Indiecision: Music Blog: Independent Music in India and Elsewhere

INTERVIEW: THE RAGHU DIXIT PROJECT

The Raghu Dixit Project recently completed a mini world tour, travelling to four countries and playing sold out shows to new audiences. I spoke to Gaurav Vaz (bass) about the band’s experiences abroad.

Over the last couple of years The Raghu Dixit Project has become one of India’s premier independent music acts. From the release of their eponymous debut album, to a string of big venue, outdoor shows, the band has fast become one of the freshest properties in the Indian music scene. This success and some hard work by the band’s record label (a Vishal-Shekhar project supported by Counter Culture Records) culminated in a four nation (Hong Kong, Russia, Japan, South Korea) tour organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

I phoned the very amiable Gaurav Vaz.

What were your first feelings when you returned to India?
Well, I didn’t really want to. It was really good fun; this is what a travelling musician really dreams of doing. This is the second time we’ve been on a tour like this, but only the first time abroad. The first time was in the North-East of India when we sat in a tour bus and went, so that was even more hardcore than this.

Take the jump for the full interview.

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INDIGO CHILDREN PREVIEW ‘TRAITORS AND FOOLISH FRIENDS’

Indigo Children (formerly known as The Superfuzz) have posted a version of ‘Traitors And Foolish Friends’ on their MySpace. The band recently completed a three day, studio recording session with top British producer John Leckie as part of the British Council Soundpad thingy, and played a gig at the Blue Frog in support of the same.

‘Traitors’ is perhaps the band’s closest Wolfmother tribute. It has been performed by the band in its original lineup, and this version of the song does sound like a demo-ey, Aditya Paharia-era recording. It’s catchy and has just the right amount of start-stop melody working for it. Kinda like ‘Pyramid‘. And ‘Dimension‘. Did I mention ‘Woman‘?

Still, it’s a great watch live and if Leckie’s produced a studio version, that should be exciting.

Listen to ‘Traitors And Foolish Friends‘.

BLACK KEYS’ DAN AUERBACH TO RELEASE SOLO ALBUM

The Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach is getting ready to release his debut solo album. Keep It Hid is out Feb 10, 2009 and features 14 songs he produced himself.

The album features contributions from close family including his uncle James Quine. Given Auerbach’s professed love of blues, it’s not difficult to imagine what kind of record Keep it Hid will turn out to be. He mentioned in a statement

This record is a mixture of things I like to listen to, psychedelia, soul music, country harmonies.

The Black Keys released one of 2008’s top records Attack & Release, and recently put out a live concert DVD. Check out a live version of ‘I Got Mine’ on the Indiecision music player or download a free MP3.

Head downstairs for the track list.

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VISHAL DADLANI - SEXIEST VEGETARIAN OF 2008?

There are many things one can call Vishal Dadlani; ‘talented’, ‘accident prone’, ‘overweight’. ‘Sexy’?

The lead singer of Pentagram is the only Indian musician to make it to the nominees for PETA’s Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity 2008 . The list includes other uber-sexy nominees including Professor Simpoo, Anil Kumble and some dude called Niraj Trivedi.

Check out the entire list of nominees.

Kailash Kher and ‘Shreeshanth’ also make the cut. Understandably, the women nominees are far handsomer category, despite Chelsea Clinton making an appearance.