Meet the friends of music
15 March 2014 4:20 AM IST
BOMBILLAZ
Tell us about yourselves. How did you guys come together/start off?
Well, what comes to us, we mostly still define ourselves as just a group of friends and this is how and where it all started from as well. But to give this occasion a timeframe then, it was a year 2007 when the first track as a demo was realised and as a surprise for all of us, actually it did very well and got Bombillaz on a map straight away. The song was called Raggamasta.
What was the first big break for you guys?
Continuing a story, I guess the beginning of a Bombillaz could also be listed us our breakthrough which was also recognised as a ‘Demo of the year’ award by Estonian radio station Radio 2. Was a great honour for us.
How would you define your musical philosophy?
‘Don’t make music that you wouldn’t want to listen to yourself’
In our country, how easy (or difficult) is it to make a mark in the music scene? What do you think about the main issues are?
In context of Estonian music scene, it is relatively easy to stand out and get noticed which directly benefits from the small size of the country (yes, there is only 1.3 million of us). However, that also plays a downside role in the game which means the music industry is small and tight. That results that most of the musicians have to be involved with numerous projects as it is very hard to live well, feed the family and pay taxes by just playing in one band.
Tell us a bit about your music, what do you think defines you guys?
In Estonia they sometimes call us ‘The sunshine band’ which we guess sums it up quite well. Where’s us, the Bombillaz, there’s always a party under a sunshine. We like to think we go together quite well.
What/Who inspires you?
A big pipe and a good meal-what else you really need right. But other than that, most definitely different cultures!
HANSRAJ PROJEKT
Tell us about yourselves. How did you guys come together/start off?
4 of the 6 members in Hansraj Projekt i.e Sajal Sharma, Nirupan Sinha, Prateek Narsimha and Vaibhav Ahuja were already students of The Hansraj College and were playing in their respective bands Raagleela and Freewill. It was only this year that our keyboardist and Indian Vocalist Anirudh Varma and Saptak Chattopadhyay came into the college through the Extra Curricular Activities Category. The need for a college band was prevalent and hence the 6 of us decided that a ‘project’ so to say should be started with the name The Hansraj Projekt. It not only defines the 6 of us and what we do but also all the student musicians who are yet to come to this college and grace it with their talents.
What was the first big break for you guys?
The first big break for The Hansraj Projekt was IIT Bombay’s annual cultural festival Mood Indigo where the band got the Best Band tittle at the Battle of the Bands.
How would you define your musical philosophy?
Our musical philosophy is: ‘Music is art, art is imagination and imagination is limitless’
Tell us about your best tracks
One of our very first re-arrangements of a traditional Hindustani Bandish set in Raag Yaman and another original composition called Batiyaan which literally means ‘spoken words’ are two tracks which we really are satisfied with, because of the essence and variety of tones and background setting that both the songs get as the whole band contributes their individual parts very systematically.
SAGE AND THE COMETS
Tell us about yourselves. How did you guys come together/start off?
We all got together in Sri Venkateswara College. Aashish was already playing with Fire Exit but back then the line up and music were very different. When the vocalist and bassist left, he asked Aditya and me to try out, and this was the beginning of a completely new sound. During a college competition, Aashish and Aditya played with Varun, who they loved and we asked him to join us. With the second album, our sound changed even more and we also decided to rename the band since it was a long time coming so we’re Sage and the Comets now!
What was the first big break for you guys?
We had been playing gigs in the city for a few years, but in 2009, we got selected for Channel V Launch Pad and I think with that we sort of evolved drastically. So in terms of a ‘big’ break I think it would be that. We didn’t get to the finals, but the experience of traveling together and being on a show just magnified everything for us!
How would you define your musical philosophy?
Well for the longest time we had been playing music to please people. Lots of hard songs, complicated stuff and even covers just to get audiences to be happy. But with the new album, I think we’ve discovered a love for simplicity and in just creating and experiencing music together. I think in the process we’ve just taken whatever route has come to us naturally. So it’s difficult to categorise our music, because each song is a different story altogether.
Tell us about your best tracks
Amongst the new songs, Taking Shape which is a very mellow piano based song has hit it quite well with listeners. Its a simple composition that we just came up with and people seem to have liked it quite a bit. From the first album, Vacuum is one song that people have remembered and sung along with.
TRITHA
Tell us about yourselves. How did you guys come together/start off?
I met Tritha in 2010, on the Neemrana production Hair where she was singing while I was doing the sound. We immediately clicked musically, and decided to create a new kind of fusion sound, based of course on Indian Classical music, but this time blended with Western punk and psychedelic sounds, rather than classic rock or pop ones.
What was the first big break for you guys?
The first one...? mmmmm the first one would have been in June 2010, when Tritha performed in the biggest church in Paris (St Eustache) on World Music Day. The audience was mesmerized and that was the beginning of Tritha’s special connection with France.
How would you define your musical philosophy?
Nietzschean.
In our country, how easy (or difficult) is it to make a mark in the music scene? What do you think about the main issues are?
The main issue right now in the country is the lack of good live music venues. I miss Blue Frog in Delhi.
Tell us a bit about your music, what do you think defines you guys?
Our music is free. On stage we never play the same thing twice. Just like in Indian Classical Music each musician knows the basic progression of what is going to happen, and improvises within that structure. The key is to listen.
What/Who inspires you?
People who follow their dreams... and succeed. e.g. Dave Grohl!
What suggestions/advice would you have for newbies in music?
Careful, make sure you’re 100 per cent serious and dedicated. Else better keep music as a hobby. The road is long.
WHEN: 14 March, 7:30 pm onwards
WHERE: Garden of Five Senses
Tell us about yourselves. How did you guys come together/start off?
Well, what comes to us, we mostly still define ourselves as just a group of friends and this is how and where it all started from as well. But to give this occasion a timeframe then, it was a year 2007 when the first track as a demo was realised and as a surprise for all of us, actually it did very well and got Bombillaz on a map straight away. The song was called Raggamasta.
What was the first big break for you guys?
Continuing a story, I guess the beginning of a Bombillaz could also be listed us our breakthrough which was also recognised as a ‘Demo of the year’ award by Estonian radio station Radio 2. Was a great honour for us.
How would you define your musical philosophy?
‘Don’t make music that you wouldn’t want to listen to yourself’
In our country, how easy (or difficult) is it to make a mark in the music scene? What do you think about the main issues are?
In context of Estonian music scene, it is relatively easy to stand out and get noticed which directly benefits from the small size of the country (yes, there is only 1.3 million of us). However, that also plays a downside role in the game which means the music industry is small and tight. That results that most of the musicians have to be involved with numerous projects as it is very hard to live well, feed the family and pay taxes by just playing in one band.
Tell us a bit about your music, what do you think defines you guys?
In Estonia they sometimes call us ‘The sunshine band’ which we guess sums it up quite well. Where’s us, the Bombillaz, there’s always a party under a sunshine. We like to think we go together quite well.
What/Who inspires you?
A big pipe and a good meal-what else you really need right. But other than that, most definitely different cultures!
HANSRAJ PROJEKT
Tell us about yourselves. How did you guys come together/start off?
4 of the 6 members in Hansraj Projekt i.e Sajal Sharma, Nirupan Sinha, Prateek Narsimha and Vaibhav Ahuja were already students of The Hansraj College and were playing in their respective bands Raagleela and Freewill. It was only this year that our keyboardist and Indian Vocalist Anirudh Varma and Saptak Chattopadhyay came into the college through the Extra Curricular Activities Category. The need for a college band was prevalent and hence the 6 of us decided that a ‘project’ so to say should be started with the name The Hansraj Projekt. It not only defines the 6 of us and what we do but also all the student musicians who are yet to come to this college and grace it with their talents.
What was the first big break for you guys?
The first big break for The Hansraj Projekt was IIT Bombay’s annual cultural festival Mood Indigo where the band got the Best Band tittle at the Battle of the Bands.
How would you define your musical philosophy?
Our musical philosophy is: ‘Music is art, art is imagination and imagination is limitless’
Tell us about your best tracks
One of our very first re-arrangements of a traditional Hindustani Bandish set in Raag Yaman and another original composition called Batiyaan which literally means ‘spoken words’ are two tracks which we really are satisfied with, because of the essence and variety of tones and background setting that both the songs get as the whole band contributes their individual parts very systematically.
SAGE AND THE COMETS
Tell us about yourselves. How did you guys come together/start off?
We all got together in Sri Venkateswara College. Aashish was already playing with Fire Exit but back then the line up and music were very different. When the vocalist and bassist left, he asked Aditya and me to try out, and this was the beginning of a completely new sound. During a college competition, Aashish and Aditya played with Varun, who they loved and we asked him to join us. With the second album, our sound changed even more and we also decided to rename the band since it was a long time coming so we’re Sage and the Comets now!
What was the first big break for you guys?
We had been playing gigs in the city for a few years, but in 2009, we got selected for Channel V Launch Pad and I think with that we sort of evolved drastically. So in terms of a ‘big’ break I think it would be that. We didn’t get to the finals, but the experience of traveling together and being on a show just magnified everything for us!
How would you define your musical philosophy?
Well for the longest time we had been playing music to please people. Lots of hard songs, complicated stuff and even covers just to get audiences to be happy. But with the new album, I think we’ve discovered a love for simplicity and in just creating and experiencing music together. I think in the process we’ve just taken whatever route has come to us naturally. So it’s difficult to categorise our music, because each song is a different story altogether.
Tell us about your best tracks
Amongst the new songs, Taking Shape which is a very mellow piano based song has hit it quite well with listeners. Its a simple composition that we just came up with and people seem to have liked it quite a bit. From the first album, Vacuum is one song that people have remembered and sung along with.
TRITHA
Tell us about yourselves. How did you guys come together/start off?
I met Tritha in 2010, on the Neemrana production Hair where she was singing while I was doing the sound. We immediately clicked musically, and decided to create a new kind of fusion sound, based of course on Indian Classical music, but this time blended with Western punk and psychedelic sounds, rather than classic rock or pop ones.
What was the first big break for you guys?
The first one...? mmmmm the first one would have been in June 2010, when Tritha performed in the biggest church in Paris (St Eustache) on World Music Day. The audience was mesmerized and that was the beginning of Tritha’s special connection with France.
How would you define your musical philosophy?
Nietzschean.
In our country, how easy (or difficult) is it to make a mark in the music scene? What do you think about the main issues are?
The main issue right now in the country is the lack of good live music venues. I miss Blue Frog in Delhi.
Tell us a bit about your music, what do you think defines you guys?
Our music is free. On stage we never play the same thing twice. Just like in Indian Classical Music each musician knows the basic progression of what is going to happen, and improvises within that structure. The key is to listen.
What/Who inspires you?
People who follow their dreams... and succeed. e.g. Dave Grohl!
What suggestions/advice would you have for newbies in music?
Careful, make sure you’re 100 per cent serious and dedicated. Else better keep music as a hobby. The road is long.
WHEN: 14 March, 7:30 pm onwards
WHERE: Garden of Five Senses
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