Growing up listening to anything with beat and rhythm, Aloke Yepthomi credits her brother and friends for helping her break out of her cocoon and take a chance on herself. Winner of ‘the contest You Know You Got It’ season 1, Aloke shares that in a society like todays ‘Music is one big instrument that can do more healing than damage.’
Aloke believes that making others happy rather than oneself is one necessity that can make a better world.
She recently released her debut single “Little Wish” comprising of 5 originals and one cover. Her debut video has also been aired at Vh1 recently.
Eastern Mirror: A little intro bout yourself
Aloke yepthomi: I am the youngest in the family with five older siblings and a of dozen nieces and nephews :). I don’t have the right words to describe who I am. I can only say that I am a lucky girl who has been blessed to pursue what I love the most... and that is ‘music’
Eastern Mirror: How does it feel to be the winner of ‘You Know U Got It’ season one? And what was the experience like?
Aloke yepthomi: I still haven’t been able to fully take in that moment of being the winner of ‘YKYGI’. I still am that normal girl who still does what I have been doing all my life. It is only awkward and sometimes weird when someone comes up and talks to me like they know me, and I realize that it is because they have seen me on the show.
My experience in the show is beyond compare. I was a shy kid before ‘YKYGI’ but now, because of it, I have realized that I need to better myself so that I can live up to the name of being the winner of the first season.
Eastern Mirror: Who would you credit for your achievements at such young age?
Aloke yepthomi: I know and I believe that it is God, who should get all the credit for everything, because it was His gift that I am what I am now. And secondly the ‘You Know You Got It’ show, because, had it not been for them, I would have still been that bathroom singer :)
Eastern Mirror: What role do you think a music plays when it comes to bringing changes in the Society?
Aloke yepthomi: Music I believe is one medium that can play a big role in transforming a society that is deteriorating and beyond repair. It is one medium that speaks to people... Music when listened to or played from the soul really speaks to people to either rebel or heal. And in a society like ours, Music is one big instrument that can do more healing than damage.
Eastern Mirror: When you were young who was the first person to pat you and say ‘you have a talent’? And when did u realize that music was the profession for you?
Aloke yepthomi: Growing up in a family that listened to varied genres of music from gospel to heavy metal, I was lucky to experience that luxury of appreciating music regardless of genres or boundaries. I grew up listening to anything that had beats and rhythm. Funny as it may seem, I would love to give credit to my brother and friends for making me come out of my shield. I was this shy kid who only used the refuge of the bathroom to realize her dreams. But it was during this one Students’ conference that they coxed me into singing with them. And that started my journey to the world of music and what I am right now :)
: What has your experience in music been like over the years?
Aloke yepthomi: The experience so far has been good. It is a joyous moment when you sing in a wedding and you see the love in the eyes of the bride and groom, or you sing some inspirational songs to a gathering that has lost hope in life and their eyes brighten up to a certain word from your song. These little things are what make me want to be a better person in the world of music. Because I have always believed in making this world a better place by making other people happy and not what makes me happy.
Having released with 5 Originals. . . What would you say were the influences that made you compose those lovely songs?
Aloke: So far, I have been taking in everything that life has to offer me, but not to that point where I can put it into a song. The songs to my debut album were co-written by Alem Alia jr of tribes music, Sunep Lemtur and Alo Wanth.. And I am mighty grateful to them for it. I hope I have done justice to the feelings that they put in those songs.
What was the feeling like when your debut video was aired in vh1?
Aloke yepthomi: Cold feet, perspiration and faint feelings LOL. I still haven’t watched the video. In fact I have never ever watched any of my videos to date. I still am gathering up enough courage to look at ‘me’ on the big screen.
What are your plans for your future? Do you plan to take on music as ur career or . . . ?
Aloke yepthomi: My plans for the future is to be someone who makes people happy through my songs and music. I am still trying to be a better musician by taking classes and also giving classes to young kids from our village.
Yes, I plan to make music a career. I plan to do more with music.. I dream of imparting the joys of what music can do to a person. And God willing, I wish to make this a profession.
