, Sennheiser has stood for top-quality products, true sound and tailor-made solutions for every aspect of recording, transmission and reproduction of sound for over 65 years. Sennheiser microphones have been the first choice for artists in India and globally including Pink, Madonna, Rihanna, Limp Bizkit, Prodigy to name a few. Adding to the list of endorsers is one of India’s most versatile singers, Angaraag Mahanta aka Papon.
A multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer, Papon has become one of the most recognisable and sought-after voices in India. His versatility allows him to easily switch from folk music to ghazals to electronica and he is now a firm favourite of Bollywood music directors after hits like Kyun from Barfi! (2012) and Maula Sun Le Re from Madras Cafe (2013). Most recently, Papon also featured in the music for Nagesh Kukunoor’s 2014 release, Laxmi, singing Sun Re Baavli. In addition, Papon also made his acting debut this year, in an Assamese film titled Rodor Sithi.
Credited with reviving interest in folk music from the North East, Papon has seven successful Assamese albums to his name, as well as a band that melds folk tunes from the region with electronic music, titled Papon and the East India Company. Papon won a GIMA award for Best Pop Album for his first Hindi album ‘The Story So Far’ in 2012. In addition, he is the only artist to have been a part of all three seasons of Coke Studio @ MTV. For the third and most recent season of the show, Papon produced his own episode.
Over the years, Papon has also collaborated with some of the finest musicians across the world, including Scottish singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni on a contemporary folk music project called Troikala. His long-standing work with Midival Punditz and Karsh Kale, stalwarts of the Indian music scene, has seen him perform at various festivals around the world including the Paléo Music Festival in Switzerland, Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Mosaic Music Festival in Singapore and Oslo World Music Festival in Norway. Papon & The East India Company also performed at the Du World Music Festival, Dubai in 2013 and Celtic Connections, Glasgow, Scotland in January 2014.
Talking about the association with Sennheiser, Papon said, “One needs a great partner to make great music, and I have chosen to partner with Sennheiser in pursuit of perfect sound. My band, the East India Company, and I have used a number of microphones over the years, but we believe nothing matches up to a Sennheiser. I am honored to be part of the Sennheiser family, as it has also been the choice of music legends from across the globe.”
Speaking about the partnership, VipinPungalia, VicePresident -Sales & Marketing (Professional Segment) at Sennheiser India said, “Papon is one of the most versatile singers of his generation today. And we are happy to lend our support in his journey to becoming a legend. Sennheiser has stood for quality sound for over 65 years. As Indian musicians become more aware of the gear they use on stage and in recording, it pushes us even more in our pursuit of perfect sound.”