Interviews

                   INTERVIEW WITH ALOBO NAGA 

Read the full interview of Alobo Naga as he speaks to "WE THE NAGAS" about his band's new song, his celebrity life, his personal life, Charity works and many more.....

We The Nagas: You are a big star now and everybody knows almost everything about you, so tell us one thing which your fans never see/still don't know about you?

Alobo Naga: I am not a big star but just a normal guy who loves to live simple. Am a big foodie and apparently My friends and family think I am a good cook :)

WTN: What do you like most about your profession?

Alobo Naga: Travelling to new places, meeting new people, sharing my music and the privilege to touch someone's life through music.

WTN: How was your childhood life?

Alobo Naga: I had a very humble childhood life. As the eldest in the family, I had the taste of responsibilities from my earlier days. When my friends were playing I was looking after my brothers and sister or cooking at home because my parents were never home most of the time because of the nature of their work and job.

WTN: Are you happy with the life you have now?

Alobo Naga: I have no complains to God, and I thank Him everyday for letting me do what I love doing.

WTN:  If you could go back to your childhood days, what would you do differently?

Alobo Naga: Am grateful to God that I have no regrets in life, I am what I am today because of all those years of experience and learning. I just wish that Internet and social media were available like today during those days so that I could have shared my music to the world earlier.

WTN: We see that you are involved in lots of charity works, so how does it feel working for a charity?

Alobo Naga: It's always a joy to give than to receive. I feel blessed evertime I get to help people in my own small way.

WTN: What are the charity works you have done so far?

Alobo Naga: The band has had the privilege to do many charity works so far. Did an auction of my iphone for an orphanage group, raised funds for Poor Patient Fund Imkonglemba Memorial Hospital mokokchung,  Children with cancer, Kohima Naga Hospital, children with clef palate in Mon, for a cancer patient in Dimapur, church building constructions, for the displaced Rengma children who were affected by the crisis in the Karbi Rengma area and the list goes on...

WTN: Are you completely satisfied with your new album "ALL WE HAVE IS NOW"?

Alobo Naga: First of all, it's just a single song release. Well we can't ask for more, we got to collaborate with this Grammy Nominee Sound engineer/producer Tim Palmer and the outcome of the sound was beyond our expectations.

WTN: How is the response so far from the audience on your new album?

Alobo Naga: So far we are getting a very good response from everywhere. The Rolling Stones, MTVEMA, VH1 India and most of the online music blogs or magazines. But we also know the fact that everyone has a different taste in music and we can never please everyone and we respect that.

WTN: We have come across some critics on your new album who commented that your new album was not up to the expectation. So how would you comment on that and how is your new album different from the rest of your albums?

Alobo Naga: The funny ugly truth about our Naga people is no matter how much you try in any field, more people will always try to pull you down instead of pushing you up. The best example is here, we didn't even release an album this time and people are already comparing with our previous album which was also just an EP.

Another funny fact is we get more appreciations from outside always than from our state. No doubt we are still learning, struggling and working hard and trying to get better with every new day but many of our people instead of appreciating and encouraging us always try to pull us down. There was no one before us from our state who tried to explore this far so we have no one to guide or direct us also, it's just by the Grace of God, hard work and all your prayers that we reached this far. It is our sincere request to all our people to please continue to support and pray for us so that we can go up there and represent our people at the same time will try to pave ways for more of our musicians. Without your support we are nothing.

Talking of this song, it is more matured and refined than songs from our previous EP, when you look at all aspect from technical to recording, song writings, compositions, instruments etc.

WTN: Do you think that public and the critics expect too much from you? How hard is it to handle the pressure?

Alobo Naga: Everything has two sides and we are ok with that as it comes along with the package, but as I said earlier we can't expect everyone to like us or our music but at the end of the day this critics makes us more stronger and give us determination to work harder.

But sometimes when they go on with our personal lives and relationships it hurts.

WTN: Do the critics play an important role in your works?

Alobo Naga: Not all but yes the constructive criticisms always give us an opportunity to look at ourselves and our mistakes, and help us gets better. But there are so many criticisms which are so lame and stupid. For instance some people were saying that our bassist played a wrong note/key in painted dreams (come on it's our original, we know what we are playing) and also commenting that the new music video was not professional because there were no microphones for the musicians in the video. It's ok when an international band/artiste can act and sing in the music video without instruments or microphones but it's not professional for a Naga band to act in the video without the microphones. Now I leave it to you all to comment on that.

WTN: Do you worry about whether people like you for the real you or because you are a celebrity?

Alobo Naga: No because I am the same person and I d never considered myself as a celebrity till date.

WTN: What is the magic formula for success?

Alobo Naga: God, prayer, determination and hard work.

Always challenge yourself and gets better every day and don't ever stop learning.

WTN: Is there any project you are working on right now?

Alobo Naga: Yes the band is working on our full fledged album and I am also doing some solo projects side by side.

WTN: What is the most unbelievable rumor you have heard about you?

Alobo Naga: That I am going to perform at the opening ceremony of the World Cup Brazil 2014,

WTN: Which is the most important day of your life so far?

Alobo Naga: I thank God for every single day that I live.

WTN: Do you make friends easily?

Alobo Naga: Yes I am very friendly.

WTN: Which do you enjoy most: A night on the town or staying in with that someone special?

Alobo Naga: A night in town with my family and loved ones is something I always treasure.

WTN: Are you single? If yes, who is that one lovely that you are dating at the moment? How special is she to you?

Alobo Naga: Yes I am still a bachelor :) and no plans to get married or settling down any sooner :) and if I get a girl also am not sharing in public ever :) thank you

WTN: What is your favorite Pig-Out food?

Alobo Naga: It's funny but I love Bindi fry :) , I love Naga and Assamese cuisines.

WTN: Do you exercise? What do you do for exercise?

Alobo Naga: I go to gym once in a while, check my cardio, run and do some light weights.

WTN: Which team are you supporting this world cup?

Alobo Naga: I am with Uruguay and Netherlands.  I wish the big top 5 dominating countries don't win this time for a change. And by default will be supporting Japan and Korea

WTN: Do you think Nagas put too much emphasis on competition?

Alobo Naga: Nah it's just in thoughts they don't really practice it in real.

WTN: If you were the Chief Minister of Nagaland, what is the first think you would like to do?

Alobo Naga: Clean the system from top to bottom and set up a transparent Government. The basic necessities like road, water, electricity, education and employment issues will be my first priorities.

 

WTN: Before we conclude the interview, is there any message you'll like to give out to your fans?

Alobo Naga: First of all Thanks to the entire team for having me, am honoured and privileged.

Thank you all for your love and support so far. We still have a long way to go so please continue to keep us in prayers and keep supporting always. God bless

Warm regards,

Alobo Naga