Nagaland’s growing music ecosystem will take centre stage at Soundscapes of India (SOI) Season 3, with senior representatives of the state’s leadership joining two of its emerging musical acts.
Seyie Intrepid and Street Stories to represent the state
KOHIMA, AUG. 28 (EMN) — Nagaland’s growing music ecosystem will take centre stage at Soundscapes of India (SOI) Season 3, with senior representatives of the state’s leadership joining two of its emerging musical acts.
An update issued on Friday informed that Abu Mehta, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Nagaland and Chairman of IDAN and, Theja Meru, Chairman of the Task Force for Music and Arts (TaFMA), will be present at Soundscapes of India Season 3, being organised by the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) scheduled to be held from Aug. 29 (today) till the 31st at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
Their presence at the festival comes with an objective: to strengthen connections between artistes from Nagaland and the national and international music industry and explore pathways that can take Naga music to global audiences, festivals and markets.
Theja Meru, in the update said, ‘our participation at Soundscapes of India is in line with our continued efforts to create wider national and global pathways for artistes from Nagaland and the Northeast.’
He said, ‘Platforms like SOI are important because they bring artistes directly into conversations with festival programmers, industry professionals and international music networks. We are grateful to IPRS for creating this platform and for recognising the immense talent emerging from the Northeast. TaFMA is glad to participate in and support this initiative, and we look forward to building stronger bridges that can take our artistes and their music to the global circuit.’
Rakesh Nigam, CEO, IPRS commented, “IPRS has shared a valuable and enduring association with TaFMA, built around a common commitment to nurturing and taking forward the extraordinary musical talent emerging from Nagaland.’
Representing Nagaland on the performance stage will be Seyie Intrepid, led by Gold Award-winning artiste Seyievinuo Chuzho, and Street Stories, two acts reflecting very different but equally compelling sides of the state’s musical landscape.
Seyie Intrepid draws from traditional Naga folklore and cultural heritage, combining these elements with contemporary musical expression.
Seyievinuo Chuzho has also been associated with cross-cultural collaborations, including the Wales–Nagaland musical exchange, demonstrating the potential of Naga musical traditions to engage with international artistic communities.
Meanwhile, Street Stories brings the raw energy of Nagaland’s contemporary rock culture to the Soundscapes stage. The band channels that tradition into high-energy pop-punk, drawing inspiration from global acts such as Blink-182 and Green Day while grounding its songwriting in the members’ own travels and experiences.
Together, the two acts would present a snapshot of Nagaland’s musical diversity-where indigenous storytelling, traditional heritage, rock and global contemporary influences coexist.
Nagaland has long had a distinctive musical identity, shaped by its rich indigenous traditions and a vibrant contemporary music culture.
With artistes, industry professionals, festival programmers, labels, touring agents and international delegates coming together, the festival creates opportunities that extend beyond the concert stage.
For Nagaland’s delegation, the festival will therefore be as much about building relationships and opening doors as it is about showcasing music, Meru said.