Tamil rapper, songwriter and composer goes from disco to drill, pop and nods to gaana tradition across 12 tracks
Tamil hip-hop artist Arivu. Photo: Courtesy of Sony Music South
Tamil hip-hop artist, songwriter and composer Arivu’s Valliamma Peraandi – Vol. 01 is here.
Released via Sony Music India on July 18, Arivu wastes no time to get the party started on his first album in five years, one that follows his breakthrough full-length Therukural with producer OfRo. On Valliamma Peraandi, he introduces the persona Brother Bigson Mandela right off on the shimmering, dance-floor-ready “Local Jackson.”
From drill on “Thodaadha” with Schnochild and Alewya to more cinematic explorations on “Origins” and taking on a fully English song like the clubby “Billions” (produced by Gachi B), there’s a lot of diversity on show throughout the 12-track album. Clearly, his work in the Tamil film music world – working with everyone from A.R. Rahman and Anirudh Ravichander to Hiphop Tamizha and Yuvan Shankar Raja – informs grandiose cuts like “Brother Bigson Mandela.”
That said, he’s not left gaana or socially conscious music behind by any means. There’s a reference to his hit song “Enjoy Enjaami” and oppari on “Kangaani” and regular reminders that he’s a “young man, trying to understand/Why they mad at me for what my ancestors demand” on “Brother Bigson Mandela.”
Even with friendlier production choices like on “Maala” and the euphoric “Diamond Baby,” Arivu brings playful bars that still carry a message. He enlists Anto Franklin A.C. for “Thathaka” for a more EDM-inspired song and shares a super-relatable story on “Block Panniten” that looks like the song that’s ready for the Reels-making audience. After taking on composing, songwriting and creative decisions for the likes of Coke Studio Tamil in its first season, it’s no surprise that Arivu strikes a balance between messaging and lighthearted messing about.
True to his collaborative nature, “Raasaathi” brings in Punjabi artist Rashmeet Kaur – the duo previously collaborated on “Fly So High” from Kaur’s album Kaura (Aura of Kaur) – and Chennai producer Quazi Mode aka Udhav Sharma.
Quazi Mode also produced “Kangaani” for the album. Arivu spoke about the making of the song in an Instagram post, “I had no idea how we are going to make this. We met on a working day and started creating ‘Kangaani’ without waiting for a moment, the first song we made for this album. Till that day @quazimode and I believed each other and keeping dream alive and making it possible feels so good. It’s been months and months of late nights and back to back calls. Everything has brought us to this day and moment.”
Valliamma Peraandi – Vol. 01 closes with “Saarbaaga” with his go-to collaborators from the Ambassa Band, Gana Balachandar and Gana Chellamuthu. It’s one that sums up just how diverse he can get sonically, lyrically and stylistically just in the span of three minutes.
As a leading artist in Tamil music, Valliamma Peraandi – Vol. 01 Arivu’s way of showing just how much he’s evolved as an artist alongside Tamil music also evolving and bringing in different styles and languages for listeners.
Arivu said in a statement about the album, “I am beyond excited to return with an album after five long years! This album is lots of fun, love, and swag with a beautiful message. For the first time, I have experimented with many themes and soundscapes which are close to my heart. It’s gonna be a multi-genre experience with diverse influences ranging from drill rap to the most heart-melting melodies. Can’t wait for it to be released and can’t wait to perform it live.”
Stream Arivu’s ‘Valliamma Peraandi – Vol. 01’ album on more platforms here.
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