Natalie DiLuccio: Nagaland tribe’s inherent love for western classical music surprised me

Often referred to as the

Bollywood Soprano

,

Natalie DiLuccio

has been an opera and classical crossover singer. Her passion for music is evident in the name she chose for her and Raghu Ram’s baby boy, who was born last year; 'Rhythm'.

Natalie’s love for Indian folk took her to

Nagaland

and she recently collaborated with musician Atso Chasie. Talking about her love for Nagaland the singer says, “I first visited Nagaland while I was shooting for a travel show. On our journey exploring the Northeast, we stopped at this small village called Khonoma, which is, interestingly, India's first green village. I remember being awestruck. It felt like stumbling upon a well-kept secret, a corner of the universe bursting with culture and music. I spent quite a bit of time with the

Angami

tribe there.” Her stay there inspired her to create something unique with them.

Interestingly, there are more than 16 indigenous tribes in Nagaland and each of them have their own culture, music and traditions.

Natalie

adds, “There's just so much to learn and explore! I was really amazed to see how passionate the youth were about preserving their cultural traditions. I think many indigenous groups are at risk of losing their identity in our modern era, and it was heartening to see the youth so proud of their heritage. What was also surprising for me was their inherent love for western classical music. This amazing balance between love for the past and enthusiasm for the future, whether in terms of being environmentally conscious or their music, inspired me to choose a song as the canvas for our collaboration.”

She feels that her attempt to combine two different worlds, two different music styles, and create something unique can inspire others to discover and support indigenous cultures.