Regarded as one of the most exciting musicians coming out of India, Komorebi, aka Tarana Marwah, has been named ‘India’s most promising talent in the electronic live music sphere.’
Photo Credit: Komorebi – Official
With her original voice, she has dominated the music festival space as one of the few female electronic producers in India with her sights set globally.
As we come closer to the release of her highly anticipated sophomore album ‘The Fall’ this September 8th, 2023 with the ATX-based label, Chicken Ranch Records, EG caught up with Komorebi to learn more about the incoming release, the inspiration behind the album, and much more.
EG: Hi Tarana! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
Komorebi: I’ve been really good. This has been a massive year for work and music releases – both as an individual artist and as a film composer. I’m currently in New Delhi, just released my first single, and about to release my second, so on the edge of my seat.
EG: Sounds great. Congratulations on the release of ‘Watch Out’! What has the initial reception been like?
Komorebi: Thank you so much! People are really enjoying the new music. The visuals, fashion elements, comic book tied to the concept album, and the music all go hand in hand. I wanted to do something that’s never been done in the Indian independent landscape. It’s being received very well.
EG: So, what can your fans expect to find on ‘Watch Out’? What’s the concept behind this one?
Komorebi: Each song off my record is based on a chapter in my upcoming comic ‘The Fall’. ‘Watch Out’ delves into the section where the nefarious villain Luna-Tick seduces and persuades Kiane (the protagonist) to follow them into a trap. Kiane is a space traveler who has just crash-landed on Earth and is looking for a way out. She trusts Luna way too easily. This is depicted in the music video where you can see live actions of Kiane and Luna facing off in an epic dance battle.
The song has a deeper meaning attached to it as well – it’s about letting go of toxic attachments. I wanted to sing about my own struggles with the same.
EG: As you said ‘Watch Out’ is the newest single to stem from your upcoming studio album ‘The Fall’. Can you tell us a bit more about the inspirational thread running through the LP?
Komorebi: I wanted to use my love for comics and animation and tie it in with an emotionally powerful record; I’ve used storytelling to bind the two.
‘The Fall’ is a conceptual album – its deeper meaning lies in the struggles one faces as one progresses from adolescence to adulthood. In the context of my concept, it is based on the fictional character, Kiane, and her journey through the cosmos, and the sacrifices she has to make as a space traveler. I’ve created a comic book to express this story in the simplest way possible.
The songs themselves are about my relationships with friends, family, ex-lovers, and myself. I’ve oscillated between a lot of self-love and self-hatred on the record, which was interesting in hindsight.
“The visuals, fashion elements, comic book tied to the concept album, and the music all go hand in hand. I wanted to do something that’s never been done in the Indian independent landscape”
EG: How did you “translate” these moments and events into music? Was it a bit like scoring a movie in your head?
Komorebi: I think it was the other way around. I made the music first, after experiencing life. And then I sat down and did storyboarding with my team for the comic book. The inspirations are conveyed very subtly – only people who are really paying attention, people who are close to me can truly appreciate the similarities.
For everyone else – it’s art! People can derive their own meaning, there’s beauty in that too.
EG: ‘Watch Out’ also follows the release of ‘I Grew Up’, which was accompanied by a stunning music video. How did the concept for the video come about? Can we expect some sort of storyline?
Komorebi: Thank you so much!
Yes, the storyline is bound to the comic book. In this chapter, Luna Tick (the villain) tries to persuade Kiane to follow them to the tree of Satori, where they capture her and try to sell her gear to the government in exchange for a clean slate. Kiane and Luna engage in an epic dance battle in the music video. We shot this in Leh, and it was such a thrilling experience.
EG: Now, stepping away from the studio for a bit…Have you found any good books, movies, or albums lately that you’d recommend?
Komorebi: I’m currently reading ‘The Dark Forest’ by Liu Cixin – it’s a science fiction that provides a terrifying answer to the Fermi paradox.
I really enjoyed the movies – ‘The Menu’, ‘Ichi the Killer’, ‘Cure’ and ‘Banshees of Insherin’ lately.
EG: Right now, social media seems to play a completely prominent role in the development of an artist’s career. What’s your stance on this? Is the bringing us closer than ever, or is it drawing our attention away from the actual music?
Komorebi: It’s a necessary evil and yet, I’m not a fan of social media. I feel it can have more of a negative influence and furthermore become a distraction to artists who are serious about their work. My hope is that good art will still come out on top. Artists need time to spend alone with themselves and on their craft.
“The songs themselves are about my relationships with friends, family, ex-lovers, and myself. I’ve oscillated between a lot of self-love and self-hatred on the record, which was interesting in hindsight”
EG: What’s next for Komorebi? Where can your fans catch you next? What new milestones are you looking forward to in 2023?
Komorebi: I’ll be doing an India tour on November 23rd, playing festivals in December and January, like Ziro Festival and Lollapalooza India, and then an America tour in March ‘24. Exciting times!
EG: Thank you for your time, Tarana! We’re excited to see what’s in store for you. Take care!
Komorebi: So grateful to have the opportunity to speak with you! Thanks!
Komorebi’s ‘The Fall’ will be out on September 8th via Chicken Ranch Records.
