Get to know the Penn Masala: An ‘A cappella’ group to drool over for more reasons than one

Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You) / Dilliwaali Girlfriend! This is the name of the newest song by Penn Masala. What a combination! you are thinking? This is exactly what the world’s first Hindi A cappella group does. They bring together music from different genres in amazing combinations.

Penn Masala was formed in 1996 by a group of talented  students at the University of Pennsylvania, who came together to start a new music band that performed various genres of music in appealing mashups. Taking from eastern and western styles, the group includes in their music hip-hop, Bollywood and other strains of music.

This rotating (members change when the batch graduates) band has performed in front of the who’s who of Bollywood, the business industry and politics including Barack Obama, Sachin Tendulkar, the Ambanis etc. That’s a list who wouldn’t be proud of?!

Penn masala has been releasing songs, all of which have no less than 2 million viewers, the latest being the peppy mashup with ‘Dilliwali Girlfriend’ from Yeh Jawaani Hai Diwani and Enrique Iglesias’s catchy ‘Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)’. The song takes the imagination across shores in 4 minutes giving people a compelling mixture of styles.

Their previous piece called ‘The Bollywood Breakdown’ was a thrilling mashup of many Hindi and English songs and the group is at its a cappella best in it.

Folomojo spoke to Penn Masala and got to know a little more about this world famous group. Here is the full interview:

1. Why the name ‘Penn Masala’?

We are all students at the University of Pennsylvania, hence ‘Penn’ is a given. Masala is a useful Hindi word that manages to sum up what we do; that is, just like ‘masala’ is a blend of spices, our music too is a blend of multiple strains of music that have influenced us. We use these influences to create a novel art form.

2. What makes Penn Masala different from other bands?

From a musical standpoint, as the world’s premier South Asian a cappella group, we are constantly challenging ourselves and pushing our musical boundaries. On a personal front, we really consider ourselves a brotherhood and even though this group has been rotating members for nearly 20 years, we are close to our alumni as well.

3. Since it is an evolving group, what are the requisites to enter the group?

Members must pass through an audition process and be an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania.

4. How difficult is it to take over from the graduating batch? Any specific training you were expected to go through?

As our four years go by, every member learns about pretty much all of the aspects of running the group, especially since we are fairly small. Thus, the transitioning process isn’t too difficult. That being said, every graduating class leaves a unique mark on the group and every year, the new batch strives to contribute in its own way.

5. Initial challenges that you faced as a group?

When the group started in 1996, it had the tremendous creative task in front of them of pioneering a new style of music. Since then, the challenges we’ve had to deal with center around constantly innovating and pushing the genre forward.

6. You have been touring the world a lot. What destination next?

We’re not sure honestly! We’ve paid visits to India, the UK, and Canada in the past, and those are certainly places we’d love to go back to.

7. When are you coming to India again?

We’re still planning, but hopefully sometime soon. Touring India is one of our favorite experiences and we want to get back as soon as possible!

8. Do you get requests from fans to choose a certain song for an upcoming album or concert?

Generally, our music director and music committee plan which songs we perform live or put in an album. However, we try to take into consideration requests from our fans and fulfill them whenever possible!

9. A heart moving experience that the present group experienced recently

One of the most heart moving experiences for the group was when we went to India to volunteer for an organization called Teach for India. While there, we taught a classroom of excited children some of our songs. It was definitely an experience none of our members will forget!

These students have taken creativity across seas and are continuing to give music pleasing to the ear of a cosmopolitan culture that is taking over the globe. Their music makes you feel at home in every country and also takes you places in your imagination, in your own. Keeping to the a cappella style, these boys, an evolving group of graduates from the university and the alumni are making waves and taking Indian music to places you wouldn’t imagine!

Folomojo wishes them continued success for their ventures and hopes the group will come to India again, soon!

To enjoy some of their zippy music click the links below

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