(Rashawn
Annamalai, Satchu Annamalai, Dayita Annamalai & Kashvin Annamalai)
There’s a new band in town and probably the
only one of its kind. Certainly no idle bunch of dropouts looking to while away
their time, Raasi Guyz are a family of five who have decided that their talents
are not going to go to waste. Led by veteran entertainer and theatre
practitioner, Satchu Annamalai, the band is made up of Rashawn on drums, Dayita
on Keyboard, Kashvin on bass guitar, and Kavitha on percussion. Satchu plays
rhythm guitar and vocals.
The Raasi Guyz repertoire ranges from 80’s
pop to Bollywood film and chutney and also music written by themselves.
Annamalai says that the creative aspect is important to the band and therefore
there is no strict adherence to cover versions. “We are definitely creating our
own identity and our take on many of the old songs are therefore fresh. We
place a lot of emphasis on the entertainment value so distorting the music of
others is very much part of the agenda”.
Not short on confidence, the children are
eager to show how adept they have become on their respective instruments. Dayita, just 11 years old but the most
outspoken of the siblings insists that she only started learning on the
keyboard a few months ago. When asked if she enjoys playing with her family,
she says without the slightest hesitation: “ … ‘the family that plays together,
stays together.”
Kashvin, the eldest of the three is more
serious. He says, ‘when my father first mentioned the idea of a family band, my
immediate thought was that it was a brilliant idea. When I thought about it a
little more I told myself it was not possible as we had absolutely no musical
skills whatsoever. Today, after just a few months, we are actually creating
music together. It is like a dream. It is such a wonderful feeling, to be able
to entertain others as a family.”
Rashawn is the baby of the band. While he
is a trifle shy when spoken to, he is ready and eager to show what he can do on
the drums. He flashes a broad grin and his whole face lights up when he is
applauded for pulling off complex beats on his Roland electronic drum kit.
Kavitha, who apart from carrying out her motherly duties, plays percussion and
is in charge of make-up and costume. While most mothers would be too ready to
brag about the family, she chooses to be quiet and let her children and spouse
do all the talking.
“We are not just a musical band, we are
much more,” says Kashvin proudly, “We are a family acting together.” Sensing
that there could be confusion, his dad continues: “We see Raasi Guyz as a
vehicle for other things to happen, not only to inspire families to form bands
and play music together, but to actively engage in inter-family and
multi-family activity. To this end we have various family events planned; in
December we invite families to partake in a cook-off in which our children are
the main participants and the emphasis is on nutritious meals. In April, Raasi
Guyz will host a family arts and craft exhibition and in July we are off to the
Standard Bank National Arts Festival.
Thereafter, a life orientation workshop for
school children is being planned. In rounding up, the father-cum-bandleader
makes a very telling statement when he says, “This is nation building in its
purest form!’”
Persons or organisations wanting to engage
the services of the Raasi Guyz should contact Dr Satchu Annamalai on 083 289
0548 or email him on satchu.annamalai@gmail.com
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