Indiecision: Music Blog: Independent Music in India and Elsewhere

INTERVIEW: pinknoise

pinknoise is the product of the uber-talented Singh family (Jayashree, Gyan and Jivraj) and guitar genius Amyt Datta. Indiecision caught up with Jayashree Singh.

Skinny Alley (Jayashree Singh, Gyan Singh, Amyt Datta, Jeffrey Menezes, Jeffrey Rikh) is perhaps one of the most well recognised names in the Indian independent music scene. With over a decade of music and two albums to their name, the band has achieved more than most and doesn’t look like it’s letting up. Which is why a project like pinknoise is a surprise. pinknoise’s music isn’t like Skinny Alley’s at all. It’s airy, with plenty of space for improvisation, but with a form that can clearly define a song from just a ‘jam’.

I disturb the very amiable Jayashree Singh in the afternoon with the request for an interview. She’s on IM and I’m telling her that she needs to send me hi-res images. We agree on an email interview but as we’re chatting, I realise an opportunity. Here’s the chance to really press her about pinknoise; find out why a group of successful musicians would want to create a separate entity for a music project with essentially the same group of successful musicians. Apart from the music itself, what makes the project creatively different for those involved, and as a result, for those listening. So with IM as the channel, I press.

Take the jump for the complete interview.

More »

DEF LEPPARD INDIA GIGS PUSHED, AGAIN

Oh Def Leppard! Will you ever play in India? Indiecision has it from reliable source that kids hoping to catch the Lepp on the 17th (Bangalore) and the 19th (Mumbai) of October are going to have to wait a little while longer. The gigs been pushed again, so pour some sugar on yourself.

The reason for the postponement hasn’t been announced though the last time they pushed it was due to elections in May. Also, if you have money, help the promoters out with some sponsorship.

THE FUTURE OF INDIAN ROCK ON NDTV

The release of the film Rock On!! and its subsequent success has led to much discussion about Indian rock. A lot of it has to do with intricacies of the film and representations of the ’scene’. Very little of it has to do with what it means for Indian rock and what affect it can/will have on independent rock artists here.

NDTV’s taking a step with a discussion on the future of rock in India. The panelists for the discussion are Vishal Dadlani (Pentagram), Subir Malik (Parikrama) and Jayashree Singh (Skinny Alley/pinknoise). Those are pretty big names in the scene, so (hopefully) the discussion should be good.

Tune in to the show on Friday night at 10pm on NDTV.

Till then check out Rock On!! And The Indian Rock Scene.

REVIEW: CONFECT - SCRIBE

When Scribe announced that their new album Confect would be released as a free download, the news came as a surprise. For one, Scribe is at the forefront of the much maligned Indian metal scene. Their live act is frenetic and belies a tightness that’s meant for bigger things. So for the album to be released free of cost puts a lot of pressure on the band.

Indian bands are used to putting pressure on themselves. The result, quite often, is music that is ‘forced’ and impersonal; the opportunity to connect with the audience coming only through heavy choruses and generic references to issues that we’re not really facing. ‘Big’ acts like Pentagram and Shaa’ir + Func have fallen prey to this and very few acts manage to jump the shark to deeper ground. And then there’s the other train of thought that believes Indian rock/metal needs to represent Indian culture via regional language or regional instrument. Eventually, though there is much Indian independent music on offer, very little of it is in any way unique. One listens to Indian music in this form with a different ear than one listens to an international release.

Which is why Confect is more important than just the full length studio debut of a top Indian metal act.

Read the complete review + Indiecision after the break.

More »