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On song

Musically yours Grace Verssen

If American Grace Verssen were to pick out a song that describes her best, it would probably be ABBA’s ‘Thank you for the music.’ A talented singer, she says she could dance long before she could walk and sing long before she could talk.

However, it is the singing part that Grace has chosen to focus on in life. An active participant in the city’s music circles, Grace participates in concerts that include Western music.

A member of a music troupe called Paradiso, it is mostly Western semi-classical pieces and ‘classy pop’ that they perform. “Anish Thomas Panikkar, who plays the keyboard and I are trying to popularise our kind of music to the city audience through Paradiso,” says Grace who is currently learning Carnatic music. “Learning Carnatic music is challenging,” she says.“But the classes, especially the basics, are extremely helpful. Sumam, my teacher, is extremely patient,” adds Grace.

Grace has been a part of the city for the last four years. “My mother, Elizabeth, is part of an NGO here. So, to me, Kerala, is home.”

When she first arrived, the sights and sounds of Kerala charmed her. “It was so different from New York. I fell in love with the rhythm of Kerala: fluid, peaceful. In the United States, the rhythm is staccato-like, choppy and insane.” However, the “honeymoon phase” is over. “The rhythm of Kerala is changing, becoming more like the West and it’s sad,” says Grace.

Grace, who lives with her mother in Kuravankonam, heads to Kovalam during the weekends. “I have rented a pond-facing apartment there.” The litter that lies strewn in and around the pond has raised the sense of civic duty in her. She spents an hour a week to pick the litter that dots the pond.

“To be honest it started out as a selfish reason, the fear of mosquitoes that will come with the onset of the monsoon. Then it became a sort of karma yoga to me. And the catch phrase ‘Don’t let the litter spoil your glitter’ came to mind and I decided to act on it.”

Grace who has not been back to the U.S. since her arrival says: “I do miss New York. Mostly the change of seasons.” Grace is currently looking forward to seeing herself on screen. She says: “I did two scenes in Shyamaprasad’s up coming movie, ‘Ritu.’ It was fun being in front of the camera but I prefer doing what I do best, sing.”

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