Representation of the Self and the Surrounding: An Ethnomusicological Analysis of the Songs of Singer Arivu

Abstract

Music has always been the nuanced form of human emotions and expressions. Musicology deals with the nature and origin of sounds closely interlinked with natural surroundings. Ethnomusicology is an interdisciplinary approach that links the social and historical factors of the musical rendition. It is the observation of cultural aspects reflected through music by analysis, observation and immersive approaches. Ethnomusicology draws its tenets majorly from anthropology and comparative musicology. This area dominantly focuses on non western music and gradually incorporates scientific methods to deeply analyse the notes, structures, history and the contextual meanings of music. Recently the trend of representing environmental and social concerns through songs have become popular in the Tamil industry. The songs of singer Arivu especially the song Enjoy, Enjaami became a global sensation that represented the issues of environmental exploitation and anthropocentrism of human beings in the name of modernisation. The other recent albums by singer Arivu including the ValliyammalPeraandi series represents various social issues which have high reception by the audience for the content and the music blended with message. The study aims to analyse the themes like environmental issues, protection of indigenous communities, their rights and global warming highlighted in the songs of singer Arivu and its ethnomusicological aspects.