DOLCY D’CRUZ
PANJIM: Lorna needs no introduction as there won’t be anyone in Goa or the Goan diaspora who has not heard her strong voice with songs that touch your heart. A very down to earth person, Lorna was more than happy to speak about her life and her music.
“I didn’t know that Bombay Velvet was dedicated to me. I was thrown off when I was told that the film would star big actors like Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma. I was offered to sing a song, Autumn Leaves but I was not sure how the film would go. It was just when Nachom-ia Kumpasar was in the news. I missed my chance,” says Lorna, surprised when she was informed that the film was a nostalgic trip to the thriving jazz music scene of the 60s in Bombay.
“Even ‘Nachom-ia Kumpasar’ is doing very well, though I have not seen the film. But I am happy that people are enjoying the film and songs and are going for it twice and thrice. It has brought fame to me and I am doing more shows now,” she adds excitedly.
Lorna Cordeiro feels that her legacy has to carry on and feels pride when she hears that young girls are singing her songs for competitions. “This is 2015 and my songs are still being heard and sung. I used to sing Connie Francis songs to the tee and now girls are singing my songs. These are immortal songs and people from the audience tell me, ‘Sogli moron voiteli, punn Lornachi kantaram sodakal urtele’(everyone will die but Lorna’s songs will be everlasting). I used to love listening to jazz singers and African American singers like Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston and Tina Turner.”
It is difficult to keep Chris Perry out of the conversation while speaking to Lorna. “I was singing with Raymond Albuberque’s quarter before singing for Chris Perry. Earlier, Molly was in the Chris Perry band. I still remember the first song I sang for him was ‘Siboney’ by Caterina Valente. He was so happy that he said that a star is born in Saligao. From then on, I was with the band for nine years performing throughout India. I used to sing all jazz numbers and I didn’t like singing in Konkani because of the accent but he was adamant about me singing. The first two songs I sang in Konkani were Noxibak Rodta and Nachom-ia Kumpasar,” says Lorna remembering it vividly as it was just yesterday. “He was a genius but I had the freedom in singing and the only thing he asked me to do was the gruff voice for songs like Bebdo. Now the songs are my concoction,” she says with an infectious smile.
After 25 years, Lorna returned with her performance in 1995 with stage fright. “I didn’t hum a tune for so many years but I enjoyed being amidst the crowd which was bigger than my previous shows. Gradually, I got my confidence back. Now I sing and dance with the audience and I want them to be lively and full of energy.”
The daughter of Teófilo and Cecilia from Saligao, Lorna has five siblings: late Albert, Elwyn (Australia), Jean (Croatia), Oscar (Abu Dhabi) and Clementine (Mumbai). “We used to come to our ancestral house in Saligao. But once you get used to Mumbai’s fast paced life, you don’t feel like living in Goa and it is the other way round. My mom would want to go back after 10 days in Goa. But there is no place like Goa, you realise that after travelling the world,” says Lorna nostalgically, who enjoys ambotik curries.
Living alone in Dhobitalao, Mumbai, Lorna keeps herself busy with her house chores throughout the day. She doesn’t listen to any modern day music and rarely sings at home, to avoid straining her voice. The only exercise for her voice is gargling. With her numerous shows over the years, she doesn’t rehearse with the band anymore and directly makes her stage appearance for the shows.
Speaking about her dazzling costumes and on stage appearance, Lorna believes that it is the overall presentation that makes a big difference to the audience. “I pick my own dresses especially when I come down to Goa. When I first started singing after the break, musicians would get on stage wearing short pants and slippers. I asked them to have a uniform look, no matter where we are performing. Looking at the entire ensemble with good music, it puts life into people,” says Lorna.
