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Suraj Mani

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Suraj Mani
Mani performing at Mojo Rising, Kochi, 2018
Mani performing at Mojo Rising, Kochi, 2018
Background information
Birth nameSuraj Mani
Also known asSinging Sensei
Born(1972-08-30)30 August 1972
Nigeria
OriginThangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering
GenresRock
OccupationsMechanical engineer, musician, poet, songwriter, entrepreneur
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active2002 – present
LabelsAum i Artistes
Websitehttps://www.surajmani.in/

Suraj Mani is an Indian rock musician, poet-philosopher, songwriter and former lead vocalist and member of the band Motherjane,[1] and one of the prominent personalities in the field of independent music[2] in India. He is popularly known as the 'singing sensei' and hails from Kerala, a southern state of India. He has performed with Thaikkudam Bridge,[3] Indian Ocean, Shubha Mudgal, Indus Creed, Megadeth,[1] Opeth,[1] Third Eye Blind, Mr. Big etc.

He is the founder & frontman of Suraj Mani & The Tattva Trip (SMATTT)[3] which is about a real-time, multi-sensory interaction between the artist, audience & a mythical traveller – The Tattva Tripper; who can move through time & space, see into the hearts & minds of most people, tell us their stories & sing us their songs. Apart from this Suraj Mani is also the founder CEO of Suraj Mani Engineers Pvt. Ltd,[4] a premium HVAC firm, Aum I Artistes[3] (media production and artist management) and founder trustee of Aum I Art Foundation[2] (a not for profit music trust). He plays a key role in influencing the growth of independent music in India. His company Aum I Artistes is behind popular music programs, festivals, properties such as Music Mojo, Muse Room, Mojo Rising, Alt & Pepper, HOME Fest, OO Heaven, TGIIR (The Great Indian Indie Recordings) etc.[citation needed] He is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from TKM College of Engineering, Kollam.[5][6]

Albums and releases

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  • Insane Biography- Motherjane, year 2002. Produced by Aum I Artistes, this album went on to win many awards nationally. Some of the popular songs from the album – Mindstreet, Soul Corporation, Questions, Disillusioned etc.
  • Maktub- Motherjane, year 2008. Produced by Aum I Artistes, this album went on to win many awards nationally and internationally. Some of the popular songs from the album- Chasing the sun, Fields of sound, Broken, Maktub, Karmic Steps etc.
  • The Tattva Trip- Suraj Mani, year 2012. Produced by Aum I Artistes, this album was Suraj Mani's first solo work and featured award-winning art work and story line that inspired his onward journey as an artist. Some of the popular songs from the album- Tribes of Babel, Whole, The Gift, Rise Up, The Tattva Trip etc.
  • In April 2020, Mani released the single I am Fine. In an interview. The same month in an interview Mani said that in June he would be releasing Rinse and Repeat, a four-song EP.[7]

Awards and recognition

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  • 'Best Rock Vocalist in Asia' – AVIMA 2010 The World's Largest Indie Awards
  • 'Best Singer' – The Jack Daniels Rock Awards 08-09[8]
  • 'Best Singer/Songwriter' – The Leon Ireland Award 08-09[9]
  • 'Best Album Art (The Tattva Trip)' – The Jack Daniel Rock Awards 2014[10]
  • 'Best Rock Act in Asia' – AVIMA 2008 The World's Largest Indie Awards
  • 'Rock Act of The Decade' – Rock Street Journal
  • 'Best Rock Album (Maktub)’- Rolling Stone Magazine[11] 2008, Unwind Awards 2008
  • 'Best Rock Album (Insane Biography) – Unwind Awards 2002

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Motherjane: An Indian Tale -". Rolling Stone India. 25 July 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b Rodricks, Allan Moses (19 April 2018). "Imagine all the people…". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Rodricks, Allan Moses (17 August 2015). "Suraj Mani: Worth the trip!". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  4. ^ "Behind that painted smile". Deccan Herald. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  5. ^ "ragging did me good!". suraj mani- the singing sensei. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  6. ^ Vellanchola, Rasal (13 August 2020). "In conversation with Suraj Mani: A TKM Alumnus who'd later become a Music and Entrepreneurship…". Medium. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  7. ^ Menon, Anasuya (17 April 2020). "Rock musician Suraj Mani's new single is on separation and hope". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Accolades for rock act". The Hindu. 27 April 2009. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  9. ^ "It rained rock". The Hindu. 8 July 2009. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  10. ^ "Sky Rabbit Take Home Top Honors at the 9th Jack Daniel's Annual Rock Awards -". Rolling Stone India. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  11. ^ "The Telegraph – Calcutta (Kolkata) | Entertainment | The Good Life". The Telegraph. Kolkota. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.