Susheela Raman Enlists Q for a Special Performance of William Blake’s Works

After a decade since their collaboration in London in 2012, singer-composer Susheela Raman and Kolkata filmmaker and artist Q will perform together in Goa this weekend. While the former was more tuned towards a film screening, Raman is calling on Q to read English poet William Blake’s works as she and her band (including Sam Mills) will interpret the works of the influential 18th century poet.

A prior performance of the show — for Goa, it’s titled Proverbs of Hell after one of Blake’s works — was staged at St. James’s Church in Piccadilly in November 2022, on invitation from the Blake Society. Now, it’s the first time in three years that Raman has returned to India to perform, coming in with a specific set of songs inspired by Blake’s poetry, as well as works of William Shakespeare, William Burroughs, Lewis Carroll and W.B. Yeats. Raman calls it a mix of theater, music and art.

There will be readings of Blake’s most famous poems such as “The Tyger” and “London” from his work Songs of Experience. Raman says, “The popular work that everyone knows by Blake is one thing and then there are later works which is a little bit more complex and multi-layered, which people don’t know that well.” While performance and interpretation are where the show is at right now, the idea is to make a film as well, featuring readings.

In Goa, Q, Raman and Mills will be on stage, with poetry readings and music taking shape, but the rest of the artists on stage are described by her as “mystery people” with a laugh. “You’ll have to wait and see,” Raman adds. Q takes the role of reader, which has been filled by Blake academic Josh Whittaker at their 2022 London performance and by other guests at shows in Mumbai and New Delhi recently. When you just read with different people, it means that every place you go, you can do something slightly different,” Raman says.

While there are plans to record the Blake project as well, Raman is also focusing on translations of the work. A French version of the Proverbs of Hell show is ready, with the artists working with a French translator and Blake academic. “I think over the next years, translating it into Indian languages is going to be a big focus,” Raman says. She met a Bengali poet, had “The Tyger” translated into Malayalam and mentions multiple language translations are being undertaken. “That’s going to be a big project for the future,” she adds.

Susheela Raman and Q perform ‘Proverbs of Hell’ on May 13th at Villa 259 Taproom and Cocktail Bar, Assagao Goa. Get details here.