A rebel in life, a Reble on stage

She is young. She is talented. And, she is a rebel. Daiaphi Lamare, popularly known by her stage name Reble, is a sensation in the Indian hip-hop music space. Her confidence as a performer and her strong words put her among the best rappers in the country today.

“The name was given to me by a roommate of mine. I’ve always been rebellious. So, when I wanted an artist name, she said, ‘Maybe you should call yourself Rebel’… And, it’s R-E-B-L-E because I wanted to play around with the letters a little bit,” Lamare told Sunday Monitor.

The 24-year-old rapper from West Jaintia Hills has been on the national stage for some time now. However, after her performances in two big-budget films — Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra and Dhurandhaar — Reble has risen to the top of the music charts in the country.

Lamare started rapping even before she hit her teens. She was comfortable writing songs and telling her story her way, and rap gave her the platform to express herself.

“I started writing my own stuff. I always believe that artistic expression is at its best when it occurs individually. When you can tell your story your own way. So, even when I was young and I was not really good at what I was doing, I always made sure that I wrote my own thing. I mean, I did do a few covers here and there, but that was just for the fun of it. I was always interested in making my own music,” she recollected.

Eminem’s 8 Mile has been inspiring for Reble, and when asked, she said many works of art stem from tragedy or trauma.

“Some people can convert the deep sense of sadness into art, and some people can just feel it. As an artist, you can create imaginary scenarios in your head, or take inspiration from an external event. For me, music has always been influenced by my own experiences, and my art is a projection of that. When it comes to Eminem, I relate to his life and experiences… a lot of these hip-hop artistes used their experiences to create art. I think that is how you find comfort in chaos,” she said.

Later, during the conversation, she fleetingly mentioned a friend and fellow rapper from Shillong with whom she had performed, and who is no more.

Lamare grew up in both Khasi and Pnar cultures, and that helped her learn both languages. Going forward, she would rap in both languages, “but I am comfortable with Pnar, and I am cautious when I am rapping in Khasi”, she said.

“I know my mother tongue as much as anyone does, and I wish I knew more. When in school, we conversed in English, so I did not get the chance to learn Khasi properly. I do rap in both Khasi and Pnar… Recently, it has been made mandatory to learn the local language in school, which is really good. I wish that happened (when I was in school). It would have been different,” she observed.

Artistic freedom

Reble, the rapper, has a certain je ne sais quoi. Her confidence is evident when one speaks to her. She strongly believes in artistic freedom, and her songs for Lokah and Dhrandhaar speak for themselves. “I always have the flexibility to work on my verses, and that is how it should be. That’s how music should be made. I had so much fun working (with the team) in Dhurandhaar,” she said.

On collaborations with artists back home, Lamare said she moved out of Shillong for better opportunities. She rued the lack of collaboration in Shillong, but “now that I have a platform, I want to go back and collaborate, (and) I want to change the pattern of not helping each other”.

For Reble the rapper, music is a passion and a way to express her deep feelings. So, even with the transformation from stage to movies, “I exist in one state, making music and doing something associated with this art form”.

Her collaborations with national artists have been an enriching experience, and the dedication of musicians moved her. “It was inspiring.”

Women rappers in NE

Reble is among the best women rappers in the country, and she lauds the initiatives that the Meghalaya government is taking to promote local talent. “The effort matters, and it does not matter whether it is perfect all the time. Also, artists need to step out and see the world. That’s how things happen,” she asserted.

Though the rapper does not think there is any gender high-handedness in the Indian rap scenario, she feels more women should be encouraged to perform.

“I never looked at it from that prism. I feel it is about how good you are at your art… But I think we don’t have enough opportunities, or there is not enough good intent to help women in this space. Why do we have so few women rappers? Because there is not enough encouragement. Maybe with more encouragement and support, there will be more women rappers,” she said.

Women rappers can shape the space differently as they will have different stories to tell, and they will add another perspective to how things are perceived, Lamare believes. “That music will be different and shape the industry differently.”

The process has begun in India, and several women are telling their stories and stories of the voiceless in their own way. Reble is adding another dimension to the journey. Her confidence is contagious and encouraging for amateur rappers in the North East and other parts of the country, and may one day inspire talented girls to take the stage.

~ Team Sunday Monitor