Original sound

This seems to be a great time for music reality shows. After The Dewarists, The Great Gig in the Sky on BIG CBS Love, and Roots, comes MTV’s  Sound Tripping, a 10-episode series which captures India through the eyes and ears of composer Sneha Khanwalker. She journeys to the lesser-known parts of India with a backpack and a recorder to find authentic sound. Khanwalker tells us more about her first  television show.Why sound tripping?I didn’t see myself sitting on any show as a judge. But this is something I already do – capturing the sounds of each place and turning them into songs.How are sounds in towns different from cities?I have visited Kila Raipur in Punjab, Yelapur in Karnataka, Majuli in Assam, and Kanpur and captured the sounds characteristic to them. The interesting part is these sounds exist everywhere yet they are distinct. For instance, in smaller towns, a car horn will sound different when compared to those in metros.Standout moments?If it weren’t for the show, I wouldn’t have come across the African tribe in Yellapur, Karnataka, who entered India 400 years ago. The irony is they don’t know where they belong. I recorded an elderly woman shouting at a dog which I have used as a rap song.The show’s impact on you?I got to understand people and where they come from. It’s easy to talk to them through music. Also, there is melody in regional accents. For instance, Maithili people (in Bihar) are extremely sweet spoken. Telly favourites?In the morning (4.30 am-5 am), Doordarshan has interesting shows. Sometimes, they have legendary artists’ interviews and cultural shows. Among the shows, I like Frasier and South Park. Sound Tripping airs on MTV every Saturday at 8.30 pm.