Session 48 summary
From where John is there are so many issues in the valley as it is a controversial part of Naga or Manipur. But John believes that it doesn’t matter where one belongs from but how they think, everybody has a choice to decide and they cannot make everyone happy as others also have their own desires. In Tamenglong, people hardly get electricity, same with the phone network but John does not think about the negative things, he focuses on what he can do for the society to make it a better place. John had left for his future studies and also went abroad but still has a group from hometown where they talk about the development of their town, like the road is incomplete and if the roads would be developed then the development of the town would be quicker.
John says that many people wish to take music as their career but their parents do not want that and force the child to become IS Officers. People think that music and sports are not important and even becoming a superstar is same.Parents push the child to do something that they don’t want to, parents underestimate them and limit their roads.Many people have ego issues when performing on the street and this is where people have backward mindset. Many people have guitars in their homes but it is a hobby not a profession, it is a thing that not many people are successful and take drugs etc. so parents are scared. But we also need to give the young artist a chance.John tried to tell his people to do what they want, but they were restricted by parents and society and in the end they lost their passion.
John read the book ‘Power of Positive Thinking’ which greatly reflects on his life. He had travelled to Delhi but he didn’t know where Delhi or Guwahati was, he was even travelling in the sleeper class which everyone from his hometown said was not comfortable but John was not worried about it because what he lives in a journey, he keeps them in mind and put it in a song. He didn’t know he had reached Delhi and with great difficulty met his uncle.
‘Far Away’ was the first song of John on Vh1. At that time people talked bad about him and his accent so he had replied in the same way because he was on the same level as them. But now he doesn’t do that because his thinking has changed.When the song was released people commented on John’s pronunciation but through this song he has come this far. He even wrote songs for his community which is in the same one chord-very beautiful- he made his own lyrics for it (original song has different lyrics). Since it has only one chord so he added more chords to it to make it a modern song.He wrote another song which is similar to the Korean songs. He has also written many romantic songs but didn’t release them because he doesn’t sing his own songs but the songs of others. He plans to come back bigger and better.
In schools the kids salute him because they receive the positivity he shares, he didn’t even ask them to do that. This shows how people respect you if you are kind, the people will learn from your kindness.
He says that, “We are not living in this world for money or fame but the kindness”.
Music, dance and sports is not just a hobby but a part of life. If the child really dreams of it- to pursue it as a profession then they must do it even if others will laugh and make fun. John had tried to write a book ‘Do you want to be somebody or be a nobody’ which states that if one wants to be a nobody then they should do what others do and if they want to be somebody then do something new- they have to prove themselves to be somebody. It is incomplete, but he wishes to complete it someday.
About the Speaker
John Mpamei
Recording artist, Singer, Songwriter and Musician
Manipur
www.johnmpamei.com
John Mpamei is a recording artist, singer-songwriter and musician. Born and raised in the violence-torn landscape of Manipur but political crisis and social issues in Manipur could not stop him from achieving his dreams. John Mpamei & the Band were among Top 26 Bands in India listed by Sennheiser in the year 2017. John Mpamei was awarded the Rongmei Achievement Award by RPD & RCPD in 2018 for his dedication and accomplishments in the field of art and music. John Mpamei has released more than five official Music Videos on National and International Radio and TV channels including Vh1, MTV, 9XO and has performed across India, Nepal, Doha Qatar, UAE, and Maldives amongst other countries. He released two of his albums – “Far Away” (in 2014) and “Illuminate” (in 2018). His song “Telegraph” from the album, illuminate, was nominated for the best song by Radio City Freedom Awards in 2018.
