The latest song “Nammaaley” from Coke Studio Tamil Season 2 toasts friendship in all its playful, somber and heartening glory, with singer-composer Girishh G, hip-hop artist Asal Kolaar and Tamil-Canadian beatsmith Yanchan Produced.
Released on July 25 to coincide with Friendship Day (July 30), “Nammaaley” starts with a guitar riff from Chennai artist MS Krsna and drums up hype as it blends Tamil folk rhythms, Yanchan Produced’s mridangam playing and hip-hop and electronic elements. The video goes beyond the usual performance of the song, set in community spaces like tea shops and local cafes where friendship often stays rooted.
Girishh G hails Coke Studio Tamil Season 2 as a collaborative song series that “will redefine the perception of non-film music in South India, advocating strongly for original Tamil independent music to shine on the global stage.”
Asal Kolaar adds in his statement, “This season brings an exciting mix of talented artists and a fantastic vibe! Collaborating with my friends Girishh and Yanchan on this friendship-themed song was an absolute blast”
Yanchan Produced adds, “I’m really excited about this season—it’s going to be unique and thrilling, bringing together unexpected composers, producers, and artists from across the globe. I’m thrilled with the blend of Kuthu, mridangam, and hip hop in this track—it’s something fans will find delightfully surprising!”
Girishh G has previously been a part of the song “Elay Makka” with artists like Carnatic vocalist Sanjay Subrahmanyan, actor-singer Andrea Jeremiah, Canada-based Tamil rapper Navz-47 and singer Sathyaprakash, so “Nammaaley” becomes Girishh G’s second song on Coke Studio Tamil Season 2. He added about the songs “They embrace the independent spirit of Coke Studio and infuse it with a mainstream sound that resonates with a new generation of listeners. ‘Nammaaley’ is exciting, lively, and has the freshest vibes. Friendship has always been romanticized, but in this generation, it has a fun, sarcastic undertone. We wanted to highlight this subculture element through the song.”
Launched at the end of 2023, Coke Studio Tamil Season 2 has so far put out everything from cricket celebration songs like “Roar-a Yethu” with actor Vijay Sethupathi singing alongside composer-singer Sean Roldan and lyricist-singer Arunraja Kamaraj, the wedding song “Kalyana Kacheri” with artists Kapil Kapilan, Sithara Krishnakumar and Justin Prabhakaran, plus Arivu and the Ambassa Band’s “Thamizh Vaazhthu” that honors traditions, among others.
Watch the video for “Nammaaley” below. Hear more songs from ‘Coke Studio Tamil Season 2’ here.