Tell Us about:

Your latest single you have released:

My latest single, Scarlet Skies, came together as a result of my collaboration with New Delhi based Singer-Songwriter, Swati Bhatt. The initial idea of the song came to me back in 2020, but it was only in 2021 that I got in touch with Swati Bhatt and we took it from there. In the process, we also invited Toko Teji of Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, to play the drums and Tiziano Bianchi of Italy to lay down some trumpet parts that I wrote for the song. The song was mixed by Jake Owen of DoSounds Music, New York, and the mastering was done by Hafod Mastering of UK. 

Here’s a little write up about Scarlet Skies – Scarlet Skies celebrates the present & the beauty of the undivided. It attempts to remind us that in the process of losing a day, we lose a chance to find ourselves a little more. In what may be only one life, every moment counts. The song proposes that if we seize opportunities to truly absorb what the present has to offer, then maybe we can begin to find a home within us. It’s about slowing down, registering the present & reclaiming the beauty of the fact that we are, in that moment, alive.

Your first single and how you felt when it was released:

The first single I ever released was around the time when I was starting to play with the idea of launching myself as a solo Artist, back in 2012-13. The idea for the song came to me while I was on the ECR (East Coast Road) between Chennai – Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, India. The scenic beauty of this stretch was so moving that I felt like writing a song about it.

I felt quite proud and happy about the song at that time. After a year or two, I kind of felt that it was a bit too happy for the vibe I was otherwise going for, but now that I look back I feel that it was a pretty catchy song. For some reason, I never got to put it out as a part of my album. That’s probably my one regret. Let’s see if I can re record it and fit it somewhere in the future. 

Your favourite song that you have created that is an album track:

– ‘Quiet a story’ from my new EP

This song is one of the most fun one’s to play live. It’s even better when people sing along with me “to tell the story…..ooh, ooh, ooh, oooh” which is basically the chorus of the song. 

Your favourite song to play live:

I really enjoy playing my song ‘Made Me Believe’ live, because it is one of those songs which gives me and my fellow band members the space to showcase some musical interplay during my performances. 

Your most emotional track:

Ashes, which came out of a very tragic incident back in 2019, when my family’s house burnt down to ashes because of an angry mob attack. It was a very difficult time for me and my family. It taught me a great deal about the uncertainty of life and the importance of having your loved one’s around you at all times and taking care of them. 

Ashes came out as a part of my 5 track EP, Red and Yellow, in 2021. 

The best lyric you have ever written:

– The song ‘Melodrama’ is probably one of the best pieces of lyric I’ve ever written. 

LYRICS – 

a rope with a stone tied on the other end, thrown into an ocean, 
smell of salt, the heavy air, it’s all fading, my ship is sinking

buoyancy acting minimally, 
a stone that once had shone, now it’s burnt
layer so thick and black,
it’s only much heavier
I’m losing my grip over you

the stage we created, 
our roles had complemented,
now, I’m the only lasting character,
but I’m waiting for your return to resume this fine melodrama

wipe off the board 
lets make it shine, 
start afresh, but the scratch is too fine
words, pictures, sketches, erased but only from the board,  
stone and the surface,
they struck and kissed so hard
there was fire, but it didn’t last
the storm was growing fast 
so I came inside this home we once made, there were cracks on the wall
I picked up the broken pieces tried to put it back

the stage we created, 
our roles had complemented,
now, I’m the only lasting character,
but I’m waiting for your return to resume this fine melodrama

a rope with a stone tied on the other end, it’s thrown into an ocean…

Describe the feeling you get when you walk on stage to do a show:

A little bit of nervousness and a little bit of excitement. You never know how the audience will respond to the performance. Despite all the prep, sometimes, some things don’t go as planned. My years of experience playing live has taught me to adjust myself to my surroundings better, I guess, and so I don’t get that disappointed when things go awry. I try to enjoy every little moment I have on stage with the band. I love to improvise and make something happen at every gig, which my listeners won’t otherwise hear on spotify. I like to go with the flow. 

The hardest track to play live:

One of the hardest track to play live is ‘Same Sky’ from my debut album ‘Same Sky’

Although this song is very close to me and I always feel like playing it live and since it has tons of guitar layers, which I find difficult to re-create in a live setting with only drums, bass, guitar. So I try to avoid the song, or just play the song in a totally different vibe. 

Essential items you always take on tour with you?

a)A small notepad, because I like to write down my setlists, or journal my experiences on the road. 

b) Face wash & Sunscreen (don’t judge me) – gotta take care of myself! 

c) Headphones – It’s always nice to explore new places with some new music. The experience just feels complete. 

d) Exercise bands/Skipping ropes/Running Shoes – I’m kind of a fitness freak, and I like to keep myself in shape. I know it gets extremely tough to manage any free time to exercise, but I take them anyway, in case I find any free time to exercise. 

Ah I think I covered most of the essential items! 

Describe your fans in three words:

Genuine Music Lovers. 

A song by another artist or band you wish you had written:

Ah! That’s a pretty good question. In fact, I was listening to one of the songs by an Artist that I really like and I was telling my friend “I wish I wrote that instead! How does one come up with such good songs!” 

What we can look forward to from your band this year:

A lot more new music and gigs in India. Hopefully, I get to play some good festivals this year. It’s been a while since I’ve felt that rush, it is much missed by me!