The Art of Storytelling | Kekhrie Ringa (The Boho Singer) | DOT TALKS

Hello everyone. Welcome back to Doc Talks. We have an amazing guest with us today, none other than the Boho singer, also known as Kekarina. So, please join me in welcoming Ma'am Kekarina. >> Hello. >> Hi. Thank you so much for spending [gasps] your time to be here with us. >> Thank you for having me. >> Please tell us a little bit about yourself. >> Okay. Um, namaste. >> [music] >> I'm Kekarina Jacah, here with my army, my husband. And uh, even to the staff [music] and you know, if there are any students here as well, thank you for making time. Um, I teach singing, vocals, >> [music] >> and I perform as well. I do that for a living. Yeah. >> So, I personally have been really curious about your stage name, which is the Boho singer. And Boho, it translates to a free spirit. And I want to know what does Boho personally mean to you? >> Okay. Um, it says free spirit, so I [music] think defining the word itself will take away the definition, you know? But, it's more than fashion, it's more than [music] long, flowy clothes, or open hair, or you know, the freedom of movement that we talk about. I mean, I'm a Christian, I'm [music] a believer, so I don't believe in being too rebellious or something, but um, I [music] embrace the term in a way where as an artist, I don't want to just follow what is trending [music] uh, just for the sake of going viral. I mean, and no offense. Um, it's something where I want to follow art. [music] I want to make art. Uh, be honest with my audience. Um, wear what is comfortable [music] instead of just following trends like I said. Yeah, so that's what I believe in. So, free spirited to me means [music] um, being honest, being honest with uh, the audience. Yeah. >> So, to be free and like, I can I have seen your um, videos and what- whenever you perform, the outfit that wear I was really wondering if um, if your outfits also represent your stage name. >> Uh-huh. Well, in a way also and I also wear what I can afford. >> [laughter] >> Whatever I'm comfortable with, yeah. Depends on my mood as well. Yes. >> So, talking about Bloom. >> Huh. >> So, first of all, congratulations on the first Bloom era, which happened here in the mall. If you could tell us a little bit about your Bloom >> Uh-huh. >> [clears throat] >> Um [music] I think there's a season for every artist where you feel a certain way, so the [music] songs come out that way or you your art comes out that way. When I say artist, it can be [music] singing or an instrumental or you know, something that you paint or create, design. For me as a singer, um Bloom era is something very [music] feminine, uh very settled, cuz if if you're someone who have been here for a while, uh who knows about the music scene, you know that I have been in a rock band or singing a metal band sometimes. >> [music] >> And I'm doing a little bit of Broadway or theater theatrical songs. And Bloom is something very gentle, um no high notes, um no belting. So, this season is something where I'm very settled, comfortable in my feminine side. Not saying that belting isn't feminine. And [music] I think experimenting more with the lyrics. Yeah, instead of just [music] the technicals side of my voice, more than that I'm focusing on >> [music] >> telling a story through the lyrics. So, this is the era. I don't know how long it'll go for. I still have a few songs left to put out. [music] So, yeah, I'm doing that with the shows as well. The first show happened last month. Um on the 13th, I think. I forgot the details, so anyways, but I think by God's grace it went well. Yeah. [music] We learned a lot. So, there's one more coming up on the 8th of August in Kohima. So, yeah, we're working towards [music] that. The second show. >> Second year. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Yeah, it's it's more like a seasonal thing. Like flowers bloom [music] for a season. >> Yeah. >> I understand that's coming up. So, um was Bloom born from healing, hope, or heartbreak? Or was there something else you wanted to um you know, make sense of? >> Oh, that's that's a good question. >> Because you've been in a rock metal band and this is like a complete new transition for you. >> Yeah, yeah. Um it wasn't something I put a lot of thought to. >> [music] >> One evening, I received a call from my now producer, Fitz. He called me up and we were talking over the phone [music] and he was like, "Inagames, I was in my neck of the woods. Don't don't keep doing that." I mean, it's not that he was against that, but he said [music] that he felt as though uh a softer voice would also sound good for a change. [music] And that's how, you know, the Bloom era came about. And it was humbling as well. [music] Because as singers here, I think everywhere, >> [music] >> we have the tendency of um feeling as though we have to prove ourselves [music] sometimes. "Hey, I can sing this high." And you know, I'm a voice teacher. So, I'm telling [music] you every Naga student wants to sing only high notes, okay? It's like a way of proving ourselves. There's nothing wrong in that, but we lose the art [music] somewhere along the way. The yeah, the the lyrics gets lost sometimes. The storytelling gets lost. So, and for me, I want to be an artist first and then an entertainer after that. >> [music] >> So, I was like, "Okay, let me get into storytelling." But, I suck at writing songs, by [music] the way. I'm really bad at it. Maybe I've written one or two. But after that, I um I have a few friends. The best ones, irreplaceable. So, Temasek Lover, [music] Charlie Lim Marja Polar Lights, um Te Kellem Tour, they all, you know, [music] pitched in with the lyrics and they helped me pen down my my thoughts into [music] like poetry kind of thing. And they really got uh the idea of uh penning [music] it in a way where it sounds earthly. It's a very bohemian free-spirited [music] vibe to the lyrics. So, they really helped me with that and the era began and I was like, "Okay, let me do this for a while." Yeah. And I miss, of course, performing in my old bands, as well, Fire Fly and all. I miss them all, but yeah. >> So, um outside, we know you as the pop star. >> Mhm. >> An artist, singer, songwriter. So, what is that version of you which we rarely get to see? >> My husband will laugh. >> [laughter] >> I look homeless at home. Uh I think I'm quite introverted. [music] I'm very reserved. Yeah, it's it's not good, actually, but I enjoy being a full-time mom to my furry [music] child. Then I have plants at home. So, I take care of it and I think I like slow living. Yeah. Yeah. I like that. Yeah. I enjoy that. >> So, um anyone who follows you or who knows you, they know that you have a very close connection with your dog. >> Yeah. >> And I just want to know has that changed in the way you see life? >> Mhm. >> What did your dog teach you about life and just patience? >> Uh oh my. I've had so many dogs growing up. We we've had cats, [music] as well. And uh it's quite subjective, actually. I mean, we're Nagas, and we eat everything [music] and anything. I'll get get to that later. I'm an only child, so a constant companion has always been [music] um a dog. We have There are other people who keep other pets as well, but you know, [music] dogs have been quite common. And uh for me, I've learned to be [music] patient. And uh I had a Labrador for 9 years. So, I got him when he was 28 [music] days old. And I'll tell you, I would sleep for 2 hours, wake up, feed him, go back to sleep, [music] set an alarm every 2 hours, wake up and feed him. But that kind of trained me [music] to take care of my sick mother after some years. Yeah. So, it kind of taught me how to, you know, even uh clean uh poop, you know? And I could do [music] that for a human being later without thinking much. So, they kind of teach you compassion, they discipline you, they make you more homely as well, >> [music] >> and uh they make you more selfless. You can learn that from a [music] friend, your best friend, or any other creature, but for me, it's always been a dog. And [music] I've had people ask me um about even uh you know, a lot of Nagas, they eat dog meat and all. I have no problem with that personally, because see, I I'm not a vegetarian. I eat mutton, fish, everything. So, if someone stops me, then I even I would feel a bit, you know, offended or something [music] like that, but my request would be I mean, just don't be cruel to it. And if you have you must be even rearing it for >> [music] >> consumption, but at least give it a decent life, you know? And uh well, I get [music] um direct messages sometimes on Instagram or Facebook, like, "Why only a dog? Why not a pig [music] or chicken? Uh see if you look back uh you know, if you go through history maybe, we've had people go hunting with dogs as [music] a guide, right? Even now maybe in some places. Then uh you go to airport >> [music] >> airports, you see dogs that are there to help you sniff out maybe drugs or anything that's illegal. [music] They they're there. Hospitals or you know uh >> [snorts] >> They work as therapists as well. They can sniff a patient and know if their sugar is going high, if they're yeah, for cancer, if [music] uh they're going to have a stroke or something like that. So, I think they have been used in many areas of our life. Now of course we just keep them as [music] pets. My dog is just like a couch potato, he just sleeps all day, but well of course they are not here [music] to serve us, but I think we we need them. Uh and uh they already have such a short life, we make it shorter by >> [music] >> keeping them on a leash in the backyard or in a cage. And then I feel that to do that to a living creature is just it's just wrong. Yeah, yeah. You may be keeping it for consumption like I said, but let's give it a decent life. Let it feel some form of love, you know? And I think as human beings we're superior. >> Yes. >> Uh and being that >> [music] >> it's our duty to portray show more love to the ones who can't do much for us in return. Yeah. [music] >> And I believe like even even though we consider them as just pets for some people, they have a lot of emotion. >> Yeah, of course. >> feel things. They can understand us. >> Yeah. >> So, yeah. Um back to your uh career >> Uh-huh. >> you were a part of Fire Flood Christian rock band >> Yes. >> formed in 2014 and also Axi and >> Yeah, it's been so long now. >> How was your transition back moving from rock metal to soft pop, I would say, or your new era? >> Okay. Um God's Fire Flood was a prophetic band. [music] Um I never knew the members before the band was formed. Um It was in 2014, so [music] you know, Facebook. I was more into Facebook, Instagram wasn't happening that much that time. I received a message from Jivan, the male vocalist, and he was like, "Hi Kekre. Um there's been a prophecy about the band, and it'll, you know, the musicians and the singers >> [music] >> are being handpicked through visions and stuff." So we met, >> [music] >> and he wrote all the songs. I think I co-wrote one song, maybe. Like I said, I'm very [music] bad writing songs, so but we worked really, really hard. And [music] we needed uh financial assistance as well. And the miracles that happened was we had strangers call us up, and they would say that, you know, they were told in their dream that there's a band called called Fire Flood, and they're in need of financial assistance for the recording and the video shoots, and God has in I mean, they've been told to help [music] us, and they would just donate, and they would help us. And we we got more than what we needed. And God has always been faithful to us. So I I don't work with them anymore. Of course, we're still in touch, [music] and I wouldn't say that I'm out of the band completely because I have had a lot of experiences with them, the lessons I've learned, >> [music] >> um even to work in a group as a singer, to humble myself as well, and [music] blend with people because solo artists were like always out there. So I still have a lot [music] of Fire Flood in me. I still have a lot of Exe. Exe was a experimental band. >> [music] >> Um all the musicians belong to their original, like permanent bands. So we just came together, and we were like, let's [music] do songs that we grew up listening to, like Evanescence or Nightwish or Within Temptation or symphonic [music] metal. So, we performed in a few um shows, Smash, Road Music Day and Hornbill. That was the Yeah. where we had a lot of fun. And uh it's still there. [music] We're trying to write a song, but I think everyone's engaged elsewhere. I'm busy with my Blue Meadow. So, I still have those [music] elements from whatever I've learned from there. So, I'm totally not out of it. Yeah. >> So, what are you looking forward for in your music? >> Yeah, hopefully. >> [laughter] >> So, now uh for let's let's have a little bit of fun. Let's do a rapid fire. [music] >> Okay. >> [laughter] >> What is [snorts] something which you don't do anymore? >> Which I don't do anymore. Over explaining myself, I think. Yeah. >> All right. So, the second one is influencer or a singer? >> Mm. A singer. Um I wouldn't consider myself an influencer. Influencers, it's like I salute you for whatever you do because you're always putting out [music] content almost every day. I can't do that. Singers, we create art. So, yeah, I'm an artist. >> All right. So, tea or coffee? >> Tea. >> [laughter] >> Metal songs or soft pop? >> Oh my gosh. Yeah. Metal. >> [laughter] >> Okay. All right. So, uh one message what which you would want to give out to the audience or to our students and faculties? [music] >> Okay. Uh I think it'll be a collection of messages. >> [laughter] >> First one is, well, if you're student [music] and you're watching this, it doesn't have to be, you know, a person who wants to be a singer [music] necessarily, but I always say this at every show. Um you're gifted for a reason. >> [music] >> So, and God doesn't plan you to put you to poverty. So, whatever gift [music] and talents you have, filter it, get a good teacher, whatever field it is, and >> [music] >> and just do it to the best of your abilities. I've had a friend say say [music] this to me, you do your best and God will take care of the rest. So, just seek God first. No matter what you do, [music] just whatever plans you have, um you know, sometimes you make [music] a mistake of planning first and then taking our plans to God and asking him to cooperate with us. You first pray, [music] seek God, ask him for his will, and he will guide you. So, that's very important as as believers. And also, I've been in the music scene for quite a long time >> [music] >> and that doesn't mean that or I've learned everything. I'm still learning a lot. The last show that I did, it opened my eyes to a lot [music] of new things. And please don't put musicians and artists on a shelf. Like, [music] oh, you're of this age now, so you have to stop. You know, sometimes I I face that in a lot of places. So, music, I [music] think has been there forever. Like even in the Bible, music was there. So, [music] no one has the right to put a person who God has gifted under a shelf on a shelf. Like, okay, this is [music] what you can do this only up to this much. Your time is up, you know? I I think only God has the the right to do that [music] to Yeah, authority to do that. So, support music, support live music, [music] support us irrespective of how young or old you might be. [music] And uh we have a very diverse audience in Nagaland. A lot of people, they like country, they [music] like, you know, some like pop, they like hip hop, whatever it is, but as much as you can, just know that there's a there's a human being behind [music] the camera, behind all the glamour that is shown. So, be kind. There's a lot of cyberbullying, you know, going on. So, please [music] be kind to the artists and all cuz we're very emotional. As well. So, [music] just just be kind to each other and support what people do. Yeah. Yeah. >> So, thank you so much. >> Thank you [music] for having me. >> Amazing having a talk with you. It was not just about music, but much more than beyond music. >> Yeah. >> About life, [music] about dogs and all of that. I enjoyed personally having this >> um podcast with you. So, um that's our community wishes you um lifelong success and also congratulations on your first book, Bloom Era. >> Thank you. >> forward to more. >> Thank you for having me. Thank you. >> So, um thank you so much everyone for joining us on this Dot Talk session. Stay tuned for more updates. Thank you.