College Mix Masala
The Teenager Today|July 2023
How would you like to hear a mashup of western music and Bollywood songs like Coldplay’s Viva La Vida/Jashne-e-Bahara, Ed Sheeran’s Photograph/Aayat/ Laal Ishq to Mark Ronson’s Uptown Funk/Badtameez Dil and many others sung by an a capella group?
Verus Ferreira
College Mix Masala

The world’s first desi a cappella group, Penn Masala, was in India in mid-May and performed at six cities across the country as part of their Homecoming Tour. The last time they visited India was in 2017. 

The group that has a change of line-up every few years, has spread the popularity of Hindi a capella music not only within America, but also in parts of Canada, London and Mumbai. Since 1996 they have released 11 studio albums, have performed at the Indian International Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, and were featured in the Hollywood feature film and soundtrack for Pitch Perfect 2 which received an American Music Award for Best Soundtrack in 2015.

The songs Penn Masala perform at their shows are high-energy and make you want to sing and dance. VERUS FERREIRA spoke to the band members on their visit and learnt that they have also been honoured by performing at the White House for U.S. President Barack Obama.

Give us a background on Penn Masala and how the name came about.

Raghu Raman: Sure. Penn Masala was founded by four students at the University of Pennsylvania who had a shared love of fusion desi and Western music in the form of a capella. A capella is essentially a musical performance or rendition without any instruments. And as for the name, Penn Masala really came to represent how the group ‘spiced’ up the traditional western a capella scene with some desi fusion elements.

How many members are in Penn Masala at present and how frequently do you have line-up changes?

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 2023 من The Teenager Today.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 2023 من The Teenager Today.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من THE TEENAGER TODAY مشاهدة الكل
STICKING OUT YOUR NECK!
The Teenager Today

STICKING OUT YOUR NECK!

Maybe it's having the twins, my grandsons from New York, back home again, that reminded me of a conversation I had with them a couple of monsoons ago: \"What's that?\" asked one of them pointing to a huge shell on the ground.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2024
Hippos can get airborne while running fast
The Teenager Today

Hippos can get airborne while running fast

Hippos weigh up to two tonnes, but these bulky creatures can go airborne for a period of time.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024
Tree bark plays a vital role in removing methane from the atmosphere
The Teenager Today

Tree bark plays a vital role in removing methane from the atmosphere

Trees are known for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thus benefiting the climate. New research shows that they offer one more benefit.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024
Lunar caves could shelter astronauts on the moon
The Teenager Today

Lunar caves could shelter astronauts on the moon

Scientists have found an underground cave on the moon not far from where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed 55 years ago.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024
Manasi Joshi
The Teenager Today

Manasi Joshi

The Para-Badminton World Champion

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2024
International Day of Peace
The Teenager Today

International Day of Peace

In Search of Non-violence and Cease-fire

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024
Non-Violent Communication
The Teenager Today

Non-Violent Communication

How to cope with conflict situations

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2024
FR ALOYSIUS G. REGO
The Teenager Today

FR ALOYSIUS G. REGO

A short-statured bearded figure glancing through a pair of spectacles, cane in hand, and head swinging with every step, was the most feared figure in the galleries of our school, St. Joseph's Collegiate, Allahabad.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2024
The Architects of the Future
The Teenager Today

The Architects of the Future

As we celebrate Teachers' Day on 5 September, students from St Charles School, Santacruz East, Mumbai, have come together to share their thoughts and perspectives on the challenges that teachers face in today's rapidly-changing educational landscape.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2024
JUNG & KOOK
The Teenager Today

JUNG & KOOK

With music, stories and news of K-pop all over the place, on Instagram, Twitter, Thread and other social media platforms, and dozens of boy and girl bands emerging from South Korea, believe me when I say that K-pop is irresistible.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2024