Rapper Iykki Berry’s new single celebrates Tamil delight and Thanjavur

Iykki Berry in ‘Ithihasam’
| Photograph Credit score: particular association

Iykki Berry’s alter ego oscillates between two personalities: that of the “funky, vibe-y, cute-sy, effervescent Barbie”, and the “cussed, daring, uncooked and rooted queen”. When one among these personalities takes over, the phrases write themselves. Her new single ‘Ithihasam’ faucets into the latter.

The rapper and singer-songwriter — a well-known face and identify, because of her debut within the actuality tv present Massive Boss 5 — hails from Thanjavur and found the world of hip hop solely in 2015. Earlier than that, pop icons like Michael Jackson and Woman Gaga and their distinct soundscapes reassured little Iykya Kamaraj of the world of prospects in music. Lower to 2024, and ‘Ithihasam’, launched on November 1, celebrates Tamil delight, by way of crisp verses that honour the various greats of the Tamil literary world.

Iykki calls ‘Ithihasam’ a “magical work for the entire crew”. It began with an impromptu beat that Dev Main — who has composed the music for the music — belted out on a random night. Iyyki was fast to jam to that beat with verse:

I imagine within the solar/ I do surya namaskaram.

You’re doing pazhi pavam, you gotta do pariharam.

“We moved on to different work till we obtained a name from [AR] Rahman sir’s workplace. They mentioned they will launch an Unreal Engine music studio and requested if we want to work on a music video,” remembers Iykki. Unreal Engine is a software program instrument used to create interactive, 3D visible worlds utilizing practical lighting and particular results. Iykki continues, “We had been very excited to expertise this new expertise. This meant, we didn’t need to search for a location, no matter we wanted was created nearly.” The music was shot in ARR Movie Metropolis in collaboration with the Ustream crew who facilitated the visualisation of the video. “We went again to the studio and completed the music in 5 to 6 hours! We shot it in 9 hours and we may accomplish that solely due to this expertise.” A music video that usually takes three or 4 weeks for manufacturing was wrapped in 4 days’ time.

Iykki’s lyrics lean in direction of the inspirational, for the sheer motive that a big a part of her following contains girls, particularly little women
| Photograph Credit score:
particular association

Dev’s music, particularly the main wild horn interlude, units character to the music. “The beat hit me exhausting, and I needed to the touch my roots. I made a decision I needed to point out the world the place I come from,” says Iykki, including, “Thanjavur is an imposing place and holds numerous Tamil literary significance. I needed to point out everybody that that is me.”

Within the video, Iykki seems as a queen, the inspiration for which got here from Velu Nachiyar, the queen from Sivaganga who waged struggle in opposition to the East India Firm within the late 1700s and reclaimed her territory. In one other body, she is seen draped in black and crimson, surrounded by shades of crimson, in an ode to the Tamil epic Silappathikaram’s heroine, Kannagi. The verses additionally invoke Aditya Karikalan, hailed as one of many biggest emperors of the Chola dynasty and Avvaiyar, one among Tamil’s most notable girls poets, as verses that hail girls and their infinite prospects make up the rap.

Iykki’s lyrics lean in direction of the inspirational, for the sheer motive that a big a part of her following contains girls, particularly little women. “Every time they hearken to my songs, I would like them to really feel empowered.” The rapper is planning to launch one other single titled ‘IYKKI’, that can be a stark distinction to ‘Ithihasam’, in each its tone and look. It can delve into the dream of a woman, and can be futuristic.As of now, ‘Ithihasam’ is on the transfer — by way of reside performances throughout completely different Indian cities. The primary cease, naturally, is Chennai. The Ithihasam Tour, curated by Quriosity, can even characteristic fellow musicians like J-Queen, Nixon, Kiran Surath and Arcus in efficiency alongside Iykki.

Ithihasam Tour can be at Dank, T Nagar from 7.30pm on November 8. E book tickets on skillbox.com.