Stephen Devassy aims to turn music into a message of unity

Composer and pianist Stephen Devassy is gearing up to launch Ekta , which he describes as “an ambitious global music IP built around themes of unity, peace, harmony and family”. Featuring 10 original compositions and collaborations with international musicians across genres such as world music, R&B, contemporary fusion and Western classical, the project, he says, has been nearly three years in the making. “We are also preparing to submit two tracks from the album for Grammys under the global and contemporary music categories,” he reveals. Excerpts from an interview:‘I WANTED THE MUSIC TO FEEL UNIVERSAL’For Stephen, the title Ekta — meaning unity or harmony — perfectly captured the project’s spirit. “I wanted to create something that brings people together. As an Indian, I chose a Sanskrit title to reflect that identity, while keeping the music universal,” he says. Unlike his earlier spiritual or romantic independent works, Ekta was designed as a globally accessible musical experience. “Instrumental music is universal, but since this album also has lyrics, I wanted the language and emotions to feel global too,” he adds.A PROJECT THAT TRAVELLED FROM CHENNAI TO PRAGUE AND LONDONThe project began taking shape during the pandemic, when Stephen spent time writing and composing music in isolation. “The orchestral sections were later recorded in Prague after lockdown restrictions eased, fol@alexboyemusic lowed by vocal recordings in Chennai and final mixing sessions in London. A lot of people worked on this project. It took almost three years before the album finally came together,” he says.‘CHENNAI’S MUSICAL CULTURE SHAPED EKTA’Though global in scope, he says Ekta remains deeply rooted in Chennai’s musical ecosystem. “Most of the singers are from Chennai, including singers like Saindhavi. The city has definitely influenced the project,” says Stephens. Contributed by Geethika Sai BritishAfrican singer Alex Boyé will be one of the international artists featured in the albumFeat. global artistes...The album also features several international collaborations, including British-African singer Alex Boyé, musicians from Prague and Spanish instrumentalists, alongside Indian percussionist Shivamani. Stephen admits that recording with a symphony orchestra in Prague was one of the project’s biggest challenges due to language barriers. “They didn’t speak English, so there were moments where we were communicating through signs and gestures. It was stressful, but also a lot of fun,” he recalls.Songs inspired by light, wind and humanityThe album’s themes are inspired heavily by nature and humanity. “The first single, Prakasha , revolves around the sun and the transformative power of light and energy. Another track explores the force of wind — both gentle and destructive — while others focus on creation, the natural world and ideas of a new, interconnected future. Everything ultimately comes under one idea: unity and peace,” he states.Contributed by: Geethika Sai