Colonial Cousins to return

Indi-pop fusion band Colonial Cousins is all set to make a comeback this year. Singer Hariharan and singer-composer Leslie Lewis, who last worked together on Tamil film Chikku Bukku (2010), are working on a new album, which they hope to release later this year.

Indi-pop fusion band Colonial Cousins is all set to make a comeback this year. Singer Hariharan and singer-composer Leslie Lewis, who last worked together on Tamil film Chikku Bukku (2010), are working on a new album, which they hope to release later this year.

HT Image

Hariharan confirms the news, saying, “Yes, we’re together and we are coming up with a new album this year. It’s 2011, so the music is going to be fresh, and in sync with the times. Of course, there will be an element of fusion in our compositions.”

The singer was in the city recently, and performed to a packed house at the Fever Unplugged - Hariharan Live concert. His trademark long locks intact, belted out one tune after the other as the audience at Shanmukhananda Hall, Sion lapped it all up. On being prodded by the audience to sing his famous track ‘Chanda re…’ again, he relented and sang the Tamil version, which the audience enjoyed. Later, Hariharan's son Akshay joined him on stage, and together, they rendered ‘Krishna…’, one of the Colonial Cousins’ best known tracks.

Not many know that the venue is special to the singer, as his father was the principal of Shanmukhananda. “I’ve seen this place being built,” he recalls fondly, adding, “I loved eating the idli-vada here. They serve really good chutney with it.”

Hariharan is also full of praise for his close friend and contemporary, A R Rahman, whose biography was released recently. “I haven’t been able to read it yet, but why read the book when you know the person himself,” he laughs.