A Sound of a Nation?

I start this post at the risk of being labeled a heretic by fiercely loyal fans of Zero Degree Atoll. But the truth of the matter is that Nashid and Co. wrote one fantastic album some 20 years ago and have so far been unable to make anything anywhere as good as "Dhoni" that it appears that they have also given up trying. Hence, Maldivian music legends, as most would prefer to call them, are a band in a league of their very own. They are the "one album wonder" that would become a legend and be the pride of a nation. Right guys we love Zero Degree don't we?

And so every now and then you have shows like these, where the boys from Zero Degree Atoll have a "reunion" or something else like that where they relive glory days of a bygone era. Don't get me wrong people. Degree's first set was warm and elegant and such a joy to listen to, I found myself having goosebumps. Such is the power of their music.

But Zero Degree was billed with a much younger energetic band who had been already making waves in Male' with their own brand of Dhivehi hybrid metal/grunge sound. Kayaano and crew came on, when Degree took a break, to really please the crowd. Their lyrics were rough and unpolished, but most definitely easier to relate to. Kayaano's lyrics are relevant to the time and poignant. Ladies and Gentlemen, Traphic Jam was not going to be pushed around and be relegated to just the support band for Zero Degree Atoll. Heavy guitar laden riffs with lyrics that discussed things that affect our lives were the highlight of the night. The crowd was going wild joining in the party that was Traphic Jam at the front of the stage. I don't think the snooty crowd sitting in the front row with their RF 250 seats (whose view was clearly obstructed by the increasing size of the mosh pit) really understood or approved of the energy that was vibrating through the carnival grounds. This was original Dhivehi music defining a generation, creating a cultural identity.

When Zero Degree came on for their second set the crowd was already spent and satisfied. The crowd would rather have a cigarette and smile to itself thinking about that awakening orgasmic moment of belonging. As the crowd lay spent, Nashid and crew provided 'background' music. Their two new songs were hardly noticed as the crowd started slowly drifting towards the doors.

Visit the official website of Sound of a Nation