When does freedom get a voice?

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A still from the video

Stand up for what’s right — that’s a shout out to young minds through Mumbai band Pentagram’s latest hit single Tomorrow’s Decided. We catch up with vocalist Vishal Dadlani about the album, why the youth need to be inspired and how music is a powerful way of putting across a socially relevant message.

The band will perform at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender in Bengaluru on December 15 and 16.
The band has come out with their fourth album Bloodywood, and according to Vishal, it’s the ‘urban sound that defines who we are, where we’re from and what we’re about.’ Of the 14 songs, Tomorrow’s Decided hits home, in the view of the recent attacks on youngsters for speaking their minds on a social networking site. Director Ravi Jadhav and Vishal decided to film the video during visarjan —arguably one of the most chaotic times in Mumbai. “The video shows the energy, happiness and openness of the city. We played Tomorrow’s Decided to a crowd that’s never heard rock-and-roll before. When you see the video, its 100 percent how they reacted to the song,” reveals the musician.
Vishal feels music should communicate what people feel without sounding mopey. “The song is about a revolution that is not overt. It’s about a changing mindset, an idea whose time as come, each individual finding the strength to change his mindset.”
A technical milestone of sorts — six cameras were used for the shoot with Pentagram performing in a truck.
“We didn’t know how to get the permissions to shoot, and how to set up the band in the middle of visarjan, so Ravi spent a couple of weeks figuring out the production,” reveals Vishal. Replete with heavy guitars and rich electro vibes, the album aims to showcase new-age India.
Even as the video is creating a sensation online, Vishal is all set to perform with his bandmates at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender the coming weekend. “Bengaluru always been the city with the best vibe for the festival so I’m really glad that the festival is finally coming here. I’m really looking forward to it!” Since the band hasn’t played in the city for a while now, Vishal says music lovers can expect a new line-up. Known to possess an assertive voice, Vishal never ceases to advocate socially relevant causes and messages.
“What’s really surprising is how meekly we take this suppression that’s going on now. How quietly we’re living, paralysed by fear. As an artiste, all you can do is be the mirror, and reflect a situation as it stands and hope it will ignite some minds somewhere. I think in that way, music is possibly the most effective, and in a good way, sneaky way of getting the message across to people.”