Unplugged and unforgettable

What's the first thing you notice at a concert? The artist on stage, the setlist, or maybe the microphones? Probably not the last one, right? Yet, microphones have quietly (or rather, not-so-quietly) shaped our experience of live music for decades, amplifying sound but also, in some cases, diluting its natural essence. So, what happens when an entire music festival decides to toss them out?

- AASHNA REDDY

Enter the MadRasana Carnatic Music Festival, now in its fourth edition, which has taken the bold step of going completely mic-less this year. Running from December 22 to 26, 2024, at the M.S. Subbulakshmi Auditorium in Taramani, this daring move aims to redefine how music is experienced in Chennai's December season—a landscape long dominated by amplified performances.

At the heart of this decision is the auditorium itself, specifically designed to amplify natural sound without electronics. Sashi Kumar, chairman of Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), where the venue is located, explained, "The acoustics of the auditorium are designed to carry sound undistorted, uncoloured, and pure to every seat and every listener." The goal? To restore the soul of Carnatic music, often compromised by loudspeakers and artificially enhanced sound.